Ft. Lauderdale To Spend Millions On Beach Makeover
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Ft. Lauderdale is about to spend millions to give their famous beach a fabulous makeover to keep it competitive in the tourist trade.
From a one time 'where the boys are' destination to the "Spring Break Capital of the World" nearly 20 years ago, city leaders have struggled to re-invent the beach area as place for tourists to visit with the families. In addition to new restrooms, a children's park and new marine facilities built over the last few years, the city also spent tax dollars to tear down the old Holiday Inn at A1A to build a parking lot, according to CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald.
But it hasn't been enough.
So now the city wants to spend more than $60 million for some major improvements to attract vacationers to the beach. Some of the improvements being bandied about include building a fishing pier, expanding the promenade, more public parking and expanding the Swimming Hall of Fame.
``It's time to spend the money and build a brand on the beach that gets people coming back,'' Mayor Jack Seiler told the paper.
City leaders hope to have a list of improvements finalized by the end of the year.
To pay for the improvements, the city will tap $27 million in property taxes they've been squirreling away for years. In 1989, the beach was declared 'blighted' by the city and county which allowed Ft. Lauderdale to collect all property taxes from beach area residents and businesses and designate them for beach improvements. This deal with the county ends in 2019.
The city also hopes to secure more than $35 million in loans which they would pay off over an eight year span.
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