Streetlights are coming to the pitch-dark corridors of Melrose Park, ending a long-running debate that started decades ago in the predominantly Black neighborhood in western Fort Lauderdale.
Commissioners approved the plan Thursday night before a packed audience.
The vote was set to take place two weeks ago, but was delayed after dozens of residents presented the picture of a divided neighborhood during the Oct. 7 meeting. Half the speakers wanted streetlights. The other half said they liked the neighborhood just the way it is.
Newcomers to Melrose Park, annexed by Fort Lauderdale in 2002, were puzzled that there was ever a debate over something as important as streetlights.
“I was very surprised we don’t have streetlights since we live in the 21st Century,” Melrose Park resident Dmitri Kryjanovski told the commission Thursday night. “At night you don’t see anything. It’s very dark. It’s very dangerous to drive. If we don’t get the lights, the next time we speak about this will probably be 100 years from now.”
Pamela Beasley-Pittman, the district commissioner for the neighborhood, argued the streetlights had been needed for years and it was high time to get the job done.
From the dais, she pulled hundreds of signed petitions out of a bag and placed it on the table.
“This is from neighbors who went out over the past seven days,” she told the commission. “It’s not a survey. It’s a petition. This is approximately 400 people who (want) lights. If nothing else, the neighbors have spoken.”
Under the plan, 555 LED light fixtures will be installed throughout the neighborhood. The city will pay $866,000 to have the lights installed and another $36,000 a month to Florida Power & Light for maintenance and other costs.
It was unclear Friday when the installation of the streetlights would begin, but the entire project should be completed by the end of 2026, according to Belal Jaber, a spokesman for the city.
“The installation of the lights is still in the early stages,” Jaber said. “Since the item just passed at the commission meeting (Thursday) night, the city will now work with FPL to determine when to begin scheduling the installation. While I can’t provide an exact timeframe for how long the lights will take to be installed, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.”
Many of the Melrose Park residents crowded into Thursday night’s City Hall meeting said they were in favor of streetlights.
Resident Joann Saunders told commissioners the neighborhood is so dark at night, that it’s hard for drivers to see people walking across the street.
“There’s a small group against it, but they don’t speak for the whole neighborhood,” Saunders said. “We just want lights. We need lights.”
Donna Guthrie, president of the Melrose Park Civic Association, was out of town and could not make it to Thursday night’s meeting.
Two weeks ago, Guthrie told the commission there was no reason for Fort Lauderdale to spend so much money on lights the neighborhood does not want.
After meeting with Beasley-Pittman and her staff in mid-October, Guthrie came up with a compromise.
In an email sent to City Hall, she suggested the city install 150 streetlights at intersections and bus stops.
“This plan would reduce monthly costs to under $10,000, substantially lower than the $35,000 currently proposed,” Guthrie wrote. “Committing to $35,000 per month in payments to FPL without fully exploring alternative options could be considered fiscally irresponsible.”
Before the vote, Commissioner Steve Glassman mentioned the compromise proposed by Guthrie.
“I’m very happy to see we’ve made a lot of progress from the last time we met,” he said. “The association went from not wanting any lights to 150 lights. I’m having an issue with $36,000 a month (payments to FPL) in perpetuity. I’m not convinced we need the 550. Let’s see how 150 lights work. And if the people love it, we can add more lights. It makes sense to me to do this incrementally.”
Beasley-Pittman countered that the neighborhood wants and needs all 555 streetlights.
“I’m not suggesting 150,” she said. “The neighbors are ready to move forward. I support them. Let’s do what we came to do.”
The commission vote was 4-1, with Glassman casting the lone “no” vote.
After the vote, Mayor Dean Trantalis quipped: “Let there be light.”
Following his cue, Beasley-Pittman repeated the phrase, saying, “Yes, let there be light.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan