Las Olas Boulevard

Las Olas Boulevard is a major east-west thoroughfare in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States that runs from SW 1st Avenue in the Central Business District to Florida State Road A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach. The name "Las Olas" means "The Waves" in Spanish. The road once carried the designations of State Road A1A Alt. and State Road 842.

Las Olas Boulevard
Las Olas Shops facing northeast
Length2.5 mi (4.0 km)
LocationFort Lauderdale
West endSW 1st Ave in downtown Fort Lauderdale
Major
junctions
East end SR A1A on Fort Lauderdale Beach
Construction
Completion1917

The easternmost section begins on a barrier island and crosses the intracoastal waterway. The road then enters the residential neighborhoods of Seven Isles and Hendricks and Venice Isles. West of SE 17th Avenue, the road enters a commercial shopping district, which is itself colloquially called "Las Olas". This portion of the road is lined with low and mid-rise bars, nightclubs, bridal stores, shops, boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants. The road passes over the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel and enters the city's financial district. The westernmost part of the street is predominantly lined by high-rises.

History

The boulevard was constructed in 1917 by S.P. Snyder & Son Co., when Las Olas was just a dirt road that crossed the swampy wetlands to the barrier island at Fort Lauderdale Beach. The Las Olas Isles were dredged in the 1920s to create land for a waterfront residential district. The modern commercial segment of Las Olas Boulevard was constructed during the Post World War II era. The buildings surrounding the westernmost downtown segment underwent significant redevelopment since the 1970s.

In the early 1980s, Las Olas went through a major renovation program to enhance property values. The land was worth much more than that of the standing homes. It was decided that anyone who wished to buy property on one of the isles would have to tear down the existing home and build a home of equal or greater value than the land. Professional tour companies provide tours that take people down the waterways to show off the celebrities homes and yachts.

In 2020, the city completed construction on the $49 million Las Olas Oceanside Park project at the intersection of Florida State Road A1A and Las Olas Boulevard. This project provided a 650-space parking garage behind and a beachfront park and plaza.[1] The park hosts a variety of events, including farmers markets, fitness and art events.[2]

Notable buildings

Public Transportation

Las Olas Boulevard is served by Broward County Transit Route 11 along most of its length, between SE 3rd Avenue and Fort Lauderdale Beach.[5] The street is also served by the Las Olas Link of the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association's Sun Trolley Bus Service.[6]

Notable residents

A few of the most notable (past and present) are:

References

  1. "Skanska Completes $49M Las Olas Beach Park Project". Connect Media. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  2. "Las Olas Oceanside Park". My Fort Lauderdale Beach. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  3. Benedick, Robin (1995-06-17). "Hotel Won't Check Out With Bang". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  4. Dolen, John (2019-07-02). "Old Lauderdale: In the Club". Fort Lauderdale Magazine. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  5. "BCT System-wide Map" (PDF). Broward County Government. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  6. "Beach and Las Olas Links". Sun Trolley Fort Lauderdale. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  7. Historic Stranahan House Museum. Retrieved 21 June 2013.

26.11930°N 80.13496°W / 26.11930; -80.13496

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