Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Hollywood public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
42 issues in development
Beach CRA sunset and transition
With the Beach CRA winding down in six months, Chair Levy flagged recent king tide flooding and the need to press private property owners west of A1A to raise seawalls — possibly through code enforcement. He also raised a future discussion about $1.75 million a year for ten years coming from the county interlocal agreement.
Downtown streetscape and wayfinding wrap-up
Downtown improvements are nearly done: crosswalk repairs on Hollywood Boulevard are complete, crash-rated bollards are almost all in, Harrison Street landscaping is planted, and new directional signage is going up. The vacant La Piazza building will get window wrapping to brighten the block.
Property Improvement Program Grants
A new downtown restaurant owner got stuck paying out of pocket for awnings and paint tied to a building code violation his landlord never disclosed, then found the CRA grant fund already committed. The board stepped in to direct staff to process his roughly $7,500 application, raising questions about how the CPIP program handles after-the-fact work and wait lists.
Affordability and assistance for low-income and vulnerable residents
Up to $250,000 in general fund grants to nonprofits providing social services to Hollywood residents, with a budget amendment to FY 2027.
33-unit apartment proposal at 1504-1510 North Dixie Highway
A four-story, 33-unit apartment building is proposed on North Dixie Highway and Roosevelt Street in the Regional Activity Center. It would add housing density along the Dixie Highway corridor.
Permitting delays and process reform
Board member Bob Glickman pressed staff on why new developments on Lincoln Street get no traffic studies, with a school across the street and two more projects already approved. The city engineer explained studies are only required when a single project generates about 1,000 trips, and cumulative impacts are tracked through trip generation statements and right-of-way dedications.
Self-storage facility proposed at 1109 North 21st Avenue
A developer proposes a four-story, 50,472-square-foot self-storage building with one residential unit, and wants the required 10-foot setback reduced to zero. Neighbors on 21st Avenue would see a taller building closer to the property line than the code normally allows.
27-unit apartment proposal at 1118-1126 North 17th Avenue
A four-story, 27-unit apartment building is proposed in the FH-1 district within the Regional Activity Center. It would add residential density to the 17th Avenue neighborhood.
Development Approval
Hollywood just approved new beachfront towers even though locals pushed back hard against the overcrowding. If you live by the coast, get ready for more high-rises and ongoing neighborhood debates.
Workforce housing at 400 South Dixie Highway
The city formally designated vacant, city-owned parcels as appropriate for affordable housing and committed to publishing the inventory publicly.
ADA Ramps and Stairs East of the Seawall
The CRA approved nearly $947,000 for Burkhardt Construction to build ADA ramps and stairs from Crocus Terrace to Magnolia Terrace east of the seawall, improving beach accessibility. CRA-funded for now, though staff are pursuing grants.
The Club at Emerald Hills Redevelopment
166 acres of the golf course will shift from Country Club to Planned Development zoning, setting up a master-planned redevelopment eight years in the making. First reading passed unanimously with no public opposition; a second reading still ahead.
Beach capital improvement program
Chair Levy wants staff to keep pushing — with 'more carrot, less stick' — the paint and facade improvement programs on Broadwalk buildings that weather quickly from salt and wind.
Downtown CRA budget and TIF incentives
Proposed budget amendments would revise FY 2026 revenues and expenditures for the Downtown District and expenditures for the Beach District.
Mosaic Hollywood affordable housing loan
Three advisory boards reported. Highlights: the Housing Authority's new Hollywood Vista tower will add 118 affordable units (89 more than the old building), and half of Broward households are cost-burdened. A citywide housing needs study comes in September.
Local Housing Assistance Plan Amendment
The city committed $640,000 toward a 9% housing tax credit application (selecting Pinnacle Communities), approved ~$6 million for the Dixie Highway workforce housing project, and sold five vacant parcels to a community land trust for affordable housing.
Hollywood Vista affordable housing redevelopment
The abandoned Hollywood Village complex gets a second life as an 118-unit affordable development, financed with a $1.88 million reinvestment of federal dollars already tied to the site — resolving HUD compliance problems and locking in 99-year affordability.
Property Purchase at 1101 Diplomat Parkway
The city is buying a vacant waterfront lot for up to $2.575 million to build a stormwater outfall that will ease chronic flooding for roughly 100 homes in the Moffat Street basin — one of the city's worst flood hotspots.
Washington Park industrial area revitalization
The commission adopted a 160-acre redevelopment vision balancing a working industrial district with the residents who live around it. Parking, flooding, truck traffic and code enforcement dominate complaints. Commissioners directed staff to prioritize outer-edge improvements, street assessments and drainage first.
Zoning and Development
Hollywood is thinking about letting developers build taller towers right by the beach, and locals are seriously pushing back. If you live around there, get ready for big fights over blocked ocean views, worse traffic, and too many people packed into the neighborhood.
