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President’s Message

Las Olas Boulevard & Isles

erry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Thank You, You’re Welcome, Happy New
M Year! These are some of my favorite things to say, and this is my favorite time
of year to share them. I feel blessed to be able to give back to a city that a given me
so much.
The Las Olas Association is responsible for some of the most time-honored, world
class event activations that have helped build our community. More than 55 years of
Christmas on Las Olas, 30 years of The Las Olas Art Fair, 22 years for the Las Olas
Wine and Food Festival & Clueless on Las Olas. We have been hosting our
community long before it became popular and “relevant”. What used to be a
merchants’ association now reaches far beyond the category of merchants. A 55-year
legacy of community activation and engagement IS remarkably relevant in a City that
is a mere 106 years young.
Since the Las Olas Association was created over six decades ago, originally founded
as the East Las Olas Merchant Association, the City of Fort Lauderdale and the
Association have gone through many changes.
Luke Moorman
President, The Las Olas Association As we enter another glorious holiday season with the skyline forever changed in Fort
Lauderdale, what can we expect for the future? We are headed into a season where
we gather together with family and friends to reminisce and take stock in the past
year. The Las Olas Association is no different. Our Board held a retreat this summer
to discuss the most appropriate direction for the Association considering the changes
in our downtown landscape and dynamics. The prevailing theme in these discussions
must be relevancy. How does the Association plan to remain relevant? Who is
addressing the vacancies? What is happening to Las Olas?
The reality is, our downtown has grown and so shall our Association. Over the next
year, we plan to build a NEW Association that incorporates a NEW Board of
Directors with very diverse interests. Our Board of Directors has been typically
comprised of boutique and restaurant representatives because that is what Las Olas
used to look like. Our NEW Las Olas Association Board is seeking to combine the
vitality of boutiques, restaurants, residential, education, service organizations,
property owners, and faith based ambassadors.

The property owners (POLO) are actively pursuing new tenants and working together
to build a better Las Olas. The Las Olas Association has confidence in POLO’s vision
for a better boulevard and for the need to adjust our amenities to serve the modern-
day consumer. In the coming year, let’s remember that there is strength in numbers
and we are all better served for travelling this journey together.

Today, East Las Olas Boulevard has evolved into dynamic place to live, shop, dine,
study, and enjoy a little history. With Universities, Museums, endless dining options,
mom and pop retailers as well as national brands, glorious centers for worship, and
countless service organizations, Las Olas is truly the Gem of Fort Lauderdale.

Luke Moorman

Jewelry Designer | Luke@CarrollsJewelers.com
President, The Las Olas Association

LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES
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