Can You See It?
the future of Fort Lauderdale
The City Fathers (and Mothers) hope you can see it. As a matter of fact, there are counting on YOU to tell them what the future of Fort Lauderdale should look like, act like, be like!
key city fathers and mother!
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission has appointed a group of citizens to .....................................
" develop and recommend to the City Commission an initial model plan that outlines a process to seek the perspectives of under-represented individuals so that a citywide vision will reflect the hopes and viewpoints of all residents in the City of Fort Lauderdale; and to organize a broad-based, community focused process and produce a vision plan for the next century that will guide the City Commission in their policy and decision making.” That's government speak for ...... figure out how to get input from all the Citizens, to produce a Vision for the Future, so the Commission can have an idea of what the peeps really think! ( and then make it happen!)
The Visioning Committee, ( which some are now calling VisCom!) is clearly a capable group. It is made up of well known local figures, leaders in their fields. Included in the group are some notables, a pillar, a business baron, a couple of big shots, a bigwig, and a nabob.
Not to mention a charming and capable Chairperson! (see pictured below)
Chairperson Smith
( Jeez, I wish I still looked like that!)
The panel has held their first meeting and planned their second.
The second meeting will feature experts in the field of Visioning, and then the Committee will hear from local experts that will give them the current conditions in the City on major topics like Public Safety, Economic Development, Waterways and Beaches, Neighborhoods, Green Initiatives, and the like.
You should attend. The public is welcome, meeting to be held on the 8th floor of City Hall on Tuesday March 9th at 4 p.m. You can always call me if you have questions at 954-822-4727
See you there ...... Tim
Just wondering what the visioning is for feeding the homeless.......
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Tim:
Nice message to start off the process. My request, please make it more than an American Assembly process.
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Planning & Democracy: "The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals, would not only load himself with a most unecessary attention, but assume an authority which could safely be trusted to no council and senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who had folly and presumtion enough to fancy himself fit to exercise it". --- ADAM SMITH
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I hope this time around the City Fathers will implement the findings...might have a chance with this group. Our town should be great, not there yet though.
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Tim,
Sounds as if you are being tar-babied!
I recommend that you do not put forth the effort without a legally binding contract with the commission. By the time they act, Fort Lauderdale will be a ghost town and property values will de-value even further.
P.S. what happened to the recomendations made by the Ad-Hoc Code Reform Committee and the consultant that the city hired?
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ad-hoc code reform committee:
8. FOR THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY
a. Dave Marshall noted that Riverside Park Residents’ Association sponsored a Stranahan High School team in the Plywood Regatta, and encouraged other neighborhoods to do the same in next year’s event.
Downtown Development Authority – Chris Wren & Elizabeth van Sant – Mr. Wren and Ms. van Sant made a presentation to the membership regarding the activities of the DDA, and invited members to attend their May 27 event at the Performing Arts Center.
Refreshment Assignment & Sign Up – Refreshments are assigned through December 2009
Signature for proposed new bank account. Two signatures (Pres./Treas.) are adequate for signature cards. The signature cards for the Certificates of Deposit also need to be updated.
Mr. Barnes announced the Neighborhoods USA (NUSA) conference to be held in Spokane, WA May 20-23 and the Florida Neighborhoods Conference to be held in St. Petersburg FL July 9-11. (See Attachment G)
Refreshment Assignment & Sign Up – A sign-up sheet was circulated for refreshments for upcoming meetings.
Trinity Lutheran (on SW 11 St. at Andrews Ave.) is holding a rummage sale on May 1, a fashion show on May 16, and a country & western dance on May 17.
Marilyn Mamamano from the Community appearance Board and the WOW Awards made a short presentation urging civic associations to get more active in the nominating of more properties.
Ad hoc Committee – Richard Mancuso gave a brief description of the latest series of meetings attempts, but no reported outcomes.
