Urban Activist Sets the Stage for a New Wilton Drive

Photo: Doug Blevins

by Bob Kecskemety

Outside of parking and parking meters, the hottest topic at almost every Wilton Manors City Commission meeting is the initiative to beautify Wilton Drive as well as make it safer for pedestrians and commuters alike by decreasing the number of lanes from four to two and increase parking.

Known as “The Main Street Initiative”, the proposal was presented by Doug Blevins, president of Wilton Manors Main Street, an organization of business and property owners charged with making downtown Wilton Manors a better place to work, play, shop and stay.

Blevins moved down to Fort Lauderdale from New York City in 1999. He had a background in theater and is a professional singer. It was down here that he was able to get theater work plus, he loved the tropical weather that goes with area.

He and his partner bought a house in the South Middle River neighborhood behind the old GLCC on Andrews Avenue. The house, which Blevins describes as being in a “questionable neighborhood but affordable”, was in disrepair and needed a new roof. Blevins cashed in his stocks, got a mortgage and started repairing the house and landscaping the yard. He was excited when the house received the Fort Lauderdale House of the Year award from the city.

“It’s ironic,” said Blevins, “it was one of the worst houses in one of the worst neighborhoods, but it showed what could happen even in a neighborhood that was struggling.”

He also became a member of the South Middle River Homeowners association. There he took on the challenge of creating a neighborhood newsletter and increased membership from 14 to over 100 which led to him becoming president of the group.  He took an interest in stopping crime, in particular drug dealing, getting rid of blighted houses and working with code enforcement. He also sat on the Fort Lauderdale Code Advisory Board.

In 2001, Blevins found another abandoned home, this time in Wilton Manors and he was determined to do it all again. He also joined the then-new Wilton Manors Main Street.

As a volunteer for WMMS, and his background in theater and being self-taught graphic artist, he would use his talents to create “artist conceptions” of some of the businesses in the area. He would redesign the building with awnings and change the colors of the buildings. He would take the drawings to the property owners and many adopted the changes he suggested. He offered this service for free.

After just 3 months of living in Wilton Manors, Blevins ran for Wilton Manors City Commission. He knew he had name recognition in Fort Lauderdale and thought that some of that recognition would follow him to his new city. He lost but got 28% of the vote which he says is pretty good for a newcomer to the city. He realized that he would have to pay his dues first before becoming an elected official.

With his interest in real estate growing, he became a real estate broker and fixed up and sold many houses and in 2004, he met architect Beau Hollingsworth, the person responsible for turning an old Burger King into what is today, Rosie’s Bar and Grill. Together, along with a couple other people including Jackson Padgett, owner of Georgie’s Alibi and Bill’s, formed Five-Points Development. Padgett had been chosen because he had a 20-plus year history of hotel development and was the former director of operations of the Seminole Hard Rock Resort and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

“This was at a time when the market was at its peak,” said Blevins. “We came up with several ideas for hotels on the drive and made concept renderings that we presented to the city which were well received. We were trying to find investors to help make [the proposals] into a reality. As we were getting into really serious talks, the economy went south and commercial real estate went out. But it didn’t stop us, we kept moving along.”

Blevins said the philosophy of Five-Points was to design places that looked like they belonged in the area and had been there for a while. The interiors of the buildings could be large, new and modern, but the façade needed to fit into the design scheme. “If you bring something that is so new and so modern, it looks out of place and scares people,” admitted Blevins. Five-Points also believed in looking into what the community wants and needs, not at what the developer wants.

Blevins continued to sit on board of Wilton Manors Main Street where he has been president for the last two years and, earlier this year, they unveiled their most ambitious project to date: the plan to take back control of Wilton Drive from the state Department

of Transportation, change each travel direction from one lane to two adding front-in parking along the entire road, widening the median strip and adding additional landscaping to both the median and sidewalks. The final result will be a safer and more inviting Wilton Drive.

Blevins explains how the changes can be done in stages and recently found a funding source for the modernization. WMMS recently identified a $10-million Federal TIGER II grant program for infrastructure changes that would positively effect the community. The grant must be guaranteed with a $2-million matching fund. But first, WMMS must raise $50,000 for economic impact studies, design and engineering. Blevins admits they only have a short period of time to apply for the grant.

Blevins compares his dreams for Wilton Drive to be a large Universal Studios where people can walk down the streets and see the beautiful facades of the buildings, each a little different from the other.

“I’ve always seen myself as an urban ‘revitalist’,” said Blevins. “I’ve done a lot of research, not only for the two-land plan but I’m also looking at other cities the size of Wilton Manors; cities that have benefitted from certain improvements such as wider and safer sidewalks and better lighting. I would like to see it as the most wonderful place you can imagine with beautiful lighting and beautiful landscape … but you don’t have to pay $100 to get in.”