Charter amendments head to the November ballot
Ten charter questions, a world-record mosaic, and a new downtown tower.
September is here, and Fort Lauderdale has plenty to talk about: 10 charter questions on the November ballot, a new downtown tower, a world record at MODS, and a hometown win.
The city charter is the rulebook behind how Fort Lauderdale governs itself. It sets the shape of city government and the limits on what officials can do. Changing it takes a vote of the people, not just a vote at City Hall.
In the November General Election, voters will answer 10 separate yes-or-no questions affecting 21 charter sections. The proposals range from removing the hyphen in "vice mayor" to creating police chief and fire chief positions.
One park proposal would require a unanimous commission vote for three different actions: selling park land, leasing it for more than a year or removing its park zoning. Because the ballot presents 10 questions rather than one package, voters can judge each proposed change on its own.
Ten questions is a lot to carry into a voting booth. It is worth reading the wording before Election Day, especially the park-land proposal.
Ombelle breaks ground downtown
Ombelle Fort Lauderdale has broken ground in Flagler Village. Construction is officially underway on the 1.6-million-square-foot condo development, which is planned to include Fort Lauderdale's first Equinox.
For nearby residents, the groundbreaking means the construction traffic is no longer theoretical. Crews, trucks and staging areas are now part of the neighborhood.
The development adds another major residential project to the downtown pipeline. If you live or park nearby, the work is no longer a future proposal; it has started.
Habit Burger & Grill is planning a Fort Lauderdale spot
Habit Burger & Grill is planning a new Fort Lauderdale restaurant at 6500 NW 12th Avenue, Suite 101. A permit has been filed for the location, and the chain is known for burgers cooked over an open flame.
The permit identifies the exact suite, but no opening date has been set. There is no opening date yet, so do not plan lunch there just yet.
Fort Lauderdale United takes it 1-0 at home
Fort Lauderdale United beat Brooklyn FC 1-0 in front of its home crowd late last week.
United needed only one goal, and the defense made it stand up with a shutout at home. Brooklyn stayed within one goal but never found an equalizer. For Fort Lauderdale, it is another win in front of the home crowd.
A world record, built out of magnetic tiles
The Museum of Discovery and Science now holds a Guinness World Record for the largest magnetic tile mosaic. Staff and volunteers built a sunny beach scene from 4,500 tiles.
Guinness certified it, so the record is official. The finished work turns a familiar children's toy into one large-scale scene, with the museum's staff and volunteers sharing the credit.
72 years of Zeta Chi
The Zeta Chi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity was chartered in Fort Lauderdale by seven men on April 26, 1954. Its members took part in the 1961 beach wade-ins and have awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships.
The chapter bought property at 1108 Sistrunk Boulevard in 2001. In 2026, it plans to open the Omegas In Broward Center there as a community asset. The timeline runs from civil-rights action to scholarships and then to ownership of a permanent Sistrunk property. That makes the 72nd year more than an anniversary; it is also an opening year.