When the city of Oakland Park agreed to sell the now-former city hall and other properties to build the Horizon project in 2022, many if not most assumed it would be close to finished by now. Four years later, the city still owns the properties and the buildings still stand. At the city commission meeting on Oct. 7, another change was made to the agreement.
The new budget year is underway and Oakland Park has big dreams and a budget to match. City Commissioners passed the annual budget, which took effect Oct. 1. Running the city will cost $180.6 million this year, up from $173 million last year.
Fresh air blended with that “new park smell” at the official opening of Greenleaf Park in Oakland Park. Citizens chatted up city officials as excitement grew.
Two years of heavy lifting has finally moved a new CrossFit gym closer to reality. During their Aug. 3 meeting, they approved So-Flow, a massive, four-story gym at 1048 E. Oakland Park Blvd.
The long-anticipated, much-vaunted Horizon project is on hold. Considered the crown jewel of Oakland Park’s downtown development, the new delay seemed to catch the city and residents by surprise.
Oakland Park has a lot going on. City Commissioner Fitz Budhoo recently said, “We are a hot city.” And there is evidence to back him up.
The adjectives are powerful and telling. “Wounded.” “Antagonism.” “Suspicion.” “Mistrust.”
Environmental concerns were duly noted and a new development took a big step forward. 1670 NE 38th St., currently occupied by the Le Rocher Christian Worship Center, is set to be redeveloped into five, single-family homes.
Oakland Park is fighting accusations of being indifferent to citizen concerns, eschewing transparency, and having a rubber stamp for a city commission. The May 6 meeting seems to display all those traits.
Oakland Park citizens tried one last time to stop a sidewalk project that’s taking up to 40% of the space in front of their homes. They failed. The 13th Avenue Drainage Project is going forward, but residents are calling out commissioners as weak, ineffective, and powerless.
Page 1 of 3
Phone: 954-514-7095
Hours: Monday - Friday 9AM - 2PM
Editorial@OutSFL.com
Sales@OutSFL.com
Corrections:
PO Box 23817 • Oakland Park, FL 33307
Got a juicy lead or story idea? Let us know! You can also submit an anonymous news tip by clicking here.
Help sustain independent LGBTQ journalism, community coverage, and local voices across South Florida.
