DOWNTOWN GROWING PAINS.(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Twenty years ago, Fort Lauderdale was, by some standards, a sleepy Southern backwater, its urban skyline a mere blip on the horizon. Today, Broward County's largest city is a bustling metropolis with a downtown center replete with gleaming glass towers and fashionable cafes. Corporate headquarters abound. Among them: AutoNation, Citrix Systems, Arby's and Interim Services.

Local officials point to a $47-million bond passed in 1986 as the catalyst for downtown renewal in this city of 149,798. Much of the funds were used for construction of Riverwalk, a landscaped promena