September 17, 2021
While Downtown Fort Lauderdale's growth story is still being written, it's clear that several milestones have been reached over the past decade:
41% increase in the downtown residential population over the past decade
33% increase in the number of residents since 2015
DowntownFTL's Evolution Is A Core Driver of Citywide and Regional Growth
DowntownFTL has emerged as the most in-demand destination within Broward County and the City of Fort Lauderdale. Notably, 68% of citywide growth over the past 5 years is attributed to Downtown. If DowntownFTL was its own city, it would be the fastest growing municipality in Broward over the past 5 years and among the top 2% of fastest growing places in Florida.
DowntownFTL's Growth Is Wide Reaching Across The Urban Core
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the density of the downtown residential population is nearly identical between Flagler Village and the Central Business District. Until recently, density was mainly concentrated between Broward Boulevard and the New River.
This indicates that every corner of DowntownFTL is seeing new investment. The number of residents in the Central Business District and Flagler Village is nearly identical, with about 6,250 people in each neighborhood. From 2010 to 2021, there was:
146% growth in Flagler Village
46% growth in the Central Business District
This emerging trend will help paint a picture as to how Downtown's unique neighborhoods are evolving and complement each other, creating communities for residents of all ages.
The significant interest in DowntownFTL from across South Florida and the country was not inevitable. The transformation of Downtown into a residential, employment, and tourism hub makes Fort Lauderdale and Broward County much more resilient to economic shocks than ever before.