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| Skating at Fort Lauderdale Beach, 1990, Dept. of Commerce, Florida State Archives |
By Jane Feehan
Fort Lauderdale underwent big changes during the 1990s. The
city shed its image as a spring break destination and beach town to become a
place for vacationing families and a desirable location for upscale living.
This is the decade that opened the door to downtown redevelopment not seen
since the early 1970s. It was also a time developers and city officials visualized
a glamorous beach and Intracoastal waterfront of high rises and new hotels.
Below are a few facts of the 1990s including stores we shopped
at, movies we may have watched, national news context and more.
Enjoy the trip back …
Population of the 1990s: about 149,000 in 1990 to
just over 152,000 by the end of that decade. Recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates
after 2020 run well over 190,000.
Mayors: Robert O. “Bob” Cox 1986–1991; James T. “Jim”
Naugle – 1991-2009 (longest serving of all Fort Lauderdale mayors)
A few of the films of the 1990s: Scent of a Woman;
The Crying Game; The Vanishing; Shawshank Redemption; Schindler’s List; Forrest
Gump; Goodfellas; Pulp Fiction; Matrix; Jurassic Park; Saving Private Ryan.
Stores we shopped at: BrandsMart; Burdine’s; Circuit
City; J. Byrons; Kaufman and Roberts; Linens ‘n Things; Mayor’s Jewelers; Office
Max; Radio Shack; Sears, Sound Advice.
National context
Presidents: George H.W. Bush,1989-1993; Bill
Clinton, 1993-2001
Conflicts where U.S. troops were deployed: Saudia
Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq; Mogadishu, Somalia; Bosnia-Herzegovina, Haiti.
News highlights: Bill Clinton Impeachment; O.J.
Simpson trial; Medicare fraud investigation with hearing by U.S. Senate; surge
in oil prices; end of the Cold War; end of South African Apartheid; Oklahoma City
bombing; Savings and loan industry takes downturn. Two groups of Chinese
nationals intercepted at Hillsboro Inlet, adjacent to Pompano and Hillsboro as
they attempted to reach U.S from The Bahamas.
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| Billy Ray Cyrus and actor Lee Majors at annual Seminole Christmas Party.in Fort Lauderdale 1995 Florida State Archives |
1990:
· Armed teens steal $81,470 from offshore cruise
ship casino—Discovery I. Three arrested;
heist determined to be inside job.
· Local building boom going bust.
· An ongoing drought brings tightening of water
use.
· Condo owners claim “the county’s assessment of
all properties combined with tax rate increases resulted in whopping tax bills.”
· About 200,000 condos in Broward County with
about 253,000 in 2025-2026
· Broward county turns 75 years since established.
· Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention
Center opens Sept. 5, 1991
1992:
· Fire at Pierce Street Annex Saloon and Grille,
a popular club of the day at 5600 N. Federal Highway; 40 firefighters fought it
for more than two hours. Estimated $1.3 million in damage. It did not reopen.
· Schools: Broward County enrollment
up from about 161,101 in 1990, to about 189,862-191,087 in 1993.
A downturn in construction of new schools poses crowding problems.
· Air quality issues at Broward County Courthouse
after workers complain of headaches and fatigue. Courthouse employed about 1,000.
Two judges told staff to open windows.
· Residents seek fewer bridge openings,
asking for 30-minute opening schedule. There was a 30-minute schedule in place
during winter, but U.S. Coast Guard revoked in summer because newly repaired Sunrise
bridge (1989) was taller and wider; the older bridge had as many as 52 break
downs in a year.
· Police claim there was an attempted explosion at
Fort Lauderdale High School after they reported flammable liquids were
found on main floor and gas appeared to be splashed throughout hallways. An explosion
was set off a few weeks prior.
· Fort Lauderdale funds and implements improvements
of new sidewalk bricks, and wave wall completion along the beach; New Riverwalk
bricks and greenery; parks and open spaces upgraded; Museum of Science and
Discovery (moved in 1992 to SW 2nd Ave.); $7 million dedicated to revitalization
of neighborhoods.
· Problems to be addressed: cost of living, job growth, housing and crime.
1995:
· Mark 2100 Resort closes, road to be reworked to make way for Palm Condominium building.
1996:
· Mass shooting at city of Fort Lauderdale maintenance office. Disgruntled employee fires 13 times, killling five. One escapes. Shooter dies from self inflicted gun shot.
· Beach Place, “modeled after Miami’s CocoWalk and Bayside, opens on A1A with the tenants The Gap, Banana Republic, Limited Express, Sloppy Joe’s and Café Iguana.
1998:
· Plane leaves Fort Lauderdale with humanitarian
aid for Cuba, the first such flight in two years, after President Clinton eased
restrictions. It was organized by the Archdiocese of Miami.
· City Commission approves ambitious plans for downtown
to include about 1,000 condo units, 600 apartment rental units and several
grocery stores. (In 2024, Fort Lauderdale
Downtown Development Authority claimed there were nearly 20,000 units completed
or in the pipeline. Since then, many more have been announced in a steady
stream of announcements)
Sources:
Broward County
City of Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority
United States Census Bureau
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 1, 1990
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 26, 1990
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 29, 1990
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Sept. 30, 1990
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Oct. 18, 1992
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 17, 1993
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Feb. 7, 1993
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Feb. 13, 1993
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 2, 1994
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 1, 1996
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Feb. 11, 1996
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Oct. 27, 1996
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Nov. 3, 1996
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Jan. 12, 1997
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, June 12, 1998
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Loct. 3, 1999
Tags: Fort Lauderdale in the 1990s