3250 Hollywood Boulevard Police Headquarters Redevelopment (P3)
The city has an unsolicited P3 proposal for the 8.75-acre former police headquarters site. Commissioners chose to accept it and invite competing proposals, with heavy interest in keeping or relocating the YMCA — but not exclusively.
Hollywood Beach Resort Vested Rights
The long-deteriorating historic beach resort just got its vested right to 398 residential units confirmed, opening the door to redevelopment. Critics worry about beach density, historic preservation, and whether that many units can legally be counted given the timeshare history.
Margaritaville Johnson Street parcel license
The license letting Margaritaville use the Johnson Street parcel was renewed for five more years, keeping the resort's free public music programming going on the beach.
Fletcher Street vacation
The city vacated a paper street in the Hollywood Pines subdivision so the adjoining owner can use it — with Mayor Levy abstaining because the applicant bought property from his family.
Future of city advisory boards
Most city advisory boards survive, but the GO Bond Oversight Committee sunsets June 30 after a final report. Ann Ralston pushed back, saying affordable housing and bond oversight work isn't done and noting the city lost its budget advisory committee years ago.
Public Beach Development
City leaders and developers are trying to get Broward County to approve a controversial high-rise on a public beach, which is causing a big fight over who actually gets to use and enjoy our coastline. It's a classic clash between public access and private profit right on the sand.
Beach and Downtown District Activities Update
A $250,000 contract with the Rhythm Foundation to produce Jazz Festival concerts at ArtsPark drew debate over costs, the picnic-food concept, and fairness in event spending across districts. The item was continued to June 3.
27-unit apartment proposal at 2323 Polk Street
A four-story, 27-unit multifamily building is coming to Polk Street in the Regional Activity Center. It meets all zoning standards with no variances, adds 55 parking spaces and bike racks, and includes public art and a green wall. A nearby resident raised concerns about construction noise for her family.
22-unit apartment project near South Broward High School
Neighbors packed the hearing worried about a four-story, 22-unit building at 2101-2111 North 16th Avenue. It was approved with conditions requiring school screening, extra landscaping, drainage work, and another community meeting.
Nativity School expansion special exception
The parish built an 860-square-foot modular classroom before learning modular buildings need a special exception. The Board approved it with a cap of 810 students, and the church says it plans a permanent new building within three years that may make the modular unnecessary.
Housing Legislation
A judge just backed Hollywood in a fight over Florida's Live Local affordable housing law, which has people arguing about whether developers just found a new loophole to exploit. This decision could change how apartment projects get built in your neighborhood.
Affordable Housing Legislation
Hollywood just won a round against the state's new affordable housing law, keeping local zoning power in check for now. But don't celebrate yet—this real estate showdown is definitely heading for future rounds.
Fast food restaurant with drive-through on Taft Street
A 3,859-square-foot fast food restaurant with a drive-through is proposed at 6601 Taft Street in a medium-intensity commercial district, requiring design and sign plan approval from the board.
Harrison Street Parking Garage design
The city is moving ahead with design of a ~350-space downtown garage, but commissioners want staff to first evaluate adding workforce housing floors — possibly with a development partner — before final design locks in.
Former CRA property flipping concern
A property the CRA sold near Adams Street and Dixie Highway for roughly $900,000 is back on the market at four times the price without being built. Staff will dig up the sale documents to check for revisionary or anti-flipping clauses.
Joseph W. Young House acquisition
The purchase of the historic Young House fell through after a bankruptcy and foreclosure; staff is negotiating with the owner and watching the auction process. The mayor says the city would use it for school tours and historical programming.
198-unit mixed-use project and curb cut variance at 1831-1857 Jackson Street
Gadamis Properties LLC proposes a large mixed-use building with about 6,400 square feet of commercial space and 198 apartments, plus a variance to increase the curb cut requirement. The scale of the project and its driveway access to surrounding streets are the main community questions.
10-unit multi-family development at 1714 Van Burden Street
A 4-story, 10-unit apartment building is proposed in the FH-1 district within the Regional Activity Center. The board's decision affects neighborhood density and building scale near Federal Highway.
22-unit development and setback variances at 2101-2111 N 16th Ave
A 4-story, 22-unit residential project is proposed with variances allowing reduced corner setbacks in the FH-1 district. The variance question — how much the building can sit closer to lot corners — is the key issue for nearby property owners.
15-Unit Townhouse Development at 2327-2339 Lincoln Street
A developer is proposing 15 townhouses in three stories (32 feet) on Lincoln Street in the Regional Activity Center. The hearing was residents' opportunity to weigh in on density, height, and how the project fits the neighborhood.
Brownfield designation at 826 South Dixie Highway
The City Commission completed the second reading of a Brownfield designation for 826 South Dixie Highway, a tool for redeveloping properties with past contamination.
Golf Course Redevelopment
Hollywood just chose a developer to completely overhaul the Orangebrook golf course, meaning big changes for local green space with new housing and shops likely on the way. If you live nearby, your neighborhood is about to look and feel a whole lot different.