Oakland Park welcomes Ana Alvarez as Chief Planning Officer
The City of Oakland Park welcomed Ana Alvarez back as the City’s new and first Chief Planning Officer. Ana will be responsible for coordinating ongoing capital improvement projects throughout the City, including the City’s $40 million facilities bond projects, the new City Hall in the Sky Building, and the redevelopment of the city-owned property in downtown Oakland Park.
She will provide vision and systemic oversight of projects and future plans, and help leverage the City’s investments through grants or other funding. Most recently, Ana served as the Assistant City Manager for the City of Homestead, Florida. Prior to that, she was an invaluable member of the Oakland Park team, serving as Assistant City Manager from 2015-2019. She spent much of her early career working for Miami-Dade County’s Public Works Department, where she worked her way up to the position of Assistant Director for Services. Ana will begin her new role as Chief Planning Officer on Oct. 28, 2021. Please join us in welcoming her back to Oakland Park.
The City of Oakland Park wants a train stop in the city.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is conducting a study for a commuter rail line in Broward County. The FDOT technical team has analyzed potential locations for train stops on the commuter line and recommends that a stop be located in downtown Oakland Park. A potential platform along Dixie Highway could support development and spur economic growth throughout the area. A rail stop could see downtown properties appreciate approximately 20 to 30 percent within three to five years. Oakland Park has pursued the goal of a rail platform in its downtown for more than a decade. The City Commission passed a resolution of support for a train stop in 2010 and 2019. In a recent citywide survey, 77% of residents expressed support for a stop in Oakland Park.
