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View from the Isles

How do We Value

Public Lands

By Mary C. Fertig

he Fort Lauderdale of the 1940’s and 1950’s was Lauderdale International
visionary in its drive to acquire public lands, Boat Show contribute nearly
T memorialize important events and dream for the future. a billion dollars to our local
A few examples include the acquisition of public lands such economy every year.
as Holiday Park and property for a new City Hall known On April 5, 2022, the City
subsequently as the One Stop Shop. War Memorial Commission voted 4-1 to
Auditorium was a “magnificent reminder that the people of accept a new 100-year
this city have not forgotten the sacrifices of the men and lease on the Bahia Mar
women from this city who marched off to war.” Lockhart property that will permit
Stadium, a community effort that spanned a dozen years, condos to be built on these
iconic public lands. Over
provided a football and track venue for local high schools.
200 citizens signed up to
Of special significance was the purchase of the old Coast speak in opposition greatly
Guard Base Six, now known as Bahia Mar. In their 1966 outnumbering the 34 who
book on Fort Lauderdale’s history, Checkered Sunshine, signed up to speak in
authors August Burghard and Phillip Welding describe the support. Many speakers Mary Fertig
property acquired in 1947: “It was bounded on the east by outlined concerns such as
the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Intracoastal Waterway; potential problems for the Boat Show, rate of return, charter
on the south by a then-new area known as Harbor Beach; and issues, potential flawed financial projections, density, and
on the north it extended to within a few feet of the city-owned traffic on the barrier island. But the number one concern was
casino.” The authors share the significance of Bahia Mar: private development of public lands.
“Fort Lauderdale’s municipal yachting center, Bahia Mar,
Just two weeks prior to the vote on Bahia Mar, a vote was
when completed in late 1949 was a national showcase, the
taken on a “license” for the use of One Stop Shop property.
first yachting complex built…it was without equal far
The Comprehensive Agreement includes license extensions
advanced over any other yacht basin.” Robert Osborne Cox,
which could total 100 years. The property, selected by the
a former mayor of Fort Lauderdale and an early president of
voters in 1945 for a new City Hall, was also mentioned in the
the Marine Industries Association, told the authors, “Bahia
Downtown Masterplan (2003) as a park site. Again, the City
Mar was a great stimulus to all shipyards. It helped make Fort
Commission voted 4 to 1 to grant a license for a private
Lauderdale ‘The Yachting Capital of the World.’”
developer to use public land for commercial purposes.
In addition to being instrumental in building Fort Lauderdale’s
marine industries, Bahia Mar has been instrumental in Many of us fear for the future of our public lands if we do not
showcasing the marine community. The main site for the Fort establish tighter controls in our City Charter. The opportunities
Lauderdale International Boat Show, now in its 62nd year, is to acquire lands for the public that were possible for our
at Bahia Mar. A 1968 headline stated it was “Largest in predecessors in the 1940’s and 1950’s no longer exist in a
South”. Today, it is the largest in-water boat show in the city that is nearly built out. It is imperative that we protect what
world. Visitors attend from around the globe helping the Fort we have.

30 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES