On Tuesday, Sept. 30, the long-anticipated $1.5 billion Metropica development officially broke ground in Sunrise.

The master-planned project is poised to transform western Broward County and is approved for 3,000 residential units, 650,000 square feet of office space, 485,000 square feet of retail and two hotels on a 50-acre site located between Sawgrass Mills and Amerant Bank Arena.

Metropica’s first phase will include approximately 900 luxury rental apartments, a retail plaza with restaurants and entertainment that will total approximately 150,000 square feet, and one of the two hotels.

During the groundbreaking event, Metropica Development LLC CEO Joseph Kavana, President Bernie Werner and Vice President Erick Collazo were joined by Sunrise Mayor Mike Ryan, Assistant Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Guzman and Commissioner Latoya Clarke.

Metropica also introduced, for the first time, its retail development and residential development partners. Poag Development Group, a Tennessee-based developer that pioneered the lifestyle retail center concept, will lead the retail development at Metropica. Poag Development President and CEO Josh Poag spoke on the company’s behalf during the event. Boca Raton-based Waypoint Residential will lead the residential development of Metropica, with Managing Director Chris Moore speaking on behalf of the company.