West Oakland Park Boulevard Corridor Study Area Outlined in Red Above | |
Creating a Vision for West Oakland Park Boulevard | |
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This is an exciting time in Oakland Park. As the City grows, new opportunities arise for business expansion and economic development.
The City wants to do what it can to support economic growth and long-term sustainability into Oakland Park’s second century. As part of this effort, the City is working with stakeholders to create a vision for the West Oakland Park Boulevard commercial corridor.
The city hosted meetings late last month with local businesses and property owners to get input regarding the challenges they face and the needs they have to support future growth. The next steps will include analyzing the current land use, zoning, and economic conditions in the area. This information, along with stakeholder input, will help identify goals for the corridor and enable staff to provide recommendations to encourage growth and bring the community vision to life. Contact the CRA if you are interested in learning how you can participate.
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Walt Disney once said "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Young artist and entrepreneur, Nora Pinell-Hernandez, is proof of this courage and what you can accomplish if you can muster it up. Early in her career as an artist Nora used her talents to help museums create different exhibits. She worked for several years at the Seminole Tribe's Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. Working at that museum Nora gained the experience, knowledge, confidence and courage to strike out on her own and open up her own fabrication shop, Atomic Carrots. It took some time to build a client following, but now Atomic Carrots' clients are keeping them busy! Currently, they are working on six different projects for museums around the country, including refurbishing and bringing back to life replicas of two pioneer wagons! Nora has clearly made her dream come true, and what a dream it is!
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Q & A with Nora Pinell-Hernandez | |
What tip would you give to someone who wants to open a business? | " ... always have faith... there are times when things fall through... afterwards, it was either something else turned up, or ... it was better that way. This happens to everyone. We doubt ourselves right now. We have very deep doubts, what we're doing and where we're heading and I think it's okay to just doubt yourself...but you just have to keep working... the harder you work, the luckier you are." | |  |
What is the secret to your success? | |
The "...secret to my success is making small improvements every day, and either improvements or just small work every single day. So if I know I have a big project coming up ... I kind of break everything up in my mind. And if I do things little by little every single day, then ... it will turn out fine in the end... It's all small differences and all those decisions that you make in a day really adds up in the end."
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Why did you choose Oakland Park for Atomic Carrots? | |
" I had this idea that I wanted to, when I opened up my gate, I could see trees and coconuts. And it's insane to think that you could have a warehouse. And then the backyard is just, you know, foliage and just beauty. And it just so happens that I was driving around this area, I saw something for rent, and it [had] exactly what I wanted, ...coconuts. And so it's really just the location of the shop and how beautiful it is. And then what's great is that since I've been here ...I've been able to explore throughout Oakland Park and it is really amazing. ...So it's just it's been very comforting ... to be in a place that you know, the City [and] the ... community want you to be ". | |
Oakland Park CRA Business Incentive Program
The CRA has simplified its Business Incentive Program (BIP) to help businesses in the CRA make interior and exterior improvements. The BIP provides grant funding (up to $20,000 in the CRA and up to $35,000 in the Culinary Arts District) to improve your commercial space, through façade improvements and interior buildouts. If you’re in the CRA and thinking about enhancing your property, call 954-630-4477 or visit the CRA website to learn more.
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Financial Opportunities For Your Business | |
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Small Business Loan Fund
The Small Business Loan Fund is a community development financial institution whose purpose is to make access to credit more readily available to minority and women-owned businesses in Florida. They provide loans to small businesses statewide, but their focus is on small businesses located in South Florida - Broward, Miami Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.
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Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund
Available through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund focuses on creating and enhancing the diversification and resiliency of Florida’s economy. Its purpose is to address the current gap in available, affordable capital for businesses. The Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund has $40 million available to assist businesses with economic development and resiliency.
