JBL is advancing plans to transform an existing shopping center in Deerfield Beach into a predominantly residential property with supporting retail space. The town is reviewing the company's proposal to rezone a 13-acre site on S. Federal Highway, which is currently home to the Rivertowne Square retail plaza. According to published reports, JBL acquired Rivertowne Square, a 144,000-square-foot retail center originally built in 1980, for $18.85 million.
The proposed redevelopment envisions a significant shift in the site's use, replacing the single-use retail format with a mixed-use multifamily community. Under the new zoning framework being considered, JBL would construct 736 apartments across two eight-story residential buildings. The plan also calls for two structured parking garages providing a combined total of 1,232 parking spaces to serve residents and retail customers.
Retail would remain part of the project's programming, but at a reduced scale compared with the existing plaza. The plan outlines 75,527 square feet of retail space on the site. Of that total, 24,000 square feet would be new ground-floor retail integrated into the base of the apartment buildings, with the balance retained in existing retail space. This configuration would maintain a neighborhood-serving retail component while shifting the property's primary focus to multifamily housing.
The residential program for the two planned towers is divided between buildings with 394 and 342 apartments, respectively, for a combined total of 736 units. The mix is planned to include 116 studio apartments, 379 one-bedroom units and 241 two-bedroom units, indicating a concentration of smaller floor plans. Planned resident amenities include a pool, a clubhouse and a fitness center, supporting a community-oriented environment within the higher-density setting.
Design responsibilities for the redevelopment have been undertaken by Gallo Herbert Architects, a firm based in Deerfield Beach. The architectural plans reflect the repositioning of Rivertowne Square from an older, 1980s-vintage retail plaza into a contemporary multifamily-led property that incorporates ground-floor and on-site retail. The project remains subject to municipal consideration of the requested rezoning as JBL seeks approvals to proceed with its redevelopment strategy for the S. Federal Highway corridor.
