|
Dear Neighbors,
What an INCREDIBLE first half of the year it has been for District 2. As we have reached the mid-point of 2024, I wanted to pause and review just how much we have accomplished in the last six months.
Setting our Priorities
On January 19th, the City Commission met at the FXE Executive Airport for our Annual Goal Setting Workshop. Outstanding discussion as we formulated our Top Priorities for FY 2025 (beginning October 1, 2024), projects of interest, and district needs. Staff consolidated all of these items and provided a report which identified deliverables and milestones. I am so appreciative of the District 2 neighborhood presidents who provided valuable input prior to the meeting, enabling me to articulate our needs and ideas. Thank you to our entire City team who will work diligently to help bring these priorities to fruition.
Completed!
Las Olas Crosswalks
In March of this year, we made pedestrian safety on Las Olas Blvd. a top priority. I had previously secured $500K in the FY 2024 budget for the installation of two crosswalks, along with flashing beacons, warning signs, and ADA pedestrian ramps at Las Olas Blvd, between S. Gordon Road and Bontona Avenue, and Las Olas Blvd, between Fiesta Way and Coral Way. The amount of positive feedback has been enormous, and I am so pleased that we have this new safety feature in place for pedestrians.
Las Olas Utilities Undergrounding
As the project nears completion, AT&T and Comcast are converting all residences to new underground connections so that overhead lines and wooden poles can be removed. Comcast has completed hookups on all but 26 residences; AT&T has completed residence hookups. FPL has removed wood poles and old transformers on Isle of Capri Drive, Mola Avenue, Coconut Isle Drive, Lido Drive, San Marco Drive and Coral Way. Many thanks to the residents for their patience these past two years. Getting this project started and completed has been a priority of mine since being elected in 2018 as this effort first began more than twelve years ago! Our office has been working with Public Works to assist all neighborhoods who seek to participate in the undergrounding of utilities.
A1A Streetscape
In January of 2024, the A1A Streetscape project was completed!
In Fall of 2023, the City of Fort Lauderdale worked with Weekley Asphalt Paving, Inc. to make streetscape improvements along A1A from the Fort Lauderdale Beach Parking Lot entrance (near SE 5 Street) to Sunrise Boulevard. This project enhanced pedestrian lighting and safety and created a signature hardscape pattern at the intersection of A1A and Las Olas Boulevard. The project included relocating existing palms to the curb to extend sidewalk area on both sides of A1A, upgrading hardscape elements including colored, decorative concrete, installing site furnishing elements including accent seating and bollards, and installing LED pedestrian lights along the west side of A1A that will provide amber-colored lighting during turtle nesting season and white lighting during the remainder of the year. I was at the Great American Beach Party this past May and the difference was astounding; much more room for our residents and visitors to safely walk on A1A.
Crosswalk Evaluation
City Staff is actively collaborating with neighbors and partner agencies (Broward County Government & FDOT Southeast Florida) to evaluate and implement new crosswalks in downtown Fort Lauderdale for a safer pedestrian experience. We also collaborated with the Flagler Village Civic Association to capture their vision of a more walkable downtown and helping our residents walk to key destinations safely and conveniently.
All involved parties have agreed that the key corridors of Federal Hwy,. NE 3rd Avenue, and Andrews Avenue need to be examined more closely to determine where new crosswalks will be located. Stay tuned for more info on this exciting effort!
Infrastructure Improvements and Seawalls
Merle Fogg Seawall Replacement
On June 6th, we celebrated the ribbon cutting for the new 130-foot seawall at Merle Fogg Park. I’ve followed this project closely and I must say it is so great to see Merle Fogg Park restored. When the seawall initially collapsed, it created erosion problems and was impacting a stormwater discharge pipe. Through this project, not only did we replace the seawall, but we also installed a new storm inlet and check valve which all promise to help make sure our stormwater system is working as designed to keep this area dry. Infrastructure and resiliency work continues at a fast pace in District 2, and I am thrilled that we were able to move this project way ahead of schedule in order to protect the neighborhood.
