Plans to restore what one city official in Fort Lauderdale calls "a jewel" are moving forward.
The city commission on Tuesday voted to negotiate a deal to renovate the aquatics center.
The facility opened more than 50 years ago, and improvements are needed to meet the standards set for international events.
“I think we now need to move forward and get this jewel back to what it was when I was a kid,” Commissioner Robert McKinzie said, according to a report by the Sun Sentinel
Under a proposed $27 million deal, the pools in the complex will be upgraded to meet international swimming and diving competition standards, seating will be constructed for spectators, and restrooms will be redone, among other things. The workwould be complete by July 2020.
The Sun Sentinel reports the city commission wants to get the bid lowered by about seven million dollars.