All Board members were advised to wear their Council Shirt and provided the following services:We will provide cookies and water to the public
ANNOUNCEMENTS/GUEST INTRODUCTIONS
Tim Smith – New Vision Fort Lauderdale – Proposal for the Council
Presented to the Council was the information regarding American Assembly and the plan generated by the City in conjunction with the public, FAU and other in 1994-1995 to establish a vision and plan for the city. It was suggested that the Council take on a mission to update this vision and present it to the new incoming Commission for adoption, consideration and participation.
If you wanna play at a "vision" Tim, you certainly have a platform with this..
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Nice mission page..but citizens are tired of mission statements while getting up every morning and reading of mismanagement, ineffective, cost over-runs, rampant crime, and over all a reduced standard of living. Sounds like the city is taking a page out of Obama's playbook by forming more "task force's" to "look" at the problems..Tim no offense, but I pay plenty of city, county and state employees to do their jobs which includes oversight especially in the area of "public Safety" in fact if indeed your group is going to "look at issues" can you tell me if the County auditors recommendations were implemented for the Wackenhut's contracts? Between reading what this company stole in Miami Dade that took two decades to uncover and then reading in today's paper how the county is going to have to raise taxes or reduce "critical" and (its hard to write that with a straight face) services, I really have to wonder just how hard the city and county really are looking to cut cost? Especially when we see all those "shiney" new city trucks driving around. Ahhh but the clincher for anyone who works downtown are those 2 and 1/2 hour lunches city employees take in the various eateries reading the newspaper.While their "new trucks" take up the parking spaces... Broward needs a Inspector Generals office to ride rough shot over the "powers that be" like Dade County was finally forced to form. I need an agency with teeth to investigate and prosecute and recoup city and county mismanaged funds...not so sure "looking" at the problem is the same as solving it.
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About time you did your civic duty!
Love, your Daddy
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Mr. Chairman and members of the Visioning Committee. Respectfully submitted for your consideration is a three-point checklist - a credo to set the framework for your process and future meetings.
# 1 - Consider Fort Lauderdale a brand - a brand that must endure and compete in the marine and tourism industries and as Latin America gateway for the next 100 years against even bigger and stronger competitors. (We may well need to diversify and attract other industries too.)
# 2 - Consider all city owned properties as playing pieces which can add value - or detract from that brand, and its revenue stream/quality of life potential.
# 3 - Explore the fullest range of options and ideas for the long term interest of the City and its people whenever developer proposals for city owned properties are presented for approval. Bahia Mar is a prime example of where we need to explore all the best options from the city's POV. We need to come up with Fort Lauderdale's ideas for Fort Lauderdale as well - not just Blackstone's. Any City Commission decision on Bahia Mar must be deferred until all ideas and their long term implications for the city are explored.
The City Manager's remit is to manage; he does not direct. The 'directors' - the City Commissioners - are essentially paid volunteers - with jobs elsewhere - who have their hands full managing the day-to-day. Fourteen years ago I stood in front of the City Commission, Commissioner Tim Smith was there, and suggested how they might develop that vision - proactive recruitment of developers from around the world to realize a city "vision". Didn't happen. We lack a true comprehensive future vision for the City - for example Sasaki, Bahia Mar and the Hall of Fame are not integrated. Instead we have allowed developers to set their own short term agendas - they are concerned with short term profits - goals that inherently conflict with the city's - other than its own short term goals. Some of those developments work well, but others have not.
A David can take on a Goliath. Today he uses branding instead of a slingshot. Apple repositioned Microsoft in 1983 and have done quite well since. (I wrote brand strategy for Apple showing them how to do it.) Compare the strengths of the two brands despite the difference in size. Fort Lauderdale's brand can be built to punch above its weight, but the brand strategy has to be focused, coherent, consistent, coordinated and most of all pointing in the right direction.
The first message of the Visioning Committee to the City Commission is to immediately stop subordinating the Fort Lauderdale brand to the short term goals of individual property developers especially where city owned property is involved.
Thank you for your time and good luck,
C.J. Beck
14 year resident - and for 14 years the Illini condominium elected representative to the Central Beach Alliance of which I am a founding member.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GP7srjTlww
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Tim:
There are two key economic questions the committee needs to ask and keep asking until the end of its deliberations and it makes its recommendations and final report:-
#1 What business is Fort Lauderdale in?
