The Creative Future of Downtown Fort Lauderdale
Downtown Fort Lauderdale is changing rapidly. More people are choosing to live, work, and spend time there, transforming what was once primarily a business center into a place where people are building their lives. But as the downtown area grows, an important question emerges: What makes it a place people want to experience, not simply pass through?
For Jenni Morejon, president and CEO of the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the answer goes beyond buildings and development. The vision is for a Downtown that feels connected, welcoming, and active throughout the day, where people can work, enjoy dinner on Las Olas, see a performance, or spend time along the New River, all within the same day
Water is also central to what makes Downtown distinctly Fort Lauderdale. The New River runs directly through its urban core, connecting neighborhoods, parks, restaurants, cultural institutions, and a waterfront lifestyle that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Arts and culture add another layer to that identity. Downtown is home to major institutions including the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, NSU Art Museum, and Museum of Discovery & Science, but creativity increasingly extends into public spaces and becomes part of everyday life through local artists, galleries, public art, events, and community programming.
Huizenga Park is a compelling example. Following a $15 million transformation, the 3.6-acre park along the New River welcomed more than 120,000 visitors and hosted over 250 events during its first six months. Public art, classes, poetry gatherings, outdoor movies, and wellness programs are helping turn the park into a gathering place for the community.
Morejon also sees culture as part of Downtown’s economic vitality.
“People want professional opportunities, but they also want restaurants, museums, performances, parks and things to do outside the workday,” she said.
Creating those experiences helps attract talent, support businesses, and gives visitors more reasons to stay, explore, and return.
Looking ahead, Morejon sees opportunities for local artists and cultural organizations to become even more visible as the riverfront and FAT Village continue to evolve. Through public art, programming, installations, and partnerships, their voices can help reflect Fort Lauderdale’s history while bringing new ideas and experiences into its public spaces and contributing to Downtown’s evolving identity.
Perhaps her vision for Downtown’s future says it best: “Success isn’t simply adding more development. It’s making sure Downtown becomes more interesting, more connected and more reflective of the community as it grows.”
A thriving downtown isn’t defined only by what we build, but by the experiences we create within it. By weaving art, culture, and a distinctive sense of place into that growth, Fort Lauderdale has an opportunity to remain unmistakably Fort Lauderdale, giving the city something development alone cannot: its character.
Beyond the Canvas is a monthly column exploring the people, places, and ideas shaping Broward County’s creative future. Each month, I’ll look beyond the artwork itself to discover how creativity transforms our communities and enriches everyday life.
