Croissant Park

Despite its name, Croissant Park prides itself more on location than on a French theme. “Location drives everything about Croissant Park and Southwest Fort Lauderdale,” says Whitney Dutton, real estate advisor with Re/Max First. “When you look at this neighborhood on a map, you’ll see that the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Interstates 595 and 95, Downtown Fort Lauderdale and the beach are all within a 3-mile radius.” You’re conveniently close to major employers in the area like the Broward Health Medical Center, the airport and the companies and law firms downtown. But if you need to commute, you can hop onto I-95 or I-595 in less than 5 minutes.

Homes are clustered west of the neighborhood’s namesake, Croissant Park, in the area north of State Highway 84. South of 84, residential streets are west of Snyder Park. Most homes are remodeled ranch-style houses and Spanish Revivals. “These houses were built in the 40s and 50s, and some — the Spanish Revivals — were built in the 20s,” says Dutton. “The little ranch houses were built as vacation homes, and have since been remodeled and added on to.” A house in need of some work can be priced in the low- to mid-$400,000s, while a house that’s been remodeled recently can sell between $800,000 to $1 million. New construction is also going up in the neighborhood. “People are starting to knock down the old houses and build new ones,” Dutton explains. “These new construction homes can sell up to $2 million.” Closer to Davie Boulevard you’ll also find new construction townhomes priced between $1.4 million and $1.6 million.

Students can attend Croissant Park Elementary School, New River Middle School and Stranahan High School. Those who live close by can walk to the elementary school, while the middle and high school are roughly 10 minutes away by car. Stranahan High, graded B-minus on Niche, offers magnet pathway options including education and medical sciences. The Charter School of Excellence, a public charter school graded B-minus on Niche, is also an option for elementary school students. It has plans to expand and enroll middle school students. Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) East Campus is next to Snyder Park, for those interested in pursuing post-secondary education.

You aren’t far from a variety of shopping options. Winn-Dixie and Bealls are on the other side of Southwest 9th Avenue. Past the hospital on Southeast 17th Street, or Florida State Road A1A, you’ll find Whole Foods Market and Ross, with Winn-Dixie and Publix Super Market a short turn off away. There is also a Publix Super Market on the way to Las Olas Boulevard, a major throughway home to an extensive variety of fashion boutiques, dining and more. You’ll want a car to get around, but there are well-shaded sidewalks for walking around the neighborhood, and public transportation is available on Southwest Fourth Avenue, South Andrews Avenue and Davie Boulevard.

A lot of your local dining options can be found on State Highway 84, from fine dining restaurants to local diners. Anthony’s Runway 84 serves up high-end Italian meals, including pasta dishes like lasagna Napolitan, and specialty dishes like chicken parmigiana. Lester’s Diner is a family-owned and operated traditional American diner. Fort Lauderdale, the first of four locations, opened in 1967. Stop by and enjoy classic meals in 50s-themed décor at any time of the day.

Spend time outside at one of the local parks. Dutton describes Croissant Park as a little hidden gem because of its water playground: “The water park and splash pad are the best kept secrets in the area, perfect for young kids.” The rest of the park has plenty of field space for soccer and baseball games. Bryant Peney Park is a pocket park with a playground, named after patrolman Bryant Howard Peney, who lost his life serving Fort Lauderdale in 1996. And south of State Highway 84, Snyder Park has a long list of amenities for outdoor fun, from fishing and hiking to playing volleyball. Kids have a playground they can enjoy, and dogs have their own play area, too. Dutton adds that they’re building a world-class pickleball facility.

In Croissant Park, you don’t have to go far to enjoy life to the fullest.

Written By

Micaela Willoughby

Photography Contributed By

Gabor Kovacs

Video By

Pasha Chichagov