Civil and Municipal - Jan 2024

are top priorities. INVESTING IN ARTS, CULTURE AND RECREATION Ryan discusses the city’s vibrant downtown, which is situated in the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) district. Currently, there is a focus on reviving an area known as the Northwest First Street Corridor. He elaborates, “It runs right in front of City Hall. It runs in front of the Dania Beach Woman’s Club, some of our historical buildings and historical businesses as well as our post office. That’s our main downtown thoroughfare, but on that thoroughfare, there’s going to be new development.” This development will include the introduction of two new buildings, each over 10 stories tall. “We will have City Park Place, with mixed-use and workforce housing, and then we will have market- rate rental apartments. That’s going to bring in more residents, more vibrance, and make it more walkable in that downtown area,” he adds. In collaboration with Calvin Giordano and Associates, the CRA is also spearheading a streetscape renovation, continuing the efforts to create a more appealing and walkable environment in Downtown Dania Beach. “We’ve worked with them before, and we look forward to their future projects with the city as well,” remarks Ryan. Additionally, the mayor talks about the city’s arts initiative, featuring public artworks like the Totor Dog sculpture donated by French artist, Stephane Bolongaro. “We put that in front of City Hall just to make it a little more whimsical, a little more appealing,” he remarks. As for other artistic endeavors he adds, “We have a large four-story parking garage with a blank wall, and it’s down to three or four artists that we commissioned and we’re going to choose one and they’re going to put an artistic depiction on that wall.” Through the efforts of Dania Beach’s local historical society, a history walk has also been established throughout the community, adding informational 118 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 01 DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA