Fort Lauderdale's South Beach Still Trying to Exit the 1970s

Most people agree that Fort Lauderdale's "South Beach" is in need of contemporary development investment, but so far it's been hard to deliver on any of the big ideas proposed for the area.

2 minute read

July 3, 2016, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Fort Lauderdale

ddmirt / Shutterstock

Larry Barszewski reports from Fort Lauderdale: "It's back to the drawing board for the long-sought transformation of the city's southern stretch of State Road A1A."

"Plans to upgrade the area, which includes Bahia Mar, Bahia Cabana and the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center, have been placed in limbo or scaled back, leaving it trapped in a 1970s time warp," explains Barszewski. That state of affairs persists despite recently abandoned plans to remake the Bahia Mar resort into a mixed-use entertainment and residential attraction. The deciding factor that sunk the proposal: "developers of the city-owned site said they could not reach lease terms with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show…"

The article includes more details about the proposed development, the local opposition to the plan, and the political maneuvering that will be necessary for any future development plans. Meanwhile, however, the Bahia Mar proposal isn't the only project to fail to move from concept to reality. "In May, commissioners rejected a land swap needed to provide room for a Bahia Cabana redevelopment proposal," according to Barszewski. That plan would have built luxury condos, a restaurant, and a waterfront promenade. Plans to renovate the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center have also been scaled back.

Finally, Barszewski also notes one sign of change coming to the area: "The city has plans to upgrade Las Olas Boulevard on the barrier island into a more inviting stretch, creating an oceanfront park where the city's surface parking lot is, improving open space on the south side of the road near the Intracoastal and building a parking garage on the north side."

Saturday, June 25, 2016 in Sun Sentinal

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight