Florida Agenda

WILTON MANORS – After 10 years working to improve the city’s Arts and Entertainment District, Wilton Manors Main Street officials say the organization is changing its name, and moving away from the Main Street program, which has helped change the face of many American cities, through initiatives to revitalize areas of a city which have fallen into disrepair. “We are so grateful to the Main Street program for all that it’s done for us,” said Krishan Manners, President and CEO of the new Wilton Manors Development Alliance (WMDA). “Our Board of Directors thought—and debated— extensively about this move. Ultimately, we concluded that we could do more for the city by expanding our focus beyond Wilton Drive.”

In 2011, Main Street began reaching out to business owners on Dixie Highway and Powerline Road. Additional areas will be added, including the Andrews Avenue and Oakland Park Boulevard corridors. Like Main Street, WMDA is still supported solely by donations from businesses and residents of Wilton Manors, and remains a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

“Our entire city is only two square miles, so growth in one area of the city affects the whole,” says Manners. “This was a deciding factor for us.

As Main Street, we were limited in focus to Wilton Drive. As WMDA, we can look at the whole picture and work with the residential groups, businesses, and city government to implement solutions that are appropriate for everyone.”

  President/CEO of Wilton Manors Main Street

Your favorite virtue.

Altruism. Tenacity.

Your favorite qualities in a person.

Honesty, loyalty, and the ability to actually follow through on what they say.

Your chief characteristic.

Kindness.

Your favorite occupation.

Considering I’m currently a full-time volunteer, I’d have to say one in which I actually get paid!

I’ve recently acquired my real estate license, and am with Atlantic Properties International on Wilton Drive.

I look forward to spending more time in real estate, likely on the commercial side.

Your idea of happiness.

Sharing a deserted beach with someone I love. Being with friends and family.

Seeing my nephews and nieces laugh. It’s the simple things that bring me happiness.

Your idea of misery.

The day my partner passed away.

If not yourself, who would you be?

Twenty five years ago, I could have given you a list.

Now, I just like being me.

Where would you like to live?

I’m enjoying South Florida, but I do miss living in NYC. I think ultimately,

I’d like to split my time between all of the places where I have close friends and

family – all over the U.S., London, Paris, and India.

Your favorite color.

Blue.

Your favorite authors.

That’s a tough one – I actually admire anyone who writes well and there are many authors who meet that criterion.

Your favorite heroes (male or female) in fiction.

Again, there are many.

Your heroes in real life.

My cousin, Kelly. She’s the kindest, most honest and loyal person in my life.

She has the most accurate moral barometer of anyone I’ve ever met.

I’m grateful to whatever powers-that-be that put us here at the same time, and

am blessed to have such a remarkable woman to turn to my whole life.

What characters in history do you most dislike?

Hitler comes immediately to mind. I look at my friends and family and

realize how much would be missing in my life had he actually lived.

Your favorite food and drink.

I really like all foods. Diet Coke is definitely my favorite drink

(and thank you to my friends at Java Boys for never running out).

What do you hate the most?

People who try to manipulate me with flattery to get something from me for which

they could have simply asked. It’s insulting and ultimately they probably won’t get what they want.

The reform you admire the most?

Those which prevent injustice. DADT was ridiculous – I was delighted to see the end of that.

I look forward to the day the same happens with DOMA, an equally hateful piece of legislation.

The natural talent you’d like to be gifted with?

I’d love to be able to sing… without scaring people.

How you wish to die?

Quickly. Death doesn’t scare me, but the five minutes prior are a concern.

What is your present state of mind?

Restless.

For what fault are you the most intolerant?

Rudeness.

Your personal motto.

“Our only limitations as to what we can accomplish are those we place upon ourselves.”

 Krishan Manners is the President and CEO of Wilton Manors Main Street, Inc., a 501(c)(3)

non-profit organization. Born in New Delhi, India, he moved to the U.S. as a small child and

spent most of his adult life in New York City. He relocated to Wilton Manors in April, 2010.

WILTON MANORS, FL – On Thursday, Jan. 5, members of the Wilton Manors Main Street (WMMS) organization coordinated a day-long photo shoot featuring the top 100 businesses, people, and activities of the city’s merchants and professional offices.

