Business View Magazine | November 2020

255 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2020 NORTH LAUDERDALE , FLOR IDA demolition of existing commercial buildings to build something new.” Referencing the repurposing of an early 1990’s era Walmart store and an adjacent strip shopping center, as a prime example, Reed- Holguin recounts, “Walmart decided they wanted to build a new Superstore, and they purchased an old strawberry field in our city and built the store there – leaving the existing Walmart vacant. As a result, the strip shopping center which had a different owner started to lose tenants. That’s when an investor came in and purchased both the old Walmart building and the strip shopping center and put in a Ross Dress for Less, several other clothing stores, a Youfit Health Club, and now they’re expanding the strip shopping side to add restaurants to that end of it. So we’re very excited about possibilities like that for redevelopment.” In the vicinity of the new Walmart, the same developer purchased some outparcels of land and built a strip center that brought in three restaurants and some retailers. That was a big boost for North Lauderdale, as it was lacking sit-down style family restaurants, and expressed that need to developers who were interested in the city. Another example of a commercial building being torn down and replaced by a new build involves a Walgreens store that did not renew their lease. The property owner identified a Wawa store to come in and take the place of Walgreens. That is now being built and will be the first Wawa in North Lauderdale. Mike Sargis, Assistant City Manager/Parks & Rec Director, exclaims, “You know you’ve made it when you have a Wawa in your city!” By spurring redevelopment of commercial entities, North Lauderdale has also encouraged housing starts for the expanding population. Reed-Holguin reports, “We have some townhomes that have been built on vacant lots, and a couple of new apartment buildings that are mostly full all the time. We think the population is growing and we’re really pushing