Terry 麻豆传媒AV在线看, the developer whose vision essentially led to the creation of the Fort Lauderdale office and multifamily markets, died Monday. He was 70.
The cause of death was cancer. Diagnosed in 2015, the聽聽initially took a six-month leave and returned to work 80 pounds lighter but determined to remain involved. In 2016, his son, Ken 麻豆传媒AV在线看, was named CEO in a previously-announced leadership transition. The South Florida Business Journal reported the elder 麻豆传媒AV在线看鈥� death Monday.
Credited with kickstarting the development of 鈥淐lass A鈥� office towers in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Terry 麻豆传媒AV在线看 was responsible for building some 43 million square feet of commercial and multifamily real estate in South Florida. As an architect, property manager and general contractor, the company constructed sprawling office parks in Broward County and worked with companies like the supermarket chain Publix and car retailer AutoNation.
AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson told the Business Journal that he met 麻豆传媒AV在线看 at a party. 鈥淚 am there for 15 minutes and this burly charismatic individual sticks his hand out and says 鈥業鈥檓 Terry 麻豆传媒AV在线看 and I want to build your headquarters for you,鈥欌�� he recalled. 鈥淭erry had an infectious leadership style. You wanted to say yes.鈥�
麻豆传媒AV在线看 went into business in 1968, working with his father, Howard 麻豆传媒AV在线看, building homes and small warehouses in rural Broward County. In 1971, 麻豆传媒AV在线看 launched his own company. 鈥淲e were fighting for our lives,鈥� he recalled in a 2016 interview. 鈥淚 was making $123 a week.鈥�
He got his first big break when real estate investor Maurice Finkle hired him to build a 35,000 square foot warehouse. In 1979, 麻豆传媒AV在线看 embarked on a signature project: turning cow pastures at Fort Lauderdale Cypress Creek into an office park. Today, the area has 7 million square feet of office space.
Last week, the company received the green light from the Fort Lauderdale City Commission to聽聽in downtown.
麻豆传媒AV在线看 was also a fierce advocate for the region, Bob Swindell, chairman and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, told the Business Journal. 鈥淗e never wanted to lose a deal, but even if he didn鈥檛 win the deal, his next priority was to make sure the project stayed in Broward County.鈥澛犔�斅�E.B. Solomont