[murk mags]

Anyone have any current photos-2006+ of these areas? I need a few pictures to hold me over until I come visit in 2009.

[tallrick]

What areas do you want to see, the ones you can never afford, or the ugly places that most people can?

[harry chickpea]

tallrick, that is cute but not exactly accurate. South Beach was a wasteland a few years ago, Los Olas was just another street, Miami Shores was a sleepy enclave, and the people who bought in at the right time bought into inexpensive places that turned beautiful. Timing is everything.

What areas are next on the upswing? It is hard to tell. Margate has been doing some interesting things lately, buying up property on both sides of 441 in preparation for a major project, revamping streetscapes, and overseeing grants to low income homeowners to upgrade their property. Deerfield Beach has a lot of potential.

[tallrick]

South Beach was never a wasteland, but actually better before the bubble. Sure there were a lot of run down hotels with old people on the patio, but it was the neglect that saved the beach from "redevelopment" and allowed it to become the famous place it now is. Miami Vice on TV didn't hurt either. The beach has always been desireable, since Carl Fisher convinced people to buy and build on his lots. Some areas like west Kendall, Doral and other mass developments have no future better than what they have now. In south Florida you never know where the suckers will bubble up next. Personally I would prefer inexpensive and friendly, but no such place exists anymore in South Florida.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

tallrick, that is cute but not exactly accurate. South Beach was a wasteland a few years ago, Los Olas was just another street, Miami Shores was a sleepy enclave, and the people who bought in at the right time bought into inexpensive places that turned beautiful. Timing is everything.

What areas are next on the upswing? It is hard to tell. Margate has been doing some interesting things lately, buying up property on both sides of 441 in preparation for a major project, revamping streetscapes, and overseeing grants to low income homeowners to upgrade their property. Deerfield Beach has a lot of potential.

The Mayor has laid out the future Fort Lauderdale wants. He said there is little room any more for the single family house, they need to be replaced by mulit family dwellings. This came right from the mayors lips. Builders can buy single family houses an get them rezoned in a heart beat wrecking neighborhoods. People are forced to sell out to developers for bargain prices because once they are there who else would buy your house. They drive the value down and then make you an offer. The city could care less about the quality of life just their tax base and giving themselves raises. Anyone moving to this area with any thought of raising a family would have to be nuts. Our roads and most everything here is old and falling apart and can't support the current population and they are looking to double it.

[tallrick]

Originally Posted by macguy

The Mayor has laid out the future Fort Lauderdale wants. He said there is little room any more for the single family house, they need to be replaced by mulit family dwellings. This came right from the mayors lips. Builders can buy single family houses an get them rezoned in a heart beat wrecking neighborhoods. People are forced to sell out to developers for bargain prices because once they are there who else would buy your house. They drive the value down and then make you an offer. The city could care less about the quality of life just their tax base and giving themselves raises. Anyone moving to this area with any thought of raising a family would have to be nuts. Our roads and most everything here is old and falling apart and can't support the current population and they are looking to double it.

Also don't forget that the city zoning department is there to harass older residents and force them to sell and move. Amazing that a place with such aging infrastructure want to turn decent neighborhoods into bubble condos and eventual slums. I don't know about you, but the idea of settling for multi-family crackerboxes isn't my idea of paradise!

[macguy]

Originally Posted by tallrick

Also don't forget that the city zoning department is there to harass older residents and force them to sell and move. Amazing that a place with such aging infrastructure want to turn decent neighborhoods into bubble condos and eventual slums. I don't know about you, but the idea of settling for multi-family crackerboxes isn't my idea of paradise!

I have to get a new computer. I have been holding out waiting for the new Mac OS to come out before buying. This computer is so old I can't even get the photo program to work. I will post some pictures from around here soon you won't believe. Cute little houses dwarfed by huge multi family town houses on all sides built to the property lines. They for what ever reason didn't want to sell and now their houses are all but worthless. Who in their right mind would want to buy.

This city has made it's plans clear what they want. Good or bad it isn't for me. What I said about old and falling apart. They have just waited too long to make what should have been on going improvements. Now the place has aged all at once. We have water systems that leak like crazy. Sections of street are always being repaired due to leaks eroding away underneath. The roads have be re-toped so many times even the best roads are like riding on a rail road track. They need to be torn up and totally redone. Wilma really showed the age of our electrical poles. They came down by the thousands, all full of rot and termite damage.

Many that didn't come down all together are still tilted over like they are going to fall any minute and after more then a year and a half still not fixed. Many of the commercial buildings in this town are badly aging but owners aren't going to do anything. I saw one that looked fine nice paint and so on. They were doing some sign work on the outside and the whole wall came down. The inside looked like nothing but honey comb it was so full of past termite damage that have been hidden with plaster and paint instead of fixing it. I could go on but the thing is, at some point someone is going to get the bill for all this cities past neglect and it seems to be coming due soon.

[murk mags]

I'd like pictures mostly of Fort Lauderdale, intracoastal views especially if you have them around 33308 near shooters. Thanks

[MrTudo]

Originally Posted by tallrick

South Beach was never a wasteland, but actually better before the bubble. Sure there were a lot of run down hotels with old people on the patio, but it was the neglect that saved the beach from "redevelopment" and allowed it to become the famous place it now is. Miami Vice on TV didn't hurt either. Personally I would prefer inexpensive and friendly, but no such place exists anymore in South Florida.

South Beach USED to be great. Used to go almost every weekend. This is back when you could buy a 2 bedroom condo on the east side of the street for less than 20 grand. Oh how I remember almost begging my employer in Ft Lauderdale to co-sign for me but nooooooo way would they do so.

Now it IS a wasteland.

We were in Lauderdale today. Took a drive down the isles ( off Las Olas, those isles ) Haven't seen them in years. My how things have er, gotten CROWDED.

Whatever floats the boat I guess.

Thankfully, Skyline Chile on federal still serves up great coney's!

Now we live on the west coast. Port Charlotte. Where humans are just starting to learn how to walk upright although it may be awhile before theyb accomplish that feat of evolution. Ha!