Fort Lauderdale’s Pier Sixty-Six will likely be deemed a ‘historic’ landmark. Here’s why.

Lisa J. Huriash, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Updated ·6 min read
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Pier Sixty-Six, the landmark that rises high and stands out with its crown of spires, could be deemed a historic structure in Fort Lauderdale, preserving it forever.

The Fort Lauderdale City Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday to give the property’s original tower a “historic designation as a historic landmark,” keeping the 1950s-era exterior intact, according to city records.

It’s considered important for its historic associations with the Phillips Petroleum Company.

“It is one of the most, if not the most, recognizable and significant structures in Fort Lauderdale and represents an important historical time in our city’s history,” said Vice Mayor Steven Glassman.

The public meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the NSU Art Museum, moved from City Hall.

If the historical status is granted, the Fort Lauderdale’s Historic Preservation Board will need to give permission for any future changes made to the exterior of the original tower — including any demolition requests. The portion of the property that is designated historic “would be eligible to utilize available incentives for historic preservation that it qualifies for, which may include certain tax incentives,” according to city officials.

It’s a move embraced by the developer, Tavistock, which suggested the historical marker in their 2018 paperwork.

“The historic designation was put forth by Tavistock from day one,” said Jessi Blakley, a Tavistock spokeswoman, according to a statement provided by the developer. “The main tower is iconic to Fort Lauderdale and will remain that way. We intend to preserve the integrity of the resort tower and reopen the Pier Top to the public.

“Recognizing Pier Sixty-Six and Pier Top as an icon in our city isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a celebration of our community’s identity,” she wrote in an email statement. “As a local, I personally was surprised it hadn’t happened sooner and we moved forward with this endeavor because we felt that it was what our community deserved.”

Regardless if the historical designation goes through as the city expects, so much else has already changed: The name Pier 66 was changed to Pier Sixty-Six as “Tavistock updated the branding in anticipation of its new luxury reimagination,” according to the developer’s spokeswoman.

And after the construction already underway is complete, it will be the first time there will be residential homes on the property. Four residential buildings are in the works:

  • Azul: 29 residences

  • Indigo: 30 residences

  • Resort Residences: 31 homes spread across two buildings

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A future phase of construction calls for more residential buildings.

Being fixed up is the old tower, which would retain its Pier Top lounge, popular for live music and dance. Historically, it has rotated 360 degrees every 66 minutes at its top level. Visitors were reminded if they get up and dance, or walk out to the balcony, their seats will not be in the same place when they return.

Pier Top is still expected to rotate when it opens in the fall of this year but the new rotation is still in the development phase. “It can and will spin; however, it is not defined how often at this stage,” according to a developer spokeswoman.

It is described by the developer as an “iconic revolving lounge” that “is destined to become Fort Lauderdale’s preeminent cocktail lounge once again, with spectacular views across the vast Atlantic Ocean, Port Everglades, Intracoastal Waterway, and the lights of downtown Fort Lauderdale. The atmosphere will be glamorous, with cinematic views over the horizon.”

The developer is adding an 11-story, 325-room hotel behind the tower (10 stories for the resort and one for parking), and pool areas for families and adults within the 32-acre resort. Hotel bookings will soon become available, with an anticipated opening in the fall, according to the developer.

The construction includes future retail space and office space.

The Pier Sixty-Six Marina, which has 164 slips that can accommodate vessels up to 400 feet long, has stayed open throughout the expansion. A new Marina Promenade at the base of the condominium buildings will feature restaurants, shops, and offices along the waterway.

From here, if the owners and city see fit, the property could go on to get national historic designation, said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale, formerly the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society.

“I could see it happening,” she said. The architecture is mid-twentieth-century modern with “some characteristics of brutalism,” she said. “It’s absolutely worth preserving, (it has a) unique unusual design.”

The history

The history of Pier Sixty-Six and its former owners is credited with helping attract tourists to Broward County.

The Phillips Petroleum Company tested a new logo and a new gas station architectural style and one of the first locations was in Fort Lauderdale at Pier 66. It began as a yacht marina with a fueling dock, boat service facility and car service station in 1956. The Pier 66 Restaurant and Lounge was completed in 1957. Next came the 102-room hotel by 1959, and then the 19-story hotel tower to add even more rooms a few years later.

Kenneth Adams was the second president of Phillips Petroleum Company, and his “strategic decision to construct a terminal at Port Everglades, develop Pier 66 Marina and Hotel and institute a gas station building program in Fort Lauderdale contributed to the growth and development of the area,” according to city records.

With more gas stations readily available, that let tourists travel there, and now they had a place to stay, too.

“The development of the Pier 66 Marina and Hotel created a tourist designation, local employment opportunities and stimulated the local economy,” according to city records.

While residents have their own memories at Pier Sixty-Six, there are noteworthy tidbits about the property:

  • The elevator takes 33 seconds to ascend from the lobby to the Pier Top Lounge, and 66 seconds total if going up and down. A white crown of spires above the Pier Top has 66 points.

  • The Pier 66 Hotel is one of the last of its kind in Broward County: What makes the hotel, designed by architect Richard F. Humble, “space age” is how it uses geometric shapes, steel and windows to portray a modern design.

  • The tower was added to Pier 66 in 1965.

  • The original and historic tower is 17 stories. When it was first built, it was the tallest building in Fort Lauderdale.

An effort years in the making

The city’s historical designation has been in the works for years.

In 2018, the developer agreed to seek historic designation of the Pier 66 Hotel Tower located on the site, and the application was completed in November 2022, according to city officials. The next month, the city’s Historic Preservation Board unanimously agreed that the commission approve the request for historical designation.

“Why it took so long I don’t know,” said City Commissioner Warren Sturman. Still, “I’m very anxious to get that approved. Pier Sixty-Six was a landmark from when I was in high school. This was a focal point of the city and it really does have historical significance.”

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash