The CRA benefits from a strong history of local investment in arts, entertainment, and culture – and Dania Beach has a great deal to show for its commitment to the creative economy. Dania Beach's focus on arts and entertainment, involving artists, businesses, and residents, has contributed to its reputation as a destination. The City and CRA are taking steps to build on this success and strengthen the city's position as an arts and entertainment destination.
The designation of an urban area as an arts and entertainment district. Attempts to create a “critical mass” of cultural attractions through co-locating public art, performance venues, events, gathering places, and similar facilities.
To-date, specific boundaries for an Arts and Entertainment District are not formally designated. Generally, the areas along Federal Highway from Old Griffin Road to SE 5th Street are considered the Arts & Entertainment District - see map.
This area has historically housed and continues to attract a wide variety of arts-based businesses It should be noted, the informal boundaries of the Dania Arts and Entertainment District span into three CRA sub-districts: City Center, Dania Beach Heights, and East Federal. This is intended to reflect an “inclusionary” approach to embrace investors, restaurants, and arts-based businesses coming into our downtown.
Understanding the advantages of an aesthetically and culturally appealing community promotes the commitment of the necessary stakeholders.
Social Benefits: The most direct benefits are experienced by those who directly experience the art. These include:
- Enjoyable places to live, work, play, or shop
- Opportunities for social interaction with friends, family, and neighbors
- An increased sense of belonging when the built environment reflects the community’s values and history
- The ability for those values and histories to be shared with new residents and future generations
Economic Benefits: A community committed to arts also reaps many economic and financial advantages. These benefits include:
- Attraction and retention of residents and businesses
- Appeal to local, regional, and long-distance travelers and their patronage
- Increased diversity in business types and retail and entertainment options
- Incorporation of new developments into the existing community and a sense of continuity
- Reactivation underused lands
- An increase in foot traffic
Health and Environmental Benefits: The arts can also affect the health of a community’s residents and the natural environment. The benefits of a commitment to arts can include:
- Incorporation of green spaces and street trees
- Increased use of green space and other natural areas
- Opportunities to incorporate stormwater management strategies
- Increased driver awareness through creative traffic calming and other placemaking strategies
- Improved mental health outcomes related to increased social interaction and community belonging
Arts & Entertainment District Best Practices: Enhancing the public realm corridors with landscaping and other design treatments has been a focus of previous plans and should continue to be a priority in order to improve the walking and visual experience of these corridors.
The CRA Initiative – Downtown Vision Plan - is the first step to create an enhanced, walkable corridor to serve as the spine of the Arts & Entertainment District throughout the future and create a magnate to attract a concentration of residential projects, arts-based businesses, and restaurants/entertainment venues. The concepts will be presented to the CRA Board/Commission in the fall of 2024.
One potential opportunity that could further enhance the Federal Highway corridor is the installation of lighted signal improvements in key locations. This improvement would not only improve safety and convenience but also provide a visually appealing feature that adds definition to the Dania Beach Downtown Sub Area and reinforces the special character of the Arts & Entertainment District. This improvement would be required to undergo a review and approval process with FDOT.
The CRA Initiative – Arts District Branding Strategy - is underway. The original scope of work was eapanded to include wayfinding signs citywide, The initial concepts have been presented to staff, but the work may not be completed until the spring of 2025.
