South Florida downtowns see resurgence

August 13th, 2008

Downtown revitalization is a bona fide trend across the United States in cities large and small, and South Florida’s metro downtowns are in full revitalization swing.

But the strategies and the results in downtown Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach are as different as the cities themselves.

“There are differences in the maturity of the commercial uses in the existing downtown markets and also in the public investments already made in the major cities in South Florida,” said Bernard Zyscovich, principal of Miami-based Zyscovich Architects, whose firm designed a Downtown Miami master growth plan that merged urbanism and architecture with economic and social schemes.

Downtown West Palm Beach has completed major roadway and landscape improvements. And for years the city has held regularly scheduled events that aim to woo people to the heart of Clematis Street and the waterfront.

Now, the city is working to adopt a new master plan and zoning regulations to boost its downtown. A new waterfront development and City Center projects are planned. More hotel development is in the works.

In less than two years, more than 30 new retailers have come to the Clematis District and 20 have set up shop in the CityPlace District.

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