Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale

The relatively new Community Redevelopment Agency in Fort Lauderdale’s Sistrunk area has taken steps to use $4.5 million in CRA bonding capacity or other funding sources for a gateway project. The plan includes streetscape and infrastructure improvements along Sixth Street and Sistrunk Boulevard, the main street through the center of the CRA. Kim Jackson, CRA Manager, emphasizes the importance of giving developers immediate assurances from government that the area is worth the investment, because it is perceived as a high risk. “They need a confidence level that the public sector is behind them”, she said. In addition, the CRA approved spending $300,000 to buy 10 parcels, seven of which are vacant, to encourage a private developer to build model homes. The CRA and City are also teaming up to hire two code enforcement officers whose sole responsibility will be to ensure that areas targeted for improvement in the district are well-maintained.