Nova Southeastern University has abruptly pulled the plug on its hotly debated seven-story dorm proposal in Davie, giving nearby homeowners a breather in a fight they suspect is far from over. The project would have stacked roughly 600 student beds along the edge of a neighborhood and over playing fields long used by youth leagues and NSU athletes. Neighbors who went to battle against the plan say they are treating this as a pause, not a permanent win.
Town of Davie officials confirmed by email that NSU withdrew its development applications, according to CBS News Miami. The filings covered a seven-story, 600-bed residence hall planned for the corner of Southwest 39th Street and Southwest 72nd Avenue, inside the Bill Gessner Sports Complex and directly across from the Country Creek neighborhood. Two public participation meetings had been set for April 23 and May 14 before the paperwork was pulled.
"I bought this house two years ago because of the field where kids play," Country Creek resident Heloise Giraldo told CBS News Miami. "I'm concerned about air and noise pollution. Seven stories high, I'll lose my privacy." Other neighbors flagged traffic, extra lighting and environmental impacts as reasons they saw the massive dorm as wildly out of step with single-family backyards.
Neighbors Organize
Residents quickly mobilized with public comments and an online campaign aimed at blocking the rezoning and site plan, arguing the university was trading away a critical community field for dense student housing. A petition on Change.org cites rezoning applications ZB25-247 and DG25-248 and warns that the project would bring 600 students and more than 500 parking spaces into the area.
What’s on the Site
The parcel targeted for development sits inside NSU's Bill Gessner Sports Complex, a collection of fields and facilities that host university programs and youth sports, according to Nova Southeastern University. That heavy use helped energize opposition from families and coaches who say the fields are packed for practices and weekend games.
What Comes Next
With the applications withdrawn, town staff and residents are watching to see whether the university comes back with a tweaked version of the dorm project or shifts student housing to another corner of campus. The Town of Davie's Development Review page outlines the rezoning, site plan review and public participation steps that would govern any new filing.
For now, neighbors are chalking this up as a tactical win rather than a final verdict. Organizers say they plan to keep the petition and community feedback channels wide open as a warning shot against any revived proposal. The petition and comment thread on Change.org remain active as the community braces for whatever NSU tries next.
