Casamar, the newly opened boutique condo tower with the oceanfront address, is one more sign of the transformation of Pompano Beach from a sleepy seaside village to a destination for luxury living, observers say.
Casamar, a 21-story tower with 118 high-end homes at 900 N. Ocean Blvd., marks Miami-based Related Group’s second condo tower in Pompano Beach. The first, Solemar, opened in 2023 with 20 floors and 105 residences. And two more are on the way: W Residences and Waldorf Astoria.
“Solemar started the story. Casamar proved it,” said Nick Perez, president of Related’s Condominium Division. “Now, with Waldorf Astoria and W Pompano, we’re writing the next chapter. This city is no longer just a ‘best kept secret.’ It’s officially arrived.”
Before Related Group swept in, the beachfront site where Casamar now stands was home to an aging two-story condo building that had been there since 1979.
During the recent grand opening for Casamar, Perez spoke of knocking on the doors of every condo owner with an offer to buy them out.
The story was no surprise to Mayor Rex Hardin, who attended the grand opening.
“That’s what’s happening,” Hardin told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Properties are being redeveloped. Developers are buying up older properties, knocking them down and putting up new towers. It’s working out well for us. Not every city can boast to have a Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria, a W hotel, an Armani residential tower or a Casamar.”
The development surge has not gone unnoticed by residents, Hardin said. Some love the new energy the upscale projects are bringing to town, but not all, he said.
“We’ve got growing pains like every other community in South Florida,” the mayor said. “We’ve got issues with traffic. We have some people who are unhappy with the development in Pompano Beach. But overall, the residents are happy because for years nothing happened here. If people wanted to go out, they’d have to go down to Fort Lauderdale or up to Delray Beach to do anything. We have made Pompano Beach a destination.”
Hardin praised Related for its continued investment in the city’s future.
“With each new project, they’ve helped raise the bar for design and quality, bringing new energy and economic momentum to our community,” Hardin said. “Casamar is yet another example of what’s possible when thoughtful development and local vision align.”
Here’s an update on several projects in the pipeline for Pompano Beach:
The W Pompano Beach Hotel and Residences calls for a 296-key hotel, 77 luxury residences and nine penthouses that will range in price from $6.5 million to more than $15 million. The 24-story beachfront tower, developed by Related Group in collaboration with BH Group and hospitality leader Marriott International, is expected to break ground soon at 20 N. Ocean Drive and open in 2029.
Related recently broke ground on the Waldorf Astoria Residences Pompano Beach at 1350 S. Ocean Blvd. The project calls for 92 homes with upscale amenities that include a beachfront cafe with room service, resident lounge, pool, jacuzzi and cabanas with poolside dining, wellness facilities, and 19 boat slips that can fit boats up to 45 feet.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, currently under construction at 1380 S. Ocean Blvd., will feature two buildings, one on each side of State Road A1A, with a total of 205 move-in-ready homes and 14 private boat slips. The 32-story Beach Tower will have 117 homes. The 14-story Marina Tower will have 88. The penthouses will include garden terraces, private pools, summer kitchens and 360-degree views that take in the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway.
Armani/Casa, named after the late Italian designer Giorgio Armani, is still moving through the review process and has not yet broken ground. The project, located at 1550 North Ocean Blvd., calls for two 19-story towers with 28 luxury homes that will each take up the entire floor.
Soleste, an eight-story building with 253 apartments, is now open at 208 N. Federal Highway.
Hillsboro Shores, a 10-story condo with 121 homes, is planned for a vacant parcel at 2507 N. Ocean Blvd. The project has all the required approvals but has yet to break ground.
A multi-tiered building ranging from three to eight stories would offer 395 residences at 2400 E. Atlantic Blvd., formerly home to a Wells Fargo Bank. The project is still undergoing review by the city and has not yet broken ground.
Salato is currently under construction at 305 Briny Ave. The project calls for 40 residences with wide terraces facing the ocean. Amenities include a gym, wellness lounge, pool, spa and saunas. The project will also have retail shops along with an upscale restaurant open to the public.
Haborside at Hidden Harbour calls for two eight-floor buildings with 271 homes at the southeast corner of North Federal Highway and Northeast 16th Street near the Hidden Harbour Marina. The project has all the required approvals but has yet to break ground.
“It’s been approved for years,” Hardin said. “We’ve had projects sitting for some time and some are still sitting. Sometimes it’s just a question of whether the developer is ready. We still have lots of things happening. We’re still seeing projects moving forward.”
Hardin says the development boom didn’t happen all on its own. He gives partial credit to the city’s efforts to streamline permits and improve the beach.
“Back in 2009, we made a conscious decision to focus our efforts on the beach area because we wanted to attract more tourism,” he said. “We built a new garage. We replaced the pier. More restaurants and shops opened and are now thriving. And that really was the spark that kind of lit the fire. People started to come here. And they’re still coming.”
Correction: An earlier version of this story had photo captions that misstated the name of a Pompano Beach building. It is Solemar, at 1116 N. Ocean Blvd.
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