Southeast Isles Seawall Replacement
Construction has been completed along the south side of Las Olas Boulevard between Coconut Isle Drive and Royal Plaza Drive where four seawalls are being replaced and new stormwater infrastructure has been installed. The new seawalls were constructed using corrosion-resistant steel sheet-piles with a concrete cap and were elevated to 5 feet NAVD in accordance with the City’s revised seawall ordinance. Nearby stormwater infrastructure, including pipes, catch basins, and tidal valves were improved to ensure proper drainage near the seawalls. The first seawall replaced was between Coconut Isle Drive and Lido Drive and crews continued to move east along Las Olas Boulevard. This work in the Las Olas Isles neighborhood represents a nearly $3 million investment in our infrastructure that will help reduce tidal flooding, making us better prepared for future king tides and sea level rise. All seawalls have been completed and sidewalk repair will be underway shortly.
City of Fort Lauderdale Hosts the Unified Land Development Panel of Experts
In October of last year, the City of Fort Lauderdale engaged the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to convene an independent volunteer Advisory Services panel to analyze flood-prone City roads and recommend criteria for a policy to determine which roads to elevate and how to prioritize and fund these improvements. I reached out to many stakeholders in District 2 and was delighted to see many of our residents attend both sessions held at the Museum of Discovery and Science. Voices were heard and recommendations from the ULI were presented to the Commission. Climate change is an issue facing many coastal cities and it is imperative that we participate and help find a solution.
New District Developments
New Signals & Crosswalks on A1A – NE 27 St & NE 14 Ct
This project will modify the existing curb and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramps and add new crosswalks with pedestrian and traffic signals and detectors at the intersection of A1A/North Ocean Boulevard and NE 27 Street. In addition, we will be adding a new midblock crosswalk with pedestrian signal and detectors south of NE 14 Court to facilitate safe passage across SR-A1A/North Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard and repaving, restriping of the existing bike lanes and upgrading the signage in this area.
Proposed Rezoning of Channel Square and Promenade Park
THANK YOU to all the residents that wrote to the city in support of this important initiative. On June 19th, we had an important public meeting to discuss the rezoning of two very important parcels on the barrier island, Channel Square and Promenade Park. Both of these parcels now are zoned Planned Resort Development which permits very intense development and the Parks rezoning will prohibit that. I look forward to this moving from the Planning and Zoning Board to the City Commission so we can continue this important work. As our city grows in population, protecting open space and green space is of paramount importance. We have rezoned 23 sites to date with 11 more to go.
Himmarshee District Revitalization Plan
With the Himmarshee Historic District identified as an area in need of enhancement and revitalization when I placed it on our FY 2024 Commission goals, the City Commission was provided with a presentation about recent public outreach and feedback. Discussions with the community began in late 2023, including interviews with key stakeholders and an open house with the public. These discussions outlined several themes, including a need to restore the identity of the area, improve safety, address infrastructure concerns, and balance economic goals and community needs, among others. I encouraged staff to address all of the challenges and work toward revitalizing the district while keeping the historic elements intact, and to consider other areas around the city for similar improvement efforts in the future. City staff will now begin working on an action plan with short and long-term goals to begin the revitalization work. I am pleased that we are making progress in this pivotal area, not only for District 2, but for the entire downtown and city. It is vital that this corridor which connects our arts and entertainment district, two historic districts, and the historic neighborhood of Sailboat Bend is safe and welcoming.
Sunrise Lane
On April 18th, we held the last of three workshops to redesign Sunrise Lane. Just south of Sunrise Blvd. at A1A sits a cool corner of the beach - Sunrise Lane. I have long thought that this area is the beach’s “Greenwich Village” and needed some TLC to enable the site to live up to its potential. I secured $250,000 in funding in this year’s budget to hire our consultant and begin the conceptual design work. Thank you to the many neighborhood residents who participated in the three sessions that concluded with a packed house. Through ongoing discussion and input throughout the process, there was not one attendee who objected to the final recommendation. On to design!
