Fort Lauderdale Beach & Delray Beach

Laura Swartz
December 3, 2012
URP6101 Final Project
Vantage Points
A1A at Fort Lauderdale Beach
Users: Typically adults in their 30s to 50s
-Fewer children and elderly
-People came in small groups (2 or 3, most often of
the same gender), large groups, and as singles
-Employees of nearby businesses, street performers
Dense
Concentrations
of People
Dense concentrations of people bring
out supportive activities street
performers, bicycle taxis, the Duck
Tour, trollies, etc.
Outdoor seating areas at restaurants
along A1A appeared at least 60% full
during the day and overflowing at
night (street works day and night)
Many people came out not in beach
clothes
Low wall serves to divide the sand from the
sidewalk without dividing the beach from the
street
- Provides a place for resting, waiting
on friends, people watching, and guitar
playing
ObservationPoint
Residential(LasOlasBeachClub)
Retail,dining,
services
Recreation
Mixed Uses and Short Blocks
Aged Buildings
Older, low buildings in middle of blocks
New, large structures: hotels, condos, Beach Place
A1A at Delray Beach
Lots of people during the day,
very few at night (<50)
Most people are in beach attire
Primary destination is the beach,
and the primary activity on the
street is walking to and from the
car
Families, couples, friend groups,
individuals, and a lot of
snowbirds
Beach-goers, cyclists, joggers,
and a Segway tour
No Stationary Activity
Most people were moving through the site, not staying in it
Residential structures are not broken up
by other uses do not engage the street
Top to Bottom:
SandowayNature
Center, Private Home,
Ocean Place Condos
Summary
Fort Lauderdales built environment enables economic pools of use
a mutually beneficial relationship between the street and the beach
People-watching is keyit exists in Ft. Lauderdale and people linger, it
is absent from Delray and people pass by quickly
Delray Beachs built environment prohibits a connection from the
street to the beach
Delray also suffers from a heavy concentration of only one primary
use: residential
Delray only works during beach hours little security or activity
after the sun goes down
Recommendations
Fort Lauderdale:
Program greater activities for families
playground, water trampoline
Increase demand uses at the beach: volleyball nets, pier
Delray Beach:
Bring in more mixed use (commercial, entertainment) activities
that are open in the evening
Transform SandowayPark into a wet play area for kids and
concessions
Prune the dune!