Davie, Florida

A Special Place to Call Home

Blending rural charms with a modern future

Home to nearly 107,000 residents, the Town of Davie, in the heart of Broward County, spans 35.6 square miles, blending the best of rural beauty and progressive opportunity. A hub of aviation, healthcare, marine uses and education, Davie stands out with its green open spaces, numerous parks, and scenic trails.

Investing in the Future

Phillip Holste

According to Assistant Town Administrator, Phillip Holste, Davie’s future is being shaped by three major infrastructure projects. The first is the construction of a new Town Hall, set to break ground in the early part of 2025. He expands, “We are going from a 25,000 square foot facility to a four-story 80,000 square foot facility that is a central hub for all of town operations.”

Guided by a 2017 Stormwater Master Plan, the Town is also focused on addressing the pressing issue of flooding. Leveraging funds from the American Rescue Plan, federal and state appropriations, and various grants, Davie is enhancing drainage systems.

“We are making stormwater our priority, to address those existing concerns, as well as sea level rise, and climate change,” he maintains. “Based upon the way the infrastructure was built in South Florida, we have a bigger impact from those changes because our drainage either goes into the Everglades, or the ocean. Therefore, we have to be prepared for those areas not being available.”

Roadway infrastructure is the third priority, as Holste recounts, “Davie’s population continues to grow with new development, and we also have new businesses coming into our industrial area. Ultimately, this is leading to more people coming into the Town. As a result, we are looking at widening some of our existing roadways and doing bridge improvements.”

Key Industries

Davie is drawing significant investments from major industries, specifically those related to aviation and healthcare. “We have some major players that have already been here for the past couple of years, including Boeing, Embraer, and Kellstrom,” explains Economic Development Manager, Debbie Thomas. “But we’ve also been receiving interest from other, smaller but still significant, aviation companies. The most recent being F/List, and we’re also working with a group called AeroThrust. They’re currently located in Miami and they’re creating a training facility here in the Town.”

Debbie Thomas

The healthcare industry is also flourishing in Davie, highlighted by the addition of a new HCA Hospital in late 2021. This four-story, 200-plus-bed facility, with future expansion plans, has enhanced the Town’s healthcare infrastructure. “They are a major player in healthcare, and with them came additional medical offices and interest from other healthcare providers,” notes Thomas. Holste adds that Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is expanding its medical programs, potentially bringing in a new simulation center and a cancer center. In addition, Davie is home to biotech partners including Teva, Arnet, Health Genesis and other major players in the industry.

Housing and Community Development

The Town is actively pursuing development projects aimed at enhancing its residential landscape. Along with a mandate for inclusionary housing in new developments exceeding 100 units, Davie is also collaborating with Prestige Companies on a 100% affordable housing project within the Community Redevelopment Agency’s redevelopment area.

“In addition to projects that increase the number of residential units altogether, one of our major projects has been what we call The District which is on the corner of two major corridors in the Town,” relays Thomas. “That is a 25-story, $1 billion project that will provide over 1,200 residential units and 36,000 square feet of commercial use on the ground floors.”

Holste outlines other key projects in the community, including Mill Creek, a housing development adjacent to the Nova Southeastern campus, set to be completed in late 2024, and the Davie Industrial Center, which recently broke ground. “That was a redevelopment of an old RV park,” he shares.

“It is an industrial center with about 250,000 square feet of building space. And then the rest of it will be outdoor storage.” Another approved project, Soleste Reserve I, will provide affordable housing units within the Town’s Transit-Oriented Corridor, an area designated for more intensities and higher densities.

“We have a broad breadth of housing stock, whether you want to be in a one-one apartment, all the way up to million-dollar homes, anything you’re looking for in terms of housing stock is available in the Town,” Holste boasts. “The great thing about it is you can still get single-family homes at an affordable rate in the Town of Davie.”

Educational Excellence and Business Attraction

The community offers access to top-tier educational institutions and abundant recreational spaces, furthering the attractiveness of Davie as an ideal place to locate. Home to the South Florida Education Center, Davie students can follow their educational pathway from kindergarten through their doctorate, while remaining in the Town.

“You can choose between Nova Southeastern, Florida Atlantic University, University of Florida, Broward College, and McFatter Technical College. Anything you’re looking to do, you can do it within the South Florida Education Center,” states Holste.

“The percentage of Davie residents with a bachelor’s degree is approximately 43%. That’s a big attraction to businesses who are looking for professionals. They’re coming into a community where people already have the education they’re looking for.”

As it continues to attract new residents and businesses, Davie takes pride in maintaining low tax and assessment rates. Holste depicts, “We do that because we want to attract residents, but we also know that’s important for our business community.”

The Town also partners with regional entities on business development opportunities. “Over at Nova Southeastern they have the Levan Center,” he explains. “That’s an incubator for entrepreneurship, to help develop new businesses for Broward County.” Davie also partners with Florida Atlantic University’s Small Business Development Center for businesses that are looking for resources and funding to grow and expand. “We’re trying to make sure that whether you’re a large company who’s looking to locate in Davie or a small business that’s looking to grow, we’re able to help you out every step of the process,” he conveys.

Thomas emphasizes Davie’s advantageous location in central Broward, offering proximity to various transportation hubs such as ports, airports, and seaports, making it an appealing destination for businesses. “We have a great location, and I think that itself is very marketable to new businesses seeking to relocate into the South Florida area,” she remarks. “We have retail, office, industrial, healthcare, aviation and marine industries here. That’s something that would attract business owners from various industries to come to the Town.”

Recreational Opportunities for All Ages

Fondly referred to as “Cowboy Town,” Davie boasts a rich equestrian heritage and a vibrant rodeo culture.

“We have a lot of activities that occur on the rodeo grounds, the most popular being the Davie Pro Rodeo,” describes Thomas. “And we have other types of events that go on during the year. We have our annual Orange Blossom Festival, which includes the parade and the rodeo. We also host many events for youths, adults, and seniors at our Multipurpose Center. By the end of the year, the Town will be welcoming a new Pro Women’s Soccer Team which will open additional opportunities for sports enthusiasts to attend live sporting events.” She notes that Davie residents are afforded opportunities to engage in the equestrian and agricultural lifestyle. “There’s a lot to do for people of all ages. The Town is very family-oriented, and our events are designed to accommodate anybody of any age.”

In addition to its Equestrian culture, Davie offers an abundance of natural amenities, including Flamingo Gardens, a lush botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary spanning over 60 acres. One of Davie’s natural gems, this historic site is approaching its 100th anniversary, and is a draw for visitors from across the region.

A Vision for the Future

Looking toward what comes next for this thriving community, Thomas says that Davie remains committed to implementing smart growth principles, enhancing infrastructure and attracting diverse industries. She underscores the importance of initiatives that encourage strong relationships with businesses and residents, sharing, “We have a new program called Corporate Outreach Retention Engagement (CORE). It allows us to meet with current business owners, or people and corporations within the Town to foster strong business relationships. We have found that having that one-on-one contact to the degree where people know they can just call the Town and speak to a real person is a huge asset.”

Public engagement initiatives are also used to educate potential residents and business owners about the Town’s offerings, promoting Davie as an ideal place to live, work, learn and play. Thomas affirms, “We’re making it a priority to inform people about the Town, and disseminate information about the great services and opportunities that we have to offer.”

As this dynamic community embraces a new era of growth, it is poised to remain a South Florida success story.

AT A GLANCE

Davie, Florida

What: A dynamic South Florida town with growth on the horizon

Where: Broward County

Website: www.davie-fl.gov