It's Las Olas Riverfront ... Saturday!
............ I'm hungry ! .................
.... OMG
This is the Las Olas Riverfront on a Saturday afternoon .... where the hell is everyone ?
....... let me go check, am I in the right place?
....... yup, it's the Riverfront alright, guess I'll just go on in and have a pleasant lunch ......... maybe Max's !! ....
...... nope, nobody's eating any lunch here !! .... I'll go upstairs to Hooters for some wings....yum !!
guess I'll take the stairs .............................
..... well crappo .... no wings either ....Ok, I'll get a tall sudsy one and think this over!
.... I think I'm getting the picture now ! ... think I'll go down and get a picture of the famous "birdman" of Riverfront ..... he's gotta still be there!
" give me five dollars for picture" .......
...... I think I'll go to the Ale House on Federal .............sheesh!
Your pictures tell the whole story of that place, Tim. Well done!
This area is one of THE MOST IMPORTANT pieces to realizing the vision for creating a vibrant Downtown! With so many other popular venues surrounding it, i.e. Riverwalk, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, MODS and Himmarshee's 2nd Ave. cafes & bars, and with the many events regularly held along the Riverwalk, there MUST be a way to redevelop, reenergize and revitalize the property.
I attended the 'Riverwalk District Arts & Entertainment Public Realm Plan' public meeting last week and came away impressed. It's a big step in the right direction and I'm optimistic that the plan will finally provide the incentive to spur redesign, repurpose and redevelop the Riverfront complex.
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Think the locals are confused...??? We docked down on the river for the WONDERFUL St. Patrick's week-end juat for fun and for two days the tourists asked, "Hey, when does this place open?"
What's the answer......?~?~?~?
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Some development concepts simply don't work out. Blame it on the economy, lack of convenient parking, the clientèle attracted,competition or whatever but that's the way it is and will always be!
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Simply dont work-out? Thats a joke right? Riverwalk was a debachle while it still was on the drawing board. It never realized any of the expectations that were sold to the public. It was a haven for gangs and kids and was "out of the way" for tourist..This was John Stunson's baby and now he has moved over to Oakland park to decimate their infrastructure with out and out blind spending, backdoor code changes and crippling long standing strong arm tactics to close business's in his "vision of turning Oakland Park into a Las Olas Blvd. You know the mentality "turn a rats back into a mink coat" when the rat was making money and supporting the economy. Drive down Dixie Highway in Oakland Park, look at the labor intensive landscaping, the parking for small business's that was literally stolen for this "vision"..Stunson lays waste to every city he slithers thru, he took long standing business's and strongarmed them out of existance. For what? Go ahead and drive thru the area, dont take my word for it, City officials have the devastating habit of trying to fix something that isnt broken and turn it into a "vision" that inevitably sits idle and cost more to "look at and maintain" than generates revenue..these two projects were doomed for failure despite the downturn in the economy..Riverwalk never earned its keep and never will and Oakland Park will never be a LasOlas Blvd, no matter how many times you close your eyes, snap your heels together and wish it so.
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well there you go! another one bites the dust. it's been run right into the ground. it had it's day and was trendy when trendy was fun. i say bulldoze it and build the aquarium. then in ten years we can bulldoze the aquaruim. fort lauderdale is trendy, let's bulldoze it!
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I would say those comments pretty much say it all wouldnt you? Cant wait for the PollyAnna libs to try and convince us things really are "looking up"
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There is NOTHING liberal or progressive about corruption === and this area was ALLOWED to die so it could be redeveloped for condos --- when the market looked like that would be a good choice.
Now everyone is screwed.
HOWEVER we still do have a beautiful mall there --- the right management could bring it back as SOMETHING.
Otherwise the community funds invested are wasted.
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retrofit it and make it into the new courthouse...
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Here is but one study on Riverwalk :
Consider creating a Downtown New River taxing district.
It might be appropriate to create some type of taxing district to assist in the
development and growth of the Riverwalk and to provide upgraded security. Also, it
will be necessary to add more events and activities bringing more people to both sides of
the River.
Given the current housing market, it will probably take 6 to 10 years to develop the
north side of the river in the study area.
Given the current residential, restaurant, and retail markets, it will probably be 8 to
12 years before the south side of the New River is fully developed, assuming a normal
housing market.
Not once in the study does it mention Riverwalks proximity to the jail,and or the homeless population...which are hugh factors in a draw to Riverwalk. In a perfect world this area should be developed into a draw for tourist and locals, but the timing is way off. Also the cost of expansion on all sides of the area is prohibitive..Liars can figure, figures dont lie..
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Really such a shame..
Riverfront at one time was a nice afternoon to spend with your nieces. Go for a nice lunch, than to the movies.
Another place bit the dust.....
Wonder what will come now?
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It is a shame. I was there at the opening. They even had a butterfly release. The great plans went sour from the start. The gaming at the movie theater had teens (some of the "games" I wondered if they were legal in Florida. Like the one that was a coin push) Anyway, the games closed quickly, the next thing you know where was Dan Marino's. the Ugly Tuna Saloona, Hooters, etc? (The hooters were always, well nice, the food wasn't bad either. Note: I went there once with a friend who didn't know why the place was called Hooter's. Now that is a hoot!)
I'm not sure what would bring that area back. It has draw backs like parking, plus it's in an area where it's hard to find. I always was asked when I was downtown "Where is the Las Olas Riverfront place"?
These types of places become "fads" and people move on unfortunately. I don't know what could be done in this area that would not become another "fad" attraction and become unpopular in a similar time frame as did Las Olas Riverfront.
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Turn it into a casino!! With little to no rehab for the existing restaurant locations and some remodeling for the old movie theatre as your main casino complex..... presto jam packed! Think of the tax revenue.
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It looks like a place that still can have a come back if the right people do the planning and marketing for it. What caught my eye is the personality of the place and the potential for the right businesses. What about some restaurants and an outlet shopping mall?
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