Breakers Avenue
Five years ago, I secured $5 million in the City budget to reimagine this street and after many community meetings, we finalized a design. We just learned that $3 million will be coming from the State in addition to the $850,000 from the Federal Government. Now, we need the County to step up and close the gap. Many thanks to partners, State Representative LaMarca, State Senator Pizzo and Congressman Moskowitz for all your support.
Commission Clears Path for Grant for Cooley’s Landing Marina Replacement in Sailboat bend
I advocated for and the Commission approved and adopted a resolution for the acceptance of a grant award from the Florida Inland Navigation District to fund up to 50% of the project cost – not to exceed $1.5 million – for the renovation of the Cooley’s Landing Marina. The grant requires the City to match the $1.5 million, of which $1.4 million in funding was generated from grants awarded by the Broward Boating Improvement Program and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The total project is estimated to cost $3 million and will include the demolition and rebuilding of the marina. This is a tremendous project for District 2's Sailboat Bend.
Sailboat Bend Vision Plan
On April 2nd, the President of Sailboat Bend Neighborhood Association, Christian Garay, spoke to the City Commission on the importance of a vision plan for Sailboat Bend. I couldn’t have agreed more and after meeting with the neighborhood representatives, felt that this is something that should be available to all neighborhoods in the City. I am so thrilled to announce that we have secured the funding for this vision plan! We are in the process of sending a scope of services to at least three qualified vendors and will select one to do the work. That process takes about 60 days so we foresee starting the bulk of the work in August or September of this year.
Progresso Village
NE 4 Ave between Sistrunk Blvd. and NE 9 Street has been confirmed for speed hump installation based on a speed and volume study conducted by Broward County Transportation and Engineering department and approval from the Progresso Village Civic Association. We are currently awaiting installation by Public Works.
In August of 2023, the City Commission approved a resolution that authorized the City Manager to execute a reimbursable grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the amount of $13.5 million. The funds will be used for District 2's Progresso Neighborhood Stormwater Improvements Project, which includes the replacement of aging, undersized, and fragmented stormwater management infrastructure as well as construction of new infrastructure.
The 845 NW 3rd Avenue will be a future stormwater pump station. It is scheduled for construction later this year. This is a critical piece of the $30 million dollar Progresso Village Stormwater Project. Public Works is coordinating with Parks for the installation of a temporary fence around the property. The pump station construction will start later this year. When constructed, the pump station will be fenced in with security lights and cameras. These improvements will reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of flooding in the neighborhood and reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rain events.
Warfield Park Improvements
On April 16th, we secured an agreement for repairs at Warfield Park in South Middle River in the amount of $1,243,394. The work to be accomplished at this site includes clearing and grubbing, cut and fill grading, tree protection, pavement markings, the demolition and the removal of existing fence. Additional improvements are a community center renovation including removal and replacement of condensing unit, doors and frames, countertop laminate, drywall base, tiles, epoxy base, bathroom fixtures, light fixtures and lenses, conduits, and wiring. Playground improvements include furnishing and installation of artificial turf, concrete walk and curbs, palm relocation, splash pad safety surfacing, concrete base, and equipment.
NE 5 Terrace and NE 16 Street Intersection Safety
Staff has requested a safety assessment of the intersection from the county and has noted the community’s request for an All-Way-Stop-Control (AWSC). The County will conduct an evaluation to identify appropriate safety improvements. Here is an overview of the safety enhancements planned, requested, and already implemented at the intersection of NE 16 St and NE 5 Terrace: For traffic calming, speed humps have been approved, funded, and will be installed along NE 5 Terrace to reduce vehicle speeds. To help with visibility and parking control, reflective hash marks have been added to no-parking end caps in December 2023 to improve visibility and prevent illegal parking, with plans to add end caps and curbing pending funding. ADA-compliant ramp improvements have been requested and new east/west crosswalk markings on the south side of NE 16 Street are awaiting review from the Broward County Traffic and Engineering Department.
