Sunday, June 9, 2013

SoLO - South of Las Olas


Is SoLO district in Fort Lauderdale's future?

By Larry Barszewski, Sun Sentinel
June 8, 2013
Never heard of the trendy hotspot?
Don't be surprised someday if you're in Fort Lauderdale and get a hankering to go SoLO.
Maybe that's because right now it exists only in the mind of a businessman who's got plans for an upscale billiards place — "It's kind of like Blue Martini meets old pool hall," he says — and a similarly fashionable bowling alley on South Andrews Avenue.
SoLO — South of Las Olas — would be an entertainment and retail alternative to Las Olas or Himmarshee in the downtown area. The area would extend along Andrews from Las Olas to State Road 84, with its heart from Davie Boulevard to 17th Street.
"I think it's about time something happened on this side of town," said ex-yachtie William Dixon, enjoying an afternoon draft at Tap 42, a popular 11/2 -year-old bar and restaurant that's considered a model for what's possible on South Andrews.
"When Tap 42 was going in, it was like 'Wow. This is a great place. We don't have to go to Las Olas to have a drink,'" said Patricia Rathburn, who lives in nearby Croissant Park. "I think something else there that will bring people to South Andrews at night and make it more lively will be great for the area."
Enter Michael Rechter, CEO of Integra, a real estate and entertainment company that has developed shopping centers in Vero Beach and Stuart, each having the bowling and pool-hall concepts he's planning to bring to the SoLO district he envisions.
"We are going to have some interesting things to offer to people in Fort Lauderdale who five years ago wouldn't have even of thought of that area," Rechter said. "What we'd like to do is prime the pump."
Rechter is not the first to see the area's potential. The part of the avenue south of the Tarpon River was originally developed as a retail corridor in the 1930s and Tap 42 replaced Brownie's Tavern, which had been Broward's oldest bar before closing in 2009.
A group of local businesses formed the South Andrews Business Association more than a decade ago and pushed for a redevelopment plan for the blighted area that was finally approved by commissioners in 2010. It is designed to create a mix of homes, offices and shops and has relaxed parking requirements to entice businesses to the area.
Development of the area — near Broward Health Medical Center — also stands to benefit from the Wave, a $142.6 million electric streetcar project that will run down South Andrews and initially connect it with Las Olas and the Flagler Village community to the north.
"It's a much better street since we opened," Tap 42 co-owner Sean McMackin said. "It was absolutely horrible when we first came down here."
Rechter plans a Stix Billiards in the vacant, church-like, former firefighters union hall at Andrews and Fifteenth Street, a block south of Tap 42, and he hopes to finalize a location for his proposed bowling alley this week.
While Rechter anticipates opening the billiards hall by the end of the year, McMackin said that might be too ambitious given the various zoning, building and utility issues that come with an older area.
"What we thought would be an easy thing to do, change an old bar into a nice new bar, took a lot longer than expected," McMackin said. "It took us two years."
Rechter's Oakland Park-based company is taking the long view on SoLO and not expecting overnight change. He's looking for where the area will be in a decade, hoping it can follow a path like the SoHo district in New York or Wynwood in Miami.
"We'll take whatever space we possibly can and bring art, entertainment, dining to it," Rechter said. "Now, even though it's early still, I don't believe it's too early."
Raymond Dettman, president of the Poinciana Park Civic Association, is eager for South Andrews to take off and to have the remaining blighted, vacant parcels redeveloped.
"I think what we all want is more activity," Dettman said. "If that's a bowling alley or a pool hall, I think that's great as long as they don't impact the neighborhood."
Dixon, the former yachtie, thinks SoLO would draw a different type of crowd.
"It's a little bit too touristy on Las Olas," Dixon said, sitting at the bar at Tap 42. "I think this tends to have more of a local feel."
lbarszewski@tribune.com or 954-356-4556
Copyright © 2013, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

What's on Nextdoor?


Dear Neighbors  - here is a sampling of the kind of information that was quickly dispatched to the neighborhood this week.  It started with an Urgent Alert because it had just happened and the criminals may have still been in the area.  The result was an arrest and property returned.  If you have not already signed up for CroissantPark.Nextdoor.com, you might want to get on-board.  You can sign up for Urgent Alerts via text messages to your phone, or just monitor what's going on when you feel like catching up on neighborhood goings-on.  You can control how often you receive emails, or not receive them at all if you choose and just check in to follow what's happening at your leisure.  Check it out.


