Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association

10/06/2026

Please join us Wednesday via Zoom!

10/01/2026

Fort Lauderdale’s Future Takes Shape

The Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association attended Mayor Dean Trantalis’ 2026 State of the City Address, where he highlighted major investments and initiatives shaping Fort Lauderdale’s future.

Among the key takeaways:

- Infrastructure & Water: More than $1.6 billion in infrastructure investments, including significant funding for aging water and sewer systems and the new Prospect Lake Clean Water Center.
- Resilience: Continued investment in stormwater management, flood mitigation and infrastructure designed to help Fort Lauderdale prepare for rising seas and stronger storms.
- Public Spaces & Mobility: Ongoing improvements to parks, open spaces, waterways, and transportation, including the Water Trolley, which provides free service along the New River.
- Homelessness: An expanded homelessness response team and a more coordinated approach connecting individuals with outreach, services and housing resources.
- Downtown & Economic Growth: Continued investment and development are transforming the city’s core while creating new opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors.

The address offered a look at both the progress already underway and the challenges Fort Lauderdale is preparing to address in the years ahead.

09/29/2026

Join us for the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association’s October Membership Meeting! 🌴

📅 Wednesday, October 7
💻 Via Zoom – see Zoom Link
⏰ 5:30 PM: Commissioner Ben Sorensen — November Charter Questions
⏰ 6:00 PM: Stephanie Toothaker — Rio Vista Residences development

Come learn more about important issues and development shaping our downtown community. All are welcome!

09/29/2026

📽 Excited for our Downtown 'debut' on Season 2 of RJ Decker RJ Decker
Are you watching? The ABC crime drama is inspired by the 1987 novel Double Whammy by famous Florida author Carl Hiaasen and the series storyline takes place primarily in Fort Lauderdale with some stage sets located in North Carolina. Welcome to the Riverwalk Scott Speedman 🦎 Film Lauderdale

09/20/2026

🌱 Growing Community in Northwest Gardens! 🌱

The Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association was proud to join the City of Fort Lauderdale and fellow community groups last weekend for the planting of the Food Forest at Northwest Gardens.

Together, volunteers planted a variety of edible trees, herbs and plants that will provide fresh food to help support the surrounding community. Some of the plants included sugar cane, longevity spinach, sweet potatoes and more.

It was a wonderful hands-on opportunity to come together, strengthen our community and help create a sustainable source of fresh, locally grown food. 💚

Want to learn more about the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association and how you can help support Fort Lauderdale in the future? Click the link in our bio!

09/10/2026

📢 Downtowners! We need emergency volunteers for 🪴Green Your Routine group participation points for the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association this Saturday. Respond here or email Melinda Bowker at [email protected] or Lorena Melgarejo at [email protected]

𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴!!

Details: arrive by 8:30am ☀️

🌿PLANTING OF THE FOOD FOREST AT NORTHWEST GARDENS III
📅 Saturday, September 12 | 9:00 AM
📍 Northwest Gardens III
824 NW 14th Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Come roll up your sleeves and help plant edible trees and herbs as Fort Lauderdale creates a new community food forest! Volunteers will have an opportunity to meet neighbors, learn about the food forest, and help bring this exciting community project to life.
☀️ Wear sunscreen, a hat and closed-toe shoes — and bring your favorite gardening tools. Light refreshments will be provided.
🥔The food forest is planned to include over 30 different plant varieties including passion fruit, sweet potato, and spinach; plant species appropriate for South Florida’s climate and the conditions at the property.
💲The City will provide the plants and trees, planting tools, and educational guidance needed to support the food forest’s long-term success.

09/08/2026

🚧 Sanitary Sewer Force Main

👷‍♀️Rehabilitation and Replacement Project

👷‍♂️Downtown Neighborhood Segment

Detours Start Tuesday, September 8 at 7am

Be Prepared

Parts of SE 3rd Ave and SE 6th to be Fully Closed

The City of Fort Lauderdale and Lanzo Construction Company are working to upgrade approximately 23,370 feet of large sanitary sewer pipelines from Sunrise Boulevard to the George T. Lohmeyer Wastewater Treatment Plant to enhance the reliability, capacity, and environmental safety of Fort Lauderdale’s wastewater system. Work is generally taking place Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Construction will begin on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and is expected to be completed in October 2026 along:

SE 3rd Avenue between SE 6th Street and SE 7th Street
SE 6th Street between SE 3rd Avenue and SE 4th Avenue
This work includes:

Connecting recently installed sewer pipes.
Restoring the roadway, sidewalks and landscaping as needed.
The following roads will be closed throughout construction:

ALL northbound lanes of SE 3rd Avenue between SE 7th Street and SE 6th Street.
ALL eastbound lanes of SE 6th Street between SE 3rd Avenue and SE 4th Avenue.
Left turns from southbound SE 3rd Avenue to eastbound SE 6th Street will not be permitted.
Detours will be in effect:

Along SE 7th Street and SE 4th Avenue.
This information has been posted on the City's website.

Neighbors with questions may contact the project hotline at 1-800-214-4095 or [email protected].

09/04/2026

Stay informed on new Developments coming to our Downtown Neighborhood

Rio Vista Residences

will be at reviewed at the

Development Review Committee on this Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 10am

Development Services Department
Urban Design and Planning Conference Room
700 NW 19 Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL

This project is on the south side of the New River along Federal Highway

between 6th St and 7th St. It is south of the Las Olas by the River Condominiums and the official address is 633 S Federal Highway. 

Palma Global Description:

The Rio Vista Mixed-Use Multi-Family Development is located along Federal Highway between SE 6th Street and SE 7th Street, occupying an entire city block.

The project includes has 2 towers and includes 440 residential units with an average size of approximately 1,050 NSF per unit, a structured parking podium providing 841 parking spaces, and a 69,300 GSF branded fitness and wellness club. Additionally, 15,741 GSF of ground-floor commercial space is proposed to activate the pedestrian realm with retail and food-and-beverage uses.

The nine-level podium incorporates the fitness and wellness club centrally between two residential towers. The north tower is proposed at 28 levels (19 levels above the podium), and the south tower at 22 levels (13 levels above the podium). The podium is bisected mid-block by a 40-foot-wide paseo that provides an east-west pedestrian connection through the site.

Vehicular ingress and egress, including access to parking and service areas, is provided along SE 5th Terrace, consistent with the project's frontage along Federal Highway. Two two-way curb cuts are located at each end of the podium, supplemented by two internal drop-off lanes to facilitate resident and visitor circulation while minimizing impacts to surrounding streets.

The Developer has agreed to present to the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association Membership at a future agreed date tbd.

05/25/2026

05/23/2026

📣 Your Voice Matters, Downtown Fort Lauderdale!

The City of Fort Lauderdale is hosting a community meeting to discuss the Draft South Regional Activity Center (SRAC) Vision Plan — and this is your chance to help shape the future of our downtown neighborhoods. From streetscape improvements and parks to building design and community priorities, resident input is an important part of the process.

🗓 Thursday, May 21, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 South Side Cultural Arts Center
701 S Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Topics include:
✔️ Streetscape design
✔️ Density & building types
✔️ Open space & parks
✔️ Community priorities & concerns

The Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association encourages residents, business owners, and stakeholders to attend and share their ideas for the future of our community.

For more information:
🌐 ftlcity.info/srac
📞 954-828-4798