Broward County Eyes Spirit's $250M Dania Beach Campus
Broward County commissioners will consider purchasing Spirit Airlines' abandoned 180,000-square-foot headquarters for a potential $150-200 million instead of building a new governmental center. The failed carrier's Dania Beach campus could save taxpayers hundreds of millions in construction costs.
Broward County commissioners will vote next week on acquiring Spirit Airlines' former headquarters in Dania Beach, potentially transforming the budget carrier's corporate failure into a taxpayer windfall.
The county is considering purchasing the six-story, 180,000-square-foot building for an estimated $150 million to $200 million, according to Commissioner Michael Udine, who placed the item on the agenda. This acquisition would replace plans for constructing a new governmental center in downtown Fort Lauderdale, a project carrying a $400 million to $500 million price tag.
Spirit's headquarters sits as the centerpiece of an 11-acre corporate campus at Dania Pointe that originally cost $250 million to develop. The airline opened the facility just two years ago before permanently ceasing operations last Saturday following its parent company's bankruptcy filing.
The vacant property has already attracted interest from multiple sectors beyond government use. Bob Swindell, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, revealed ongoing discussions with aviation industry leaders about relocating to South Florida. He specifically mentioned JetBlue Airways as a potential occupant, noting that the New York-based carrier had previously committed to using Spirit's headquarters during their failed merger attempt in 2024.
JetBlue executives had advanced far enough in planning to discuss changing the building's color scheme before the merger collapsed due to antitrust concerns, Swindell said.
The property's strategic location adjacent to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which served as Spirit's largest operating base, makes it particularly attractive to aviation companies. Jaimie Sturgis, founder and CEO of Native Realty, emphasized the site's advantages, including proximity to the airport and Dania Pointe's mixed-use amenities.
Ken Krasnow of Cushman & Wakefield expects strong demand from companies seeking large blocks of Class A office space, noting that such inventory remains scarce throughout South Florida. He anticipates investors with major tenants already secured will emerge as serious bidders.
Financial services firms represent another potential user category for the massive space, according to Swindell. Similar to the incentive package that originally attracted Spirit from Miramar to Dania Beach, the county and state could structure deals to encourage major corporate relocations.
The headquarters building, along with an adjacent training center, was originally developed by Kimco Realty as part of the broader Dania Pointe project before being sold to Spirit. The development includes residential units, restaurants, retail outlets, and entertainment venues across its footprint.
For Broward County, the acquisition represents a rare opportunity to secure premium office space at a substantial discount while avoiding the lengthy construction timeline and cost overruns typically associated with government building projects.
