Josh Levine, General Manager, Dania Pointe

May 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Josh Levine, general manager of Dania Pointe, discussed how the mixed-use development supports economic activity, captures regional traffic, and reinforces Dania Beach’s identity as a community-driven destination. “Mixed-use gives people reasons to stay, return, and participate in city life.”

How do you see Dania Pointe contributing to the city’s economic vitality and to its identity as a modern coastal destination?

Dania Pointe functions as Dania Beach’s primary gathering place, bringing together public spaces, event programming, and everyday activity into one central destination. That role represents its most tangible contribution to the city’s economic vitality and identity. On any given day, the center supports employment across nearly one million square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment, while also driving consistent visitation that benefits surrounding hotels, restaurants, and businesses.

Just as important is how Dania Pointe helps the city capture activity that historically moved through the area without stopping. With immediate access to I-95, I-595, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, and Port Everglades, the project anchors regional and visitor traffic within Dania Beach rather than allowing it to bypass the community. In addition, the center is a popular gathering spot for residents living in Fort Lauderdale and neighboring cities who frequent Dania Pointe for dining, shopping and to visit our entertainment destinations like Puttshack, Lucky Strike, Regal and the Fort Lauderdale Improv.

From an identity standpoint, we focus on programming that feels local rather than imported. Live music, wellness activities, artisan markets, and seasonal events like the Dania Pointe Food & Wine Festival and 5k Fun Run Under the Sun feature local musicians, makers, nonprofits, and civic partners. The goal is not to manufacture a destination identity, but to reflect and elevate the community’s established character. The center serves as a destination for Dania Beach and the surrounding areas, enhancing a civic gathering place that feels authentic to the city.

What made Dania Beach the right location for a project of this scale?

Few sites in South Florida offer the same combination of highway access, proximity to the airport, port connectivity, and access to downtown Fort Lauderdale. That advantage has been clearly validated through the center’s continued success since its opening.

The City of Dania Beach treats the center as a long-term partner, not simply as an individual development. City leadership and staff are engaged, collaborative, and reliable across permitting, public safety, and day-to-day coordination. That level of partnership is difficult to find and has been essential to the project’s success.

There is also strong alignment between the local trade area and the visitor base. Residents, office users, hotel guests, and travelers moving through the airport and cruise port support a steady, overlapping flow of activity. The map illustrates why the site works. The public/private partnership explains why the project succeeds.

How does Dania Pointe’s deliberate mixed-use advance Dania Beach’s broader goals beyond shopping?

Dania Pointe was planned as a mixed-use project from the outset, aligning directly with the City’s Vision 2036 principles around vibrant activity centers, a strong local economy, and a hometown sense of place. While the retail component is the most visible, the broader value comes from how each element operates together.

The residential component introduces true around-the-clock activity and supports businesses beyond traditional peak hours. The Spirit Airlines corporate campus anchors daytime activity and sustains dining and services throughout the workday. The Marriott and AC Hotels capture visitor spending from the airport and Port Everglades and help retain that economic activity within Dania Beach. The common areas, including the Lawn, shaded seating areas, and programmed open space, function as community infrastructure rather than solely as a private amenity.

Taken together, these components advance Vision 2036’s call for walkable activity centers, strong mixed-use retail environments, and community gathering places where residents can live, work, shop, and connect without leaving the city. A shopping center attracts trips. Mixed-use gives people reasons to stay, return, and participate in city life.

What’s been the most surprising part of operating here, positive or challenging?

The most impactful surprise has been the City of Dania Beach’s genuine investment in the project’s long-term success. Dania Pointe is treated as part of the City’s civic fabric, not simply as a privately operated development.

That partnership is reflected in operational coordination, including the Broward Sheriff’s Office substation at Dania Pointe, a collaboration formally recognized in the City’s strategic plan. It is also evident in the City’s visibility and support around key tenant milestones and community programming.

A continuing and positive challenge is serving two distinct but complementary customer bases. Dania Pointe draws daily use from local residents while also welcoming visitors arriving from the airport and cruise port. Balancing tenant mix, programming, and operations to support both audiences requires deliberate planning, but it also strengthens the project’s resilience.

What’s next for Dania Pointe, and how does it align with where Dania Beach is heading over the next five to ten years?

When we opened in 2018, the vision was always to create more than a place to run errands. Over time, we’ve evolved the tenant mix to include a strong lineup of global and nationally recognized brands, along with emerging concepts that keep the experience fresh. The result is a destination where people come to spend time, not just check something off their list.

What comes next for Dania Pointe is directly tied to where Dania Beach is headed, with the project intentionally evolving alongside the city over time.

In the near term, that evolution includes continued tenant refinement, expanded programming, and deeper community partnerships that build on existing momentum. Over the longer term, priorities include sustainability and resilience improvements, ongoing investment in the public realm, and maintaining a tenant mix that continues to support both residents and visitors.

As a long-term owner and operator, Kimco approaches Dania Pointe as a permanent part of the city rather than a project intended for turnover. That long view aligns with Dania Beach’s own trajectory, including housing growth, destination development, and resilience planning. The benefit of long-term ownership is the ability to grow alongside the city. Where Dania Beach goes over the next decade, Dania Pointe goes with it.