Icon Las Olas is the much anticipated 42-story luxury condo to be built at 500 East Las Olas Boulevard.

Formerly the site of Hyde Park Market along the New River, this is no doubt the best location in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

One side faces Las Olas Boulevard, another a public space and historic landmark, and to the south it faces the water and Riverwalk, the breezy walkway connecting all of the new waterfront condominiums and office buildings downtown.

When completed in 2008, the shape, location and size of this tower will certainly make it an icon, a visual symbol of the City of Fort Lauderdale, in much the same way that the Arch symbolizes St. Louis and the Transamerica Tower symbolizes San Francisco, for generations to come.

Such a distinctively shaped tower will add a new dimension of grace to our downtown skyline and bring 272 glamorous new residences to fashionable Las Olas Boulevard.

The distinctive four-fronted, football shaped tower will offer  a pool on the eighth floor and a hot tub on the roof. 

The ground floor will welcome owners and guests into a stylish lobby and provide 15,000 square feet of high-quality retail space for boutique shops on the boulevard.  Expect two restaurants, one on the River and one at the plaza as well.

Along with the large oval swimming pool, echoing the oval shape of the tower, the eighth floor will provide a club/party room, fitness center, lush bamboo garden and a beautiful water fountain.

To maximize views, the first six floors of the building will be a seven-story garage. 

This project was delayed for years because of legal wrangling over the proximity of the site to historic Stranahan House, one of the oldest structures in the area and a vestige of the city's past.  It once served as as a post office, bank, trading post, town hall and home to Frank Stranahan and Ivy Cromartie, two names central to local history. 

Given the amount of wrangling that took place to get this project approved, it could be the last luxury hi-rise condo we'll see in Fort Lauderdale's downtown for some time to come. 

If you have been waiting for a pre-construction opportunity, this is it.  Preliminary floorplans are available now.  Pre-construction prices start at only $600 to $650 per square foot. 

The developer will now accept reservations with  deposits. 

Email Edwards Realty Group now or call him at 954-558-4844 to obtain the necessary forms and instructions to send or wire transfer your deposit.  

In this first round of pre-construction sales, you can reserve a unit with a deposit of only $50,000 for a one bedroom, $70,000 for a two bedroom, $90,000 for a three bedroom unit. 

In Miami this dynamic private company has quite  literally changed the skyline, pioneering the downtown condominium movement while creating pedestrian friendly environments.  According to the Miami Herald (04/18/05), Related's stated 2004 revenue of over $2 billion. 

Word has it that the developer will include a public space and "an eight-story historic mural, photograph or mosaic" on the wall facing the historic landmark according to the news report. 

Related Group has taken remarkable steps to preserve or improve the character of the areas surrounding their buildings, including purchasing land across from AquaAzul for a Botanical Garden and lighted tennis courts. 

In developing Las Olas Beach Club, they retained the facade of the historic Lauderdale Beach Hotel, incorporating it into the design of the new structure. 

You can now be among the first to reserve residences at Icon Las Olas. 

Email Edwards Realty Group now or call them at 954-558-4844 to obtain the necessary forms and instructions to send or wire transfer your deposit.  

Icon Las Olas has been designed by Sieger Suarez Architectural Partnership of Miami.  The redeveloped site will  include a public plaza on Las Olas Boulevard in front of the Stranahan House, which will make the landmark visible and part of an attractive public space. 

Check back here for the sure-to-be-breathtaking renderings of the interior spaces at Icon Las Olas luxury condominium. 

And watch this website for the latest on new construction in Fort Lauderdale as new projects come on line. 

Don't want to wait for completion of Icon Las Olas luxury condominium on the New River?