Durrs

The Durrs neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale has seen a surge of urban renewal in recent years. “Many homeowners have lived there for 30, 40 and 50 years,” says Chris Murphy, owner of Asset Management Partners, a firm that has been doing redevelopment in the neighborhood for the past 15 years. But a cohort of younger working professionals and families are moving in. The neighborhood is “extremely close” to downtown, Murphy says. This new homebuyer doesn’t want to commute into the city, and the home prices are making that possible.

Most of the single-family homes in Durrs are midcentury-modern or ranch-style houses that sell for between $300,000 and $500,000. Many offer three or four bedrooms, 1,200 square feet, and fully renovated interiors, or new or newer construction. For the same living space, you can buy a town house for $230,000 to $350,000, most with no HOAs. Duplexes are also popular and a great investment option — from $400,000 for a small property built in the 1950s to $875,000 for new construction with 1,600 square feet per unit.

Many of the schools that serve the Durrs neighborhood received above-average grades from Niche, such as Sunland Park Academy, a PK-3 public school. Scoring a solid B, Sunland partners with the Young at Art Museum in Plantation, Florida, to develop interactive classroom experiences with music, singing, games and dancing to inspire students. At Sunrise Middle, another B school, students can enroll in the Technology CAPE Academy (established through the Florida Career and Professional Education Act) to earn career industry certification in Microsoft Office. And at Fort Lauderdale High, interested students can take advantage of the pre-law and public affairs magnet program designed for those interested in careers in law, criminal justice and public service.

Joseph C. Carter Park, named after a former Broward County Parks and Recreation worker who was known for his efforts in bringing resources to under-served youth, offers more than 21 acres of sports fields, including a soccer/football field with a running track, basketball and tennis courts, a community pool where swimming lessons are given, a water playground that generations of children enjoy and a recreational center, which offers youth and senior social activities. In addition, Lincoln Pak, a small, nearly 3-acre green space features a playground with swings, picnic pavilions, a basketball court and walking paths. Not far away is the L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center, a 25,000-square-foot facility with an outdoor aquatic center and traditional youth programs, including preschool, afterschool, summer camp and youth sports.

Incidentally, the YMCA is located on the historic site of Provident Hospital, the first to accept African Americans in Fort Lauderdale. James F. Sistrunk and Von D. Mizell founded it in 1938, which is why Northwest 6th Street today is jointly named Sistrunk Boulevard and the full stretch of road is known as the Sistrunk Corridor, once a thriving main street of black-owned businesses. The Development Services Department of the City of Fort Lauderdale encourages and coordinates the sustainable growth of the Corridor through projects like Flagler Village, once an industrial warehouse district that today is an edgy arts district. Flagler Village is a great place to see local art, street murals and live music, as well as shop at upcycled clothing, handmade jewelry and other indie shops, breweries and coffee houses — and it’s less than 2 miles from Durrs. Go 1 mile farther, and you can experience another prime shopping destination, Las Olas Boulevard, which has everything from fashion boutiques to sidewalk cafes and bars. Closer to home, you’ll find a Presidente Supermarket at the intersection of West Sunrise Boulevard and Northwest 9th Avenue, and for great pizza and Italian foods, you’ll need to check out Big Louie’s Pizzeria on Sistrunk Boulevard, a local favorite.

In addition to its proximity to Flagler Village and the downtown, Durrs offers residents quick access to I-95, which runs right alongside it. With a growing and diverse population, quality schools, plenty of recreational opportunities and a rich cultural history, there’s always something new to discover here. So start exploring.

Written By

Christopher Kopczynski

Photography Contributed By

Gabor Kovacs

Video By

Austin Lewis