North Lauderdale needs more than a ‘telephone mayor’

Whoever wins the mayoral and commission races in the City of North Lauderdale, the victors will have a lot of work to do to raise the city’s visibility, attract more economic development and strengthen its tax base.

In 2017, the city was among nine Broward County cities omitted from a county tourist guide. One key attraction — the 1,000-foot Wyland Wall by muralist Robert Wyland — was worth a mention. And Hampton Pines Park is a pretty, tranquil place. But the city is probably best known for its three cemeteries: Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Star of David Memorial Gardens and Bailey Memorial.

“I have more people dead in my area than alive,” said Commissioner Gerald Graziose, who’s running for re-election. “We’re the only (Broward) city with cemeteries on the west side of I-95 ... up to Palm Beach.”

By and large, though, North Lauderdale is more of a “pass-through” bedroom community. The 5.5 square-mile municipality has a young, growing population that exceeds 44,000. Located in Central Broward, its chief neighbors are Tamarac and Margate. To the southeast, the city has a short border line with Fort Lauderdale.

In 2007, shortly before the Great Recession, then-City Manager Richard Salas recalled how Walmart, which wanted to build one of its “supercenters” on the site of the West McNab U-Pick, was unable to find restaurants and other stores to locate on land next door as it was obliged to do under a contract with the city. The reason, Salas said, was “because nobody wants to come to North Lauderdale.”

So the city and Walmart compromised, agreeing to allow the retail giant to build only the store. Since then, developer Arena Capital LLC has acquired four parcels from Walmart and built other retail structures adjacent to the supercenter. And now, the old vegetable farm appears to be emerging into a vibrant commercial center.

Still, challenges lie ahead for the city, which commissioned the business consulting firm Redevelopment Management Associates to assess North Lauderdale’s strengths and weaknesses, and hammer out a long-term economic strategic plan.

How elected officials intend to execute the plan is uncertain. While the city’s website contains a detailed summary of the consultant’s freshly minted analysis, there is scant evidence of planned next steps. The proper course is obviously up to the next mayor and the commission. But who is best positioned to lead?