Livability

The term "livability" refers to the combined qualities and elements of a city that make it a desirable place to live.  These can include: safety, ease of getting around, type and diversity of neighborhoods, availability of green space, presence of cultural activities, economic and educational opportunities, social stability and equity, and the overall community image.  These qualities support sustainability in that when people feel more at home, then they stay close to home more and also take a vested interest in it. They utilize automobiles less, buy locally, and do things to enhance their properties. At the same time, green building and development practices can make a city more livable. 

Fort Lauderdale has been recognized recently for its livability. We were ranked the seventh best downtown in 2014, the seventh most exciting midsized city, and we have been named one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live.

The City of Fort Lauderdale’s planning efforts support making neighborhoods and the downtown more livable. Three specific initiatives boost sustainability: placemaking, historic preservation and enhancing the affordability of housing. Click on the buttons below to find out more about these connections.

Cornerstone public spaces and strong neighborhoods make cities sustainable because they help to make them more connected and they facilitate local purchasing and investment.

Sustainability can help to make housing more affordable as the costs of energy, water, fuel and materials is reduced, and people have transit options to commute to work.

With its emphasis on materials re-use, historic preservation is the ultimate example of waste reduction.