The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is excited to announce that SW 2 Avenue, between West Broward Boulevard and SW 2 Street, will receive a major facelift in 2019 as part of the DDA’s Urban Acupuncture Program. The program is aimed at making high-impact, cost-effective improvements at strategic locations throughout DowntownFTL.
Currently in poor condition, SW 2 Avenue serves as a physical and visual connection between the new Brightline station, Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment (A&E) District, Himmarshee Village and Historic District, and the Riverwalk in DowntownFTL. The DDA seeks to improve the safety and aesthetics of the corridor, while injecting a good dose of high-quality urban design. Expected changes include wider sidewalks, reconfigured parking stalls, upgraded lighting, landscaping, drainage, and artistic elements.
The project was conceived by a group of DowntownFTL stakeholders interested in improving the experience to/from the Brightline station, and is part of a larger effort to enhance the immediate area near Broward Boulevard and the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) train tracks.
The project is being funded utilizing federal streetscape grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). These are the same grants that in 2017 helped fund the Riverwalk extension to Laura Ward Plaza, connecting the iconic Riverwalk along the edge of the New River behind the Icon apartment building and Stranahan House.
The DDA is leading the project implementation through a sub-recipient agreement with Broward County, as the direct grant recipient with support from the City of Fort Lauderdale. The project budget is approximately $750,000.
Calvin, Giordano & Associates, Inc. (CGA), based in Fort Lauderdale, was just awarded a contract to perform design services on behalf of the DDA. CGA’s vision for SW 2 Avenue is to create a flexible space that can be transformed based on the needs of the entertainment district and the evolving DowntownFTL area. Public outreach will start later this year.
The design phase is expected to last approximately four months. Construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2019.
About the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is independent taxing district established by the Florida State Legislature in 1965. Led by a seven-member appointed board of directors, the Fort Lauderdale DDA has spearheaded legacy projects over the past fifty years to ensure Downtown is and remains the urban center of Broward County. Collaborating with public and private stakeholders, the DDA continues to serve as the agency responsible for coordinating and facilitating continued investment, community engagement, and consistent improvement in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.ddaftl.org, call 954-463-6574 or email dda@ddaftl.org.
