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48 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLESWith Melinda Bowker, Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic AssociationGroups working together toward a good solutionGrowing pains and the particulars of making things work are a regular part of making a changing Fort Lauderdale work. When it comes to the new Huizenga Park - and in particular, new three-story Sweetwaters - much of the concern and ongoing conversation concern how traffic is going to work, particularly on SE 1st Ave, the street that runs along the east side of the park and dead ends at the Riverwalk. For the past year, talks have been ongoing between organizations including the DDA, the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association and the condominium associations of the two condos that sit across SE 1st Ave from the park, Las Olas River House and 100 East Las Olas. 100 East Las Olas is adjacent to the Hyatt Centric Las Olas hotel. According to the civic association%u2019s position letter, traffic is a concern because Las Olas River House has two loading areas and two residential vehicular entrance points that use SE 1st Ave, while the street is also the entry point to the 100 E Las Olas Condominium and the Hyatt Centric; the hotel%u2019s valet also operates on the road. Sweetwaters has also proposed a valet on the road.Proposed solutions include a vehicle queuing area on the north side of Las Olas where there is now on-street parking, or a cut-out into a portion of the park on the west side of SE 1st Ave allowing cars to drop off customers and immediately be diverted back to Las Olas.%u201cI think we will reach a good solution for everyone,%u201d Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association president Melinda Bowker said. More broadly speaking, Bowker also suggests that it%u2019s time for a full intersection there.%u201cIt needs to be a four-way traffic stop,%u201d she said. %u201cIt%u2019s really a mix right now that%u2019s confusing for pedestrians.%u201d Bowker also notes that it%u2019s easy to get near the area without using valet right at the park; options include the public garage adjacent to the main library.%u201cThere are hundreds of parking spots within several blocks of Huizenga Park,%u201d she said.The People%u2019s Park continuedRush Hour at the Park