Fort Lauderdale beach’s future uncertain
The future development of Fort Lauderdale beachmay be at stake due to remaining development entitlements running scarce and the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Community Redevelopment Area’s $78 million funding set to expire.
In the late-80s, the city developed revitalization plans for the neglected beach. It created a mixed-use Central BeachRegional Activity Center to encourage rehabilitation and redevelopment of properties, and created a Beach Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), where improvements are funded through the use of tax-increment funds.
Phrases such as “world-class resort,” “high-quality destination resort uses” and “incentives for quality development and redevelopment” were used to lure new development. Slowly over the next10-plus years, the plans and initiatives startedworking. The image and aesthetics of the beach area improved and substantial private investment began. The former Candy Store, Button and other popular “strip” landmarkswere replaced withworld-class resort hotels such as the RitzCarlton, the Conrad and soon the Four Seasons, aswell as upscale condominiums and restaurants.
The beach has never looked better, businesses are thriving, and hotel occupancies are at an all-time high. However, the great progress is about to come to a halt. As part of these revitalization plans, densitywas limited to only 5,500 residential units and to no more than 3,220 peak-hour vehicle trips (the in-bound and out-bound traffic volumes during peak hours) for all uses within the central beach area. As of June18, therewere only 391 residential units and132 vehicle trips remaining to be developed, if four pending projects are approved. According to the city manager’s office, once these numbers are exhausted, Fort Lauderdale will not be able to permit new development or redevelopment that exceeds approved entitlements.
With these development numbers decreasing daily, what is the future of FortLauderdale beach’s development and redevelopment? Are the residents of the city content with whatwe have nowor can more be done to improve the city’sNo. 1asset and revenue generator?
I believewe have a lot more to do in order tomake Fort Lauderdale beach a family-oriented, safe, worldclass destination. While the $78million CRA funds are improving some of the beach’s public realm and creating additional beach parking, it is up to the private sector to fund and create beautiful, architecturally significant developments that enhance and improve the beach’s aesthetics and functionality.
Private investment has enhanced theNorth Beach Village, creating a vibrant beach community. Allowing investment to continue and development and redevelopment to occur will also allowthe beach to continue its prosperity and realize its vision for responsible development and safe andwalkable streets lined with active uses, including outdoor cafes, signature restaurants, retail shops, and galleries. However, none of these uses will be permitted once the beach densities and intensities are exhausted.
Fort Lauderdale needs to take action now. The City Commission can and must request additional density and intensity for all of the uses within the beach’ s Regional Activity Center from Bro ward County. Don’t halt development all together.