Urgent alert6 Jun

Virginia Dill Russell from Croissant Park
house burglary at 600 block of SW16th Street between 7:15 and 9am Thursday morning.
Shared with Croissant Park only in Crime & Safety
Newell Holt has no photo
Newell Holt from Croissant Park6 Jun
Police are looking for a white male, thin build, early 30's, goatee, looks rough, had a hat on this morning, has been seen walking around the neighborhood near three breakins in last few days. If you see him call 911 & tell them you see the suspect in case number 13-63931. Police say we will see him again. They think he lives nearby.
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen has no photo
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen from Croissant Park6 Jun
Would love to see a mug shot if anybody can advise us when one is posted. Is it too early to tell if he is a suspect in any of the other break ins?
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen has no photo
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen from Croissant Park6 Jun
Just FYI, I have an awesome security camera system being installed today if anybody needs any footage in the future. Will have cameras on SW 16th St. and SW 6th Ave, including my alley.
Kim
Steven Cook has no photo
Steven Cook from Croissant Park6 Jun
Who is doing the installation and how much?
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen has no photo
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen from Croissant Park6 Jun
Mark Leer, of Leer Security. I'm going with the good stuff, with all IP Cameras, as opposed to the Analog, which everyone is selling so cheaply right now. I have 8 cameras going in, both around my ... View more
Fritz & Rhonda Kramer is a Nextdoor Croissant Park Lead
Fritz & Rhonda Kramer from Croissant Park6 Jun
would love to come over and see how it works when you get it put together. My inexpensive system is quite sensitive and annoying to watch a replay of every moth that flies by at night and I get a recording of every headlight reflection hitting my windows. Otherwise we can make out people quite well. Rhonda
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen has no photo
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen from Croissant Park6 Jun
I'll let you know when it's finished.
Have you ever heard of any neighborhoods putting cameras on the light poles? I'd bet that there would be plenty of neighbors who would help pay for a system that could help monitor the neighborhood. Just curious... Kim

Sent from my iPad
Newell Holt has no photo
Newell Holt from Croissant Park7 Jun
An update for everyone - we were called by the Hollywood Police late yesterday afternoon telling us they had arrested two juvenile black males who they caught breaking into a house in Miami about 1 hour after they apparently broke into our house in the 600 block of SW 16th street. Our break-in was at approximately 9:05am yesterday (Thursday). In their car the police found our two stolen laptops and two iPads. We went to Hollywood and retrieved them. The detective told us there are gang members in Hollywood who rent a car, put dark film over the windows and then drive to Ft Lauderdale and/or Miami to burglarize homes. They are organized and dangerous. The detective told us to tell our neighbors to be on constant lookout for people and vehicles who do not seem to "fit" in our neighborhood and report them immediately to 911 along with some description, license number, etc. He said when responding the police often meet the suspects going the other way and need some description of the vehicle, especially something that sets it apart, so they will recognize it and can react. We are happy to have our stuff back and that the criminals are in jail. However, I do not think this is the end of the crime in our neighborhood. Hopefully, all of us can be vigilant and help the police put an end to this.
Rosemary and Virginia Dill thanked Newell
Fritz & Rhonda Kramer is a Nextdoor Croissant Park Lead
Fritz & Rhonda Kramer from Croissant Park7 Jun
would you mind if I post this information on the Croissant Park Civic Association blog, Facebook page and email list? Not everyone is on Nextdoor and your input could be very effective information for the neighbors? Please let me know. Rhonda
Newell Holt has no photo
Newell Holt from Croissant Park7 Jun
That's fine with me.