Tom Tabor, WMMS vice president and board member, and several colleagues spent the day from 6 a.m. to midnight photographing business people and their staffs “doing good.” Their efforts will be collected and presented at an event hosted by The Manor Restaurant and Entertainment Complex on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tabor says the event is meant to highlight the unsung achievements of the Island City’s merchants and businesses, and to promote the city to the rest of the nation and beyond. “This is a lot of fun in a very good cause,” Tabor said at around 10 p.m., between photo shoots.

“We want our friends in business to join us at The Manor on the 18th for the event, and to see how the rest of the world will see them. These businesses are a very important part of the foundation that makes Wilton Manors such a terrific place.”

Reservations for “A Day in the Life of Wilton Manors” can be made online at WiltonManorsMainStreet.org/Focus. The cost is $25 per person.

By Cliff Dunn

WILTON MANORS, FL – Visitors to Wilton Drive last Thursday, Jan. 5, may have noticed a familiar face, or one that became increasingly familiar as the day went on.

Tom Tabor, board member and vice president of Wilton Manors Main Street (WMMS) and a crew of volunteers and photographers decamped up and down the length of Wilton Drive, part of a day-long photo shoot coordinated by the not-for-profit organization and featuring the top 100 businesses, people, and activities of the city’s merchants and professional offices. They started at 6 a.m., and went on well into the night.

“I never thought I would have so much fun,” said Tabor, a retired businessman and activist with WMMS who, along with several colleagues, hiked the length and breadth of Wilton Manor’ main drag, capturing businesses at work–and in some instances, play–for a presentation “A Day in the Life of Wilton Manors.” The final results will be shown at a lunch event hosted at The Manor Restaurant and Entertainment Complex on Wednesday, Jan. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tabor says he never felt so welcome. “The working press and photographers enjoy a degree of access that, frankly, I wasn’t sure I would have,” Tabor recalls. “There was so much enthusiasm for this project, and we hope this translates into friends and supporters coming out to support the finished product on Jan.

18.”

More information about, and reservations for, “A Day in the Life of Wilton Manors” can be made online at WiltonManorsMainStreet.org/Focus.

According to Krishan Manner,director of marketing for Wilton Manors Main Street, the Wilton Drive Improvement Initiative Task Force is moving along and awaiting word on the $2,000,000 planning grant which they applied for.

“We have made the first cut and are cautiously optimistic about our chance of being awarded the funds necessary to further research and plan Wilton Drive to coincide with our goal of making Wilton Drive into a destination rather than a thoroughfare,” said Tom Tabor, member of the Wilton Manors Main Street Board of Directors. The initiative includes taking back control of the Wilton Drive (State Road 811) from Florida’s Department of Transportation, changing the road from four lanes to two, using the extra driving lanes as paid parking and completely landscaping the area.

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.”

WilMa to Form “Wilton Drive Task Force”

(Photo: The proposed Wilton Drive at NE 21st Court. Photo courtesy of Wilton Manors Main Street)

by Bob Keceskemety

The proposal to improve traffic flow and provide more parking on Wilton Drive has taken a huge step forward with the support of the city commission and the commission’s approval to create a Wilton Drive Task Force. The Task Force members will soon be appointed to initiate the plan and help identify any and all sources of possible funding for the Wilton Drive improvements.

In April of this year, Wilton Manors Main Street (WMMS), an organization designated with coordinating resources to revitalize downtown Wilton Manors unveiled a 3-step proposal to modernize and beautify Wilton Drive.

The plan would change the current parallel parking to angle-in parking, reducing Wilton Drive from four to two lanes and increase the size of the road’s median and increase landscapingon The Drive in the

median. The first step the city would have to make is to take back control and maintenance of Wilton Drive from the Florida State Department of Transportation.

WMMS has since identified a possible $10-million federal grant which is provided by the Federal Department of Transportation for infrastructure improvements that would positively affect a community, city, or municipality. The Grant must be guaranteed with a $2 million dollar match from the city. WMMS has also been presented a proposal by Gables Residential Developers who are presenting a concept plan for a new parking garage and residential/retail mixed use project to the city which would be located on the site of the old city hall. Gables has indicated an interest in working with the city on a public/private partnership to help assist with the matching funds.

The city commission has requested Wilton Manors Main Street assist in the grant-writing process by raising $50,000 from the private sector for the required economic impact studies, design, engineering and other information needed to complete the grant application.