Monday’s Planning and Zoning Board meeting will discuss some make-or-break requests from the developer, and it’s shaping up to be a packed house, with businesses and residents alike weighing in on the pros and cons of adding a parking garage and a 250-unit mixed-use residential building. Concerns about disruption during construction, adding a mid-rise structure to the skyline, and parking spot size will be addressed.
These are all valid and common concerns I’ve heard when covering development stories. But what makes this unique is another concern: LGBTQ+ heritage. New housing brings new residents, and there’s a good chance we will see an influx of heterosexual residents, with “straight” new businesses to follow. On its surface, that’s fine, Wilton Manors welcomes everyone, and “heterosexual” and “straight” don’t mean “anti-LGBTQ+.”