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Old Town - Downtown Entertainment District

Brief Description

Pompano Beach’s Downtown arts and entertainment district, known as Old Town, is a historic area that is being revitalized through numerous City and CRA projects and programs to become the epicenter of dining and entertainment in Pompano Beach. In 2016, the streetscape project was completed including wider sidewalks, pedestrian friendly lighting, public plazas and urban walkable amenities. Façade improvements are beautifying the buildings and new tenants are discovering the incredible opportunities in the area including Papamigos and South Bar & Kitchen. The CRA purchased and renovated the old Bailey Hotel and converted it into the Bailey Contemporary Arts building (BaCA) where artists use the renovated hotel rooms as artist studios and the approximately 6,000 square foot ground floor boasts monthly art exhibits and a myriad of cultural activities. Painted murals throughout Old Town lend a cool artistic vibe. The focal point is a central urban plaza with a “Fire Fountain”, the first of its kind in the United States where fire literally explodes out of the water using new German-developed technology. The second urban plaza, Old Town’s Backyard, is currently under construction. The first new residential project in Downtown, Old Town Square, broke ground in November 2021. The entire district is experiencing transformation – a transformation to once again be the heart of Pompano Beach.

Monthly events like Old Town Untapped and seasonal activities such as the Pompano Beach Green Market continually draw thousands of visitors, entrepreneurs, and businesses seeking expansion opportunities to the area.

City / CRA Investment

  • $7.7 million in streetscape improvement
  • $668,000 in façade improvement
  • $1.3 million for BaCA renovations

Projects Underway

Old Towns Backyard Rendering
Old Towns Backyard Before Arieal
Old Town Square Rendering
Old Town Square Before and During
South Bar and Kitchen Rendering
South Bar and Kitchen before and during
The Wash House Rendering
The wash house before
BaCA Current
BaCA before and under construction

Public Benefits

  • Numerous dining and nightlife choices within walking distance of one another provide for a pedestrian-friendly centralized area for the residents and visitors of Pompano Beach
  • Public art, such as the murals and art trail, are highly cost-effective means of spurring economic revitalization of the area
  • Quality of life amenities including urban plazas and cultural venues
  • An increase in the tax base for the City
    Old Town Map
    Building Rendering
    BaCA Finished
    Old Town Untapped

    How it Will Happen

    • With the City taking ownership of two streets, the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Dixie Highway, will become pedestrian friendly allowing safe and walkable connections to Old Town from the Cultural Center and the Innovation District.
    • To adequately provide parking for an entertainment district such as Old Town, a new parking garage will be built on the surface parking area along Atlantic Boulevard with ground floor retail opportunities facing the Plaza.
    • Additional restaurants and retailers will be attracted to vacant buildings ready to be renovated and occupied.
    • More capital improvements, such as streetscape projects, will be made in the northern parts of Old Town.
    • Additional residential will be attracted to the fringe of Old Town.