A U.S. bankruptcy judge in Fort Lauderdale has approved the pending $22.5 million sale of the oceanfront site of an abandoned Howard Johnson’s hotel on A1A in Fort Lauderdale.

MAH Cignal Holdings LLC, a Timonium, Maryland, company managed by Armando Cignarale, is set to acquire the 700 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd. site after emerging from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy auction as the high bidder. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Raymond B. Ray on Friday approved the auction result. The transaction is expected to close on March 15.