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The Evolution of Downtown
through the eyes of a

LOCAL

By Alan Hooper

t seems like all the stars have aligned for Downtown Fort I was first appointed to the Fort Lauderdale DDA’s board in
Lauderdale over the last 20 years and we have witnessed 2002. At that time Flagler Village was seeing its first projects
Ia total transformation like no other downtown. Despite coming out of the ground and investment was just starting to
virtually no residents living in Downtown 20 years ago, there flow into the areas around Las Olas.
are 26,000 people who now call it home. Tourists are staying When I first started work in Downtown in 1997, it wasn’t on
here in record numbers, attracted by new hotels and the anyone’s radar except for a few established local developers.
connectivity between our vibrant Downtown and our world- Affordable housing? You had to either be connected to score
famous beach. And Downtown Fort Lauderdale now has an a backyard in-law cottage behind a house or lucky enough to
annual impact of $35.7 billion and is one of Broward’s top find a beat-up rental house and stuff it with four roommates
three economic engines.
just to make ends meet. Granite tops? More like chipped

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