Metropica, the sprawling $1.5 billion megaproject on the rise in Sunrise, will bring waves of people and traffic to a region that’s miles from the coast.
The 65-acre project, led by Miami developer Joseph Kavana, has been approved for 3,300 residential units, 650,000 square feet of office space and 485,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.
It’s a part of all the new growth underway in western Broward County. To make way for the potential tsunami of traffic, plans are in the works to revamp a nearby Sawgrass Expressway interchange just west of Amerant Bank Arena, home of the Florida Panthers hockey team.
Metropica on the rise
Metropica, a mammoth mixed-use project billed as a city within a city, sits between Sawgrass Mills mall and Amerant Bank Arena.
So far, two buildings with a total of 680 residential units have already been built. One Metropica, a 28-story condo tower with 263 units, opened in 2020. And Portico, a six-story luxury apartment building with 417 units, was completed in 2017.
Construction on the next phase is expected to begin in the next few months.
Eight years ago, Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan warned that a “tsunami of traffic” would be coming along with all the new development surrounding the county’s hockey arena.
Ryan has been pushing ever since for a full interchange at Pat Salerno Drive, arguing that the arena and nearby Sawgrass Mills mall need a ramp for commuters coming from the region’s northern borders.
Currently, commuters on the Sawgrass Expressway can only access Pat Salerno Drive from the south.
Helping ease gridlock
Drivers have long wondered why there’s no northbound ramp from Pat Salerno Drive to the Sawgrass Expressway. But now, with all the development coming to Sunrise, there’s a plan to construct a new ramp system to fix that problem.
As part of a landmark agreement with Sunrise, Metropica’s developer is donating 19 acres of land to the Florida Turnpike to serve as stormwater drainage for the long-awaited ramp.
The agreement allows for the design and construction of a full access interchange at Pat Salerno Drive and the Sawgrass Expressway, with ramps accommodating traffic from both the north and south.
The new ramp will not only help ease gridlock, but also foster future growth in the western parts of Broward County, officials say.
“The Metropica development team is committed to being a good neighbor and positive force in helping the Sunrise Business & Entertainment District reach its full potential,” Kavana said. “In that spirit, we are proud that this donation will make it easier for major public and private sector projects to move forward.”
The project will take five years to complete and cost between $90 million and $100 million, said county spokesman Greg Meyer. Construction is expected to begin in August 2026.
“We greatly appreciate the cooperation of everyone involved with this important agreement,” Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan said. “Having a full interchange will help facilitate traffic flow in and out of Amerant Bank Arena and keep vehicles off local streets. The city is committed to responsible growth to support impactful new developments like Metropica.”
Other key benefits of the land donation include:
— Centrally located in a rapidly growing area, a portion of the 19 donated acres is especially beneficial to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, given its planned expansion of the Sawgrass Expressway to Interstate 95 in Deerfield Beach.
— Construction of the new interchange at Pat Salerno Drive and the Sawgrass Expressway will significantly alleviate congestion before and after Florida Panthers games.
Also, Baptist Health South Florida is set to construct the first hospital located within the city of Sunrise on 10 acres at Oakland Park Boulevard and the Sawgrass Expressway.
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan