The Fort Lauderdale Commission approved several major items during a recent meeting.
After a presentation by the City’s Finance Director and a representative from Colliers International with updated financial projections, comments from representatives of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and a public hearing, the City Commission approved a master lease between the City of Fort Lauderdale and Rahn Bahia Mar, LLC. The proposed project will bring a new hotel, marina, residential units, restaurants, shops, and a waterfront promenade to the City-owned property located at 801 Seabreeze Boulevard.
Commissioner Steve Glassman said he was pleased that 43 people spoke on this issue and many more provided feedback over the past year. “The public will finally get a chance to enjoy this public land while, at the same time, the city will finally realize a yearly revenue stream commensurate with the value of the property. Included in the improvements are resiliency measures to combat sea level rise and the creation of a community trust to assist the with city with social service needs,” said Glassman.
The City Commission approved a $3,100,150 agreement with Murphy Pipeline Contractors, LLC. for the Design-Build Gravity Pipe Improvements to the Downtown Collection System Project. This project replaces approximately 2,120 linear feet of existing gravity sewer pipes in the East Las Olas neighborhood with larger pipes to accommodate projected future flows as identified in the City’s Comprehensive Utility Strategic Master Plan. Construction is due to start this summer.
The Commission adopted a resolution approving the City’s proposed 2022-2025 State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP). The three-year plan focuses on making affordable residential units available to persons of very low income, low income, or moderate income and to persons with special needs including homeless individuals, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Pending State approval, the new LHAP goes on July 1, 2022, and includes nine housing strategies: 1) Emergency Housing Repair, 2) Rental Development, 3) New Construction-Home Ownership, 4) Rental Assistance for the Elderly & Special Needs, 5) Owner-Occupied Rehabilitation, 6) Demolition/Reconstruction, 7) Purchase Assistance without Rehab, 8) Disaster Repair, and 9) Rapid Re-Housing.
The Commission, acting as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners, approved $30,000 to host a sixth Finally Friday on Sistrunk event in fiscal year 2022. Finally Friday on Sistrunk is a series of free, family-friendly outdoor events held on vacant lots and/or underutilized properties along Sistrunk Boulevard for the purpose of marketing the community redevelopment area. The events feature presentations about the CRA, food trucks, vendors, music, live entertainment, and an interactive kid’s zone.
