Results

Public Official: Mayor Rodney Romano
October 2002 Session

Final Report

Description of Project
The City of Lake Worth wishes to revitalize a commercial and residential area within their Community Redevelopment Area. The site under study is located to the west of the Florida East Coast Railroad corridor and north and south of Lake and Lucerne Avenues. The residential portion contains numerous potentially historic structures, some which have been modified for multi-family occupation. Issues central to the plan include: creating an identity for the neighborhood, building political consensus on neighborhood redevelopment; utilizing financial planning and leveraging; increasing the owner occupancy rate; and preserving and celebrating the cultural diversity of the area.

Design Institute Recommendations  
Issues central to the plan included:

• Creating an identity for the neighborhood,
• Building political consensus on neighborhood redevelopment;
• Utilizing financial planning and leveraging;
• Increasing the owner occupancy rate; and
• Preserving and celebrating the cultural diversity of the area.

Suggested actions included floating bonds to pay for infrastructure, starting a grant or loan program to promote infill development and revitalization, and development incentives to increase owner occupancy rates. It was suggested that the transit service on Dixie Highway be improved, that design guidelines specific to the area should be adopted along with suggested prototypes for development that would honor and maintain the historic character of the neighborhood.

Results
The City of Lake Worth continues to involve itself in the master planning process. Such efforts include the project site.

The City’s Commission and Stakeholder Advisory Committee continued to sponsor community visioning workshops and a design center. The workshops provided opportunities for public input concerning the vision for the City of Lake Worth . The design center served a similar function and provided an opportunity to learn about the master planning process. It was staffed by design team experts and provided visual exhibits throughout the planning process. The end goal of both the hands-on workshop sessions and design center was the creation of a preliminary strategic master plan for the City.

In September 2005, an update regarding the progress of the master plan was submitted to the city commission, planning and zoning board and Community Redevelopment Agency. In addition, public meetings were held in order to unveil specifics of the preliminary master plan . It is anticipated city officials will soon consider zoning changes as part of Lake Worth 's new master plan .

Additional Contacts

Friederike Mittner, Urban Designer 561-586-1785

Sharon Jackson, Community Development Director
561-586-1688  sjackson@lakeworth.net