In 2025, the City of Oakland Park, FL, moved from its long-time city hall location into leased space in a new downtown office building. The move provided the city with both modern office space and an opportunity to bring new housing downtown.
The building is being demolished to make way for 311 apartments, with 10 percent of those units set aside for workforce housing, along with 20,000 square feet of retail space.
As an added benefit, the site will feature a “woonerf” — the Dutch term for a pedestrian-friendly street. These spaces welcome pedestrians and cyclists as well as drivers, who all travel together without traditional safety infrastructure such as curbs, traffic lights, and signs. In the woonerf concept, drivers slow down because of the proximity of walkers and bikers.
More on alternatives to traditional city halls appears Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter.
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