Fort Lauderdale approves 42-story condo near Stranahan House By Susannah Bryan December 7 2005 Fort Lauderdale · After a bitter six-year fight, city commissioners gave a final nod Tuesday to a controversial 42-story residential tower next to the historic Stranahan House on the Hyde Park Market site.Scores of Stranahan House sympathizers made last-ditch appeals to stop the soaring tower, reminding commissioners of a five-year-old voter mandate to preserve the site as a park. "It's another concrete jungle at the expense of our historic center," Fort Lauderdale resident George Coonts told commissioners. "All we need is another monstrosity like this downtown."But in a 3-2 decision, commissioners approved the huge building on the riverfront at 500 E. Las Olas Blvd. Commissioners Cindi Hutchinson, Dean Trantalis and Carlton Moore backed the development. Mayor Jim Naugle and Commissioner Christine Teel opposed it.At 455 feet, the structure will be the tallest in the city. River House condo a few blocks to the west is shorter by 3 feet. The county's tallest tower, at 505 feet and 52 stories, is the still-unfinished Beach Club Tower 2 in Hallandale Beach.Tuesday night's approval paves the way for the downtown Fort Lauderdale Condo, which will include 272 condo apartments atop a six-story garage with 388 parking spaces. The ground floor will be reserved for retail and lobby space. Andrew James http://www.fort-lauderdale-waterfront-home.com/ 786-326-7776