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Access to Capital Video Series
Seeking capital to grow your business or finance a new business venture and unsure about the most effective path? The Florida SBDC’s Access to Capital Video Series is a collection of six short videos designed to provide you with a fundamental overview of how to obtain the financing your business needs to succeed. Watch these videos to give yourself an edge before attending an in-person training or meeting with a consultant.
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Additional Funding Resources | |
Let's welcome these new businesses to Oakland Park! | |
Table by GB Woodarts & Design | |
- 1st Terrace Apartments LLC
- Diversified Demolition Services
- Elias Services & Installation
- GB Woodarts & Design
- HDR Engineering
- Journey Document Solutions
- Legend Tax & Accounting
- Multi Health Community Center
- New Radiance Cosmetic Center
- Snappers
- The Real Cut
- Triple G Welding
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BLYS - Coming Soon
The new BLYS project at 3000 N.E. 6th Avenue is gearing up to start leasing properties before the end of the year. Featuring serene surroundings on the Middle River in the heart of Oakland Park, BLYS offers modern amenities and curated spaces. Interested residents can access floorplans and price ranges online at BLYSliving.com. Already home to Sprouts Farmers Market, developers recently signed leases with two more retail tenants, AT&T and PAC Dental. We look forward to sharing more news on this exciting project in Oakland Park.
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Oakland Park Holds Grand Opening Celebration for City Park
The City of Oakland Park held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in October for Phase I of City Park. Located at 3900 N.E. Third Ave., the $5.9 million project includes five pickleball courts, two basketball courts, an accessible playground, a renovated concession stand, family restrooms, and the first splash pad in Oakland Park.
Centrally located on N.E. 38th Street and Third Avenue, City Park is located half a mile west of Dixie Highway. The park is within the boundaries of the Oakland Park Community Redevelopment Agency and in a qualified census tract area. Phase I was designed by Chen Moore and Associates and constructed by Kaufman Lynn.
The design for City Park reflects elements that will be used throughout future City projects. The architectural style of the structures, the design of the benches and lights, and the colors of the amenities were carefully coordinated. Similar elements will be incorporated into future city projects to create a distinct and cohesive look for Oakland Park. Plans for Phase II are underway.
City Park is the first of several projects in the Comprehensive Facilities Plan aimed at Building Oakland Park’s Second Century. Funded through a bond that was approved by 67 percent of voters in 2018, the Facilities Plan is a ten-year redevelopment initiative to construct and renovate several buildings in Oakland Park. The City broke ground on the second bond project, the North Andrews Gardens Community Center, in July 2022. Continue reading ...
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Swearing-In Ceremony
Oaths of Office will be administered to the Oakland Park Mayor and Vice Mayor for the 2022-23 City Commission Session on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at City Hall. It can be viewed via live web-stream on the City's website www.oaklandparkfl.gov, on Comcast Channel 78, AT&T Channel 99, or on the City's website the following day.
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Holiday Village
Join us on Friday, December 2nd, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, December 3rd, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will occur at Jaco Pastorius Park at 4000 North Dixie Highway. Join us Friday at 6:30 p.m. to light the magical 40-foot Christmas Tree, Menorah, and Kinara. For more information on Holiday Village, visit the City website or call 954-630-4500.
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Art & Antique Walk
The City of Oakland Park will host an Art & Antique Walk & Marketplace at Art Park on Saturday, December 10th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get a jump on your holiday shopping. Shop goods and food from local Oakland Park businesses. Visit our website or call 954-630-4500 for more information.
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Realtors Spotlight Oakland Park
The Miami Association of REALTORS®, the largest local real estate association in the nation- with nearly 60,000 members- featured Oakland Park in their City Spotlight luncheon in October. Vice Mayor Aisha Gordon, Commissioner Jane Bolin, and City Manager David Hebert (pictured right) were panelists for the forum, which took place at Funky Buddha. They highlighted the City parks and facilities underway, the new mixed-use developments coming to the downtown, private investment, and economic growth. We thank the REALTORS® for selecting Oakland Park and promoting all the exciting projects underway in our City!
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