Sent from Newell Holt's iPhone
Picture of Tony Puentes
Tony Puentes from Croissant Park8 Jun
Thx for the heads-up. Is there a typical car type they use?
Jean Ready has no photo
Jean Ready from Croissant Park23h ago
I appreciate this information and will continue my neighborhood watch. Always sorry to hear of this gang activity and so glad that your stolen articles were returned. Thank you, Hollywood PD.
Michael Jaramillo has no photo
Michael Jaramillo from Croissant Park16h ago
thanks for the update and your vigilance.
Newell Holt has no photo
Newell Holt from Croissant Park8h ago
I don't know whether there is a favorite type of vehicle they use, but the police said they usually black out the windows. When the police run a tag on a car with blacked out windows and find it to be a rental they become very suspicious.
Carroll Billups has no photo
Carroll Billups from Croissant Park7h ago
Hello, Re: the return of the laptops and i-pads by the Hollywood police that were stolen on SW 16th Street and recovered at the scene of a Miami burglary an hour later. First, it is amazing you got them back so fast. But how did the police know those were your items? Did you have serial numbers to provide the police when they took the report at your house? Thanks

Crime Update8 Jun

Steven Cook from Croissant Park
0.08 miles
#13063931 BURGLARY RESIDENCE
6XX SW 16TH ST
Jun 06, 2013 at 9:14 am

Data provided by Fort Lauderdale Police Department

0.16 miles
#13064070 BURGLARY RESIDENCE
4XX SW 17TH ST
Jun ... View more
Shared with Croissant Park only in Crime & Safety
Gerry Hughan has no photo

Gerry Hughan joined Croissant Park7 Jun

SW 16th St
You and Steven welcomed Gerry
New members

3 new neighbors joined Croissant Park6 Jun

Picture of Laura CheringtonAnn Mack has no photoGordon Douglas Wenner has no photo
Jo Bowker has no photo

What was going on?2 Jun

Jo Bowker from Croissant Park
What was happening on SW 8th Avenue last night (Saturday)? Lots of police cars with flashing lights and a helicopter that kept flying around and around..
Shared with Croissant Park only in Crime & Safety
Picture of Tony Puentes
Tony Puentes from Croissant Park2 Jun
I saw and heard, too. I just checked the doors and other "securities". :)
Tanya Anglin has no photo
Tanya Anglin from Croissant Park2 Jun
Helicopters were freaking me out :-(
Picture of Fran Hunt
Fran Hunt from Croissant Park2 Jun
I was just going to ask if anyone had any info on the helicopter flying around last night. SW 8th Ave and ?? street?
Jane Pimentel has no photo
Jane Pimentel from Croissant Park2 Jun
what time was this? didn't hear a thing....
Tanya Anglin has no photo
Tanya Anglin from Croissant Park2 Jun
I think it started just after midnight and carried on till about 4am
Picture of Alan & Tami McClung
Alan & Tami McClung from Croissant Park2 Jun
Cops said 2 bad guy's with guns, it was west of 9th ave.
Hadrian Roesch has no photo
Hadrian Roesch from Croissant Park2 Jun
I had also heard of the noise from the helicopter from midnight until four also. Around 3 am I contacted Fort Lauderdale PD as I couldn't sleep through the noise. The dispatcher relayed that it was a Fort Lauderdale chopper and they were searching for someone.
Jane thanked Hadrian
Bob Meagher has no photo
Bob Meagher from Croissant Park3 Jun
Any updates? Like... did they catch them?
Picture of Alan & Tami McClung
Alan & Tami McClung from Croissant Park6 Jun
Heard 3 in custody. That's all I can say :) :)
Cathie and Fran thanked Alan & Tami

Caught the thief6 Jun

Virginia Dill Russell from Croissant Park
FLPD had the suspect of the burglary this morning on 16th Street in custody. Thank you to all the officers and german shepherd who got this guy off the street
Shared with Croissant Park only in General
StevenBethRobin and 3 others thanked Virginia Dill
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen has no photo
Kimberly Bishop O'Steen from Croissant Park6 Jun
That is so awesome!

Is it too early to tell if he's been responsible for any other burglaries?
Fritz & Rhonda Kramer is a Nextdoor Croissant Park Lead
Fritz & Rhonda Kramer from Croissant Park6 Jun
yea! does anyone know which home was burglarized in the 1400 block of 6 Ave?

Crime Update6 Jun

Steven Cook from Croissant Park
0.33 miles
#13063224 LARCENY OTHER
4XX SW 20TH ST
Jun 04, 2013 at 4:22 pm

Data provided by Fort Lauderdale Police Department
Shared with Croissant Park only in Crime & Safety

Crime Update6 Jun

Steven Cook from Croissant Park
0.25 miles
#13063121 BURGLARY RESIDENCE
14XX SW 6TH AVE
Jun 04, 2013 at 12:11 pm

Data provided by Fort Lauderdale Police Department
Shared with Croissant Park only in Crime & Safety