March 2026

Two new projects advance:

ISHOF and THRIVE

With Spring Break now largely behind us, I am hoping that the many who came to our beaches and night spots have left with good memories and expectations to return some day and maybe settle down and find Fort Lauderdale as their new home.

Looking ahead, two major projects are underway that will further enhance the barrier island and greater downtown in Fort Lauderdale. 

The transformation of the International Swimming Hall of Fame is set to be built alongside the redeveloped Aquatic Center, while the new THRIVE Arts District has begun bringing fresh life to Progresso Village through art, commerce and adaptive reuse. Both projects point to the same commitment. Fort Lauderdale is investing in places that strengthen identity, expand opportunity and create lasting value.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has long held an important place in Fort Lauderdale’s story. It is part of our beachfront and part of our history and connects Fort Lauderdale to the global swimming community. 

Now, the second phase of its modernization will soon get underway. The museum portion of the complex is expected to begin its $220 million transformation this summer following the City Commission’s unanimous approval of its design. The reimagined destination is targeted to open in late 2028.

Plans call for a larger and more elegant International Swimming Hall of Fame museum, a family-friendly aquarium, a rooftop restaurant with panoramic waterfront views as well as space for events and exhibits. An elevated promenade will strengthen the public experience from the beach toward the Intracoastal. 

We accomplish this update while maintaining a sense of place at the complex. The approved concept was scaled to a more intimate structure, preserving the skyline and protecting the visual prominence of the Aquatic Center and its iconic dive tower. After all, progress should not compete with identity, but reinforce it.

What a great way to bookend the accomplishments we have already completed on this historic peninsula. It was only a few short years ago that we undertook a massive overhaul of the aquatic center. We upgraded pools, built new grandstands, improved spectator amenities and added the now-famous 27-meter dive tower. 

The renovated aquatic center and the new ISHOF will be a great combination. We are restoring the city’s standing as an international venue for swimming and diving and enhancing the opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

A revitalized Hall of Fame can do more than celebrate elite achievement. It can introduce young people to aquatic history. It creates more reasons for residents to return and for visitors to stay longer. This is the kind of investment in community that makes sense.

While the Swimming Hall of Fame represents Fort Lauderdale rebuilding one of its most significant public assets, the THRIVE Arts District reflects investment in a different but equally important kind of strength: neighborhood energy, local enterprise and adaptive reuse. 

Officially opened in early March, THRIVE is transforming a five-acre stretch of Progresso Village through the reuse of 80,000 square feet of former warehouse space. The district is now home to more than 60 businesses, including art studios, craft breweries and boutique shops.

At the heart of the district is Music Square, a major outdoor plaza designed for weekend markets, live performances and community gatherings. It is the kind of space that gives a district its pulse.

It creates a reason to stay, not just pass through. It invites people in. And it is supported by nearly $4 million in city streetscape improvements that help turn private investment into a walkable, connected and welcoming public environment.

It’s incredible to see the repurposing of the area’s industrial past. Former warehouse space becomes studios, gathering places and storefronts for local businesses. That kind of adaptive reuse keeps redevelopment from feeling generic and cookie-cutter. 

THRIVE also says something important about downtown Fort Lauderdale’s evolution. 

Downtown stands out as unique among urban cores in its attraction of young workers and even families. It’s a popular place to live because it is providing amenities and places to gather close to where people live. Culture and commerce are part of the fabric of the neighborhood. 

It’s great to see redevelopment come to Progresso Village amid the continuing focus on the Flagler Village portion of downtown. The development in Progresso is mindful of its history and distinct identity. THRIVE creates a walkable center for culture, commerce and community connection while building on the spirit that was already there.

ISHOF and THRIVE are very different projects at their core, but they point in the same direction. They are building on our exciting energy as a community and cementing us as a great place to live and visit. They make the city stronger and more dynamic. 

They show a city moving ahead with confidence, with purpose and with a clear sense of its future. Please check out THRIVE, and let’s all look forward to visiting the new ISHOF when it opens. 

Yours,

Dean