#2 What business could and should Fort Lauderdale be in over the next 100 years?
The branding questions I refer to in comment nine above should be asked of the least informed - the people in target groups (Marine/Tourism/Latin American gateway/Government etc.,)and others we determine we need to reach - those who have, in the main, low awareness of Fort Lauderdale - which excludes just about everyone in Fort Lauderdale.
Paradoxically your committee and attendees for the 8th floor meeting March 9th will be the least qualified to judge what the Fort Lauderdale brand stands for, since they know Fort Lauderdale too well - ( never mind what political agendas will be running interference in committee and out.)
However, those folks are in an excellent position to reflect what the stakeholders want for the short term. The community's desires in the future and the 100 year economic model required to support them (the answers to the "what business is Fort Lauderdale in?" and branding issues) can only be answered after the completion of a well-designed program of research and thoughtful interpretation by professionals and academics from all the relevant disciplines.
That means a serious budget, and an RFP open to consultancy firms and other sources of quality ideas both inside and outside the US.
One further thought on the use of city owned real estate to add value as a component of the Fort Lauderdale brand strategy.
Now may be the time to consider increasing the City's asset base using Eminent Domain/quick purchase while land values are depressed even if it means floating a bond.
Two unused properties where the owners are already attempting to lower their tax base are the former "Trump Las Olas" - a natural to extend the D.C. Alexander Park and the former "Icon Las Olas" site to extend the park around Stranahan House.
A site does not have to produce revenue if it can be seen to add sufficient value to the whole - green space, beaches and world-class iconic civic projects - loss leaders adding value - building the Fort Lauderdale brand - building demand for its products and services - creating a city that attracts and nourishes a vibrant community.
C.J. Beck
14 year Illini condominium elected representative to the Central Beach Alliance.
As Director of Planning BBDO, Beck led the team and wrote the five-year brand plan (1996-2000) for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development - part of a $500,000,000 program awarded to BBDO.
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Ideas for Fort Lauderdale!
Keep going with the LUXURY theme. Many 5-star beach hotels already there (Ritz-Carlton, W-Hotel, Hilton, Atlantic).
Try to keep going with the proposed Waldorf-Astoria redevelopment plans for Bahia Mar, this must be torn down and built again. Great asset in the making.
Build on Ft. Lauderdale's marine industry (Cruise ships, mega-yachts, etc.). Give tax breaks to help keep marine industry in place.
Biggest concern: RIVERWALK!!!!
Continue with the feeling of a Mediterranean Village, that is already in place;
To make it a real village you'll need:
1/Two or three residential condo towers built to provide a critical mass of residential owners. Encourage large medium priced units to appeal to family types.
2/ Office space,to encourage live-work possibilities.
4/ Grocery store.
5/Small shops (pizza, dry cleaner, etc)
6/School (elementary to appeal to young families).
7/ Higher end retail clothes stores to keep out the riff-raff.
8/ Consider making it a partially gated community for the residential families.
Remember, Riverwalk, has already failed as public space!!!!!!
An alternative route to development of the Mediterranean Village theme is the Tribeca/Soho story in New York City.
Vacant industrial loft space was rented out by nearly bankrupted landlords to artists for cheap prices (no heat, no elevator service, no grocery stores, etc), just vast streets upon streets of vacant buildings, left behind when the garment industry went overseas. This 'vacant feeling' is not too different from the current feel of Riverwalk.
The artist attracted by the cheap rent and large open spaces....defined the 'new cool' of the area.
Opened a grocery store. This was a really big deal for the area, no more trips to the convenience store for groceries.
Artist occupied loft buildings started to be developed into loft space for the yuppie crowd.
Artists protested this transition and the city government developed some 'rent stabilized' buildings for artists by providing special tax breaks for willing landlords. I'm sure there are very few of these left now.
Elementary school in the area opened
High end retail and restaurants were the last players to show up.
Whatever you do at Riverwalk,.... do it now... and do it fast......the place cannot be left vacant...very bad image for Fort Lauderdale.
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