After years of stops and starts, Wilton Manors is finally on the precipice of major development. In this week’s SFGN, online now and on stands tomorrow, I look at the first major project: redevelopment of the Shoppes of Wilton Manors, or Alibi Plaza as it’s commonly known, in the heart of the city’s entertainment district.
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+.”
But Alibi Plaza is the cultural heart of LGBTQ+ heritage in Wilton. Georgie’s Alibi was the first gay business to successfully plant its flag. Many have followed to make Wilton the place it is today. A group of businesses has formed “Wilton Drive Voice,” and one of their goals is to set up programs to make sure the LGBTQ+ voice isn’t lost to gentrification, like in Key West and South Beach. That's the fate of many traditional “gayborhoods” across the country. If Wilton is to remain the Gayest Place on Earth, it will take a conscious effort. You can read more about what’s at stake in this week’s SFGN. And remember: the planning and zoning board meets Monday at SIX pm at city hall.
Wilton Manors Residents and Businesses Divided on Major Redevelopment Project
- John Hayden
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- Tags: Anti-LGBTQ+, Business, Florida, Gay, LGBTQ+, SFGN, Wilton Manors
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