GROUNDBREAKINGS
March 21-Fat Village Groundbreaking
On March 21st, we celebrated the groundbreaking for FAT Village! FAT (Food, Art, Technology) Village will be reimagined in a way that takes Flagler Village, Fort Lauderdale to a new level! This 5.6-acre site will combine retail, residential, high tech office space, art studios, galleries, restaurants, and more. It is imperative that we continue to raise the bar on everything we do because everything we do is building for the future.
Serene Las Olas
On May 10th, we celebrated the groundbreaking for Serene Las Olas Isles. This project moved forward with the support of the Hendricks Isle & Venice Isle Neighborhood Association and I was so pleased to have the association president, Debby Eisinger, present for this exciting event! It is a boutique condominium with eight units at 87 Isle of Venice. I am so very proud of the accomplishments on these two Isles- seawalls, road paving, and more! I even saw a pedestrian using one of the two newly-installed crosswalks on Las Olas Boulevard.
Ribbon Cuttings/Coming soon!
Panthers Ice Plex Grand Opening
One of the best parts of this job is when an idea, a thought, a conversation becomes a reality. On March 20th, we snipped the ribbon on the Baptist Health IcePlex at Holiday Park- a major step toward the revitalization of the FTL War Memorial complex. Not only does it stand as a tribute to our United States military heroes, but it is now a destination for the entire community to enjoy! This venue has a public place for skating, recreational & youth hockey, other sports and fitness activities, AND a state-of-the-art practice facility for our Florida Panthers. Grab a bite at the Federal and see it all!
Waverly Park/Tequesta Park
On May 8th, during Historic Preservation Month, we unveiled the Florida Historical Marker for Waverly Park. District 2’s Sailboat Bend is the City of Fort Lauderdale’s only historically designated residential neighborhood. It is a very special place that deserves praise and tender loving care. In 2020, I advocated for and the City Commission voted to acquire the Rivermont Archaeological site to protect this sacred Tequesta land on the New River from development. Local designation came in 2021 and then the listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022. The process came full circle on June 4th when the Commission approved changing the name to Tequesta Park.
DC Alexander Park
So I get asked a lot, “What is that thing being constructed on the beach between the ocean and the Swimming Hall of Fame?” Well, that is the observation walkway/tower and centerpiece of the newly reimagined DC Alexander Park. In February of last year, we held the groundbreaking and after permitting, construction began last June. Very soon, we will gather for the ribbon cutting so on May 13th, I took a tour of the progress. My prediction: this will be an incredibly popular spot for everyone to enjoy! Thank you to Shiff Construction for your amazing work and for doing such a good job preserving Peter Toth’s “Whispering Giant.”
YMCA and Broward Health Partnership in Victoria Park
On May 7th, The City Commission reviewed plans for a Health and Wellness Center at Holiday Park, to be located just east of Federal Highway between NE 8th Street and NE 9th Street. The project partners the City with the YMCA and Broward Health. The 60,000-square-foot contemporary facility includes 46,000 square feet for the YMCA and an additional 14,000 on two levels for a Broward Health presence. YMCA programs would include swim and water safety classes, water exercise and therapy programs, and more while serving more than 25,000 children and family members and creating upward of 100 jobs. If approved, the facility would be expected to be open to the public in 2027. This is a District 2 project in Holiday Park that has been in the planning stages for 8 years. Finally, we are headed towards our goal. I want to thank the development team and the surrounding neighborhoods for working together on this exciting endeavor. I have committed $1 million in District 2 Parks Bond funds to make this a reality.
These are just HIGHLIGHTS of the amazing accomplishments and projects in the works for District 2. I could have had an additional ten pages detailing our ongoing efforts with the homeless; the first tranche infrastructure work being performed in Victoria Park, Progresso Village, and Southeast Isles; the second tranche which is in the planning stage will include 17 additional neighborhoods including Sailboat Bend, Flagler Village, South Middle River, Middle River Terrace, and Lake Ridge; the paving being systematically completed throughout our district streets and MUCH, MUCH more. I am grateful to represent a district that continually gives my office invaluable input that helps me navigate the projects that I bring to City Staff for consideration and ultimately push to get completed. These past six months have been incredibly productive for our District, and I cannot wait to see what we accomplish together in the last half of 2024!
| 
