Makeover

In 1984, over a third of a million students descended on Fort Lauderdale for two weeks of Spring Break. The Elbo Room was the epicenter of that ritual. See this article for a time line of Spring break in Fort Lauderdale.

 

In the mid 1980s, the Fort Lauderdale city government tried various approaches. The city built -- and tore down -- a concrete barrier down the middle of State Road A1A. The city purchased a water cannon for use against college students. (It was never used.) The city purchased several Apache attack helecopters. (So far, to the best of my knowledge, they have not been used.)

 

Then the city tried rezoning.

 

In the last 15 years, the landscape of State Road A1A has almost completely changed. Gone are the bars and cheap motels that served so many college students. In their place are high rise condos. Typical prices range from $1 million (US) to $3 million (US) although there are some properties for as little as half a million per condo.

 

Ironically, the Elbo Room -- shown above -- is just about the last holdout.

Done