Brief Description
Pompano Beach’s Downtown entertainment district, known as Old Town, is a historic area that is being revitalized through numerous City and CRA projects and programs to become the epicenter of dining and entertainment in Pompano Beach. In 2016, the streetscape project was complete including wider sidewalks, pedestrian friendly lighting and other urban amenities. Façade improvements are beautifying the buildings and new tenants are finding the area including Odd Breed Wild Ales and Blooming Bean Coffee Roastery. The CRA purchased and renovated the old Bailey Hotel and converted it into the Bailey Contemporary Arts building (BaCA) where artists use the renovated hotel rooms as artist studios. Painted murals throughout Old Town lend a cool vibe drawn from Wynwood’s inspiration. The focal point is a central urban plaza with a “Fire Fountain” the first of its kind in the United States where fire literally explodes out of the water using new technology. The first new residential project in Downtown is scheduled to break ground in 2018 called Old Town Square.
Monthly events like Old Town Untapped and Green Market continually draw in thousands of visitors and potential new tenants to the Old Town area.
City / CRA Investment
- $7.7 million in streetscape improvement
- $668,000 in façade improvement
- $1.3 million for BaCA renovations
Public Benefits
- Numerous dining and nightlife choices within walking distance of one another provide for a pedestrian-friendly centralized area for the residents and visitors of Pompano Beach
- Public art, such as the murals and art trail, are highly cost-effective means of spurring economic revitalization of the area
- Quality of life amenities including urban plazas and cultural venues
- An increase in the tax base for the City
How it Will Happen
- With the City taking ownership of two streets, the intersection of Atlantic Blvd and Dixie Highway will become pedestrian friendly allowing safe and walkable connections to Old Town from the Cultural Center and the Innovation district.
- To adequately provide parking for an entertainment district such as Old Town, a new parking garage will be built on the surface parking area along Atlantic Blvd with ground floor retail opportunities facing the Plaza.
- Additional restaurants and retailers will be attracted to vacant buildings ready to be renovated and occupied.
- More capital improvements, such as streetscape projects, will be made in the northern parts of Old Town.
- Additional residential will be attracted to the fringe of Old Town.
