moving around some of the old military equipment. A leadership group sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce found funding to build a pedestal to lift the helicopter off the ground. The helicopter has been painted, it looks brand new now, and the next step will be to bring it back and put it on a pedestal, so it looks more like it’s in the air.” The improvements will create dedicated spaces for community events such as Memorial Day and Veterans Day gatherings. According to Ritter, these upgrades aren’t just aesthetic, they’re strategic.“Our feeling is in the long run, by improving the parks, we’re going to improve business for all of those little shops, boutiques, and restaurants situated along Park Street.” This downtown enhancement goes together with residential developments, including a new 40-unit apartment complex within walking distance of the commercial district. “That’s something unique for the city of Okeechobee,” Ritter notes. “We’ve never had apartment complexes like that so close to the commercial district.” HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: MEETING GROWING DEMAND Okeechobee’s housing strategy aims to address critical shortages while supporting economic growth. Multiple developments are underway across the city’s four quadrants, with projects ranging from urban apartments to family homes. “We’ve recognized that we have some shortcomings with housing and apartments,” Ritter explains. The 40-unit apartment complex near the commercial district represents a new direction for Okeechobee. “If you go across the country and across Florida in some of the larger cities, you will find more and more of that kind of complex coming into the commercial district, which then in turn will help support the commercial businesses in that particular area.” Beyond downtown living, larger residential projects are taking shape. “In our northwest area of the city, we’ve got 103 units that will get started within the next couple of months,” says Ritter. “It’s called Mallard Landing, and we’ve been working on it for at least a couple of years. The houses there will likely 91 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03 OKEECHOBEE, FL
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