Developer sues Hollywood over proposed 17-story beachside development
A developer has sued the city of Hollywood, accusing it of improperly blocking a proposed 17-story, $80 million beachside development that would feature affordable housing.
The lawsuit is billed as Broward County’s first lawsuit under Florida’s “Live Local Act,” a state law that offers various incentives to developers to create more affordable housing. The lawsuit alleges the city isn’t easing restrictions in accordance with the Live Local Act.
A city spokeswoman on Wednesday could not immediately comment on the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Broward Circuit Court.
Considering building limits
Hollywood only allows buildings to be 65 feet tall, or about five stories, on the beach, according to the plaintiffs’ attorney.
But a developer, Condra Property Group, is trying to build a 17-story, mixed-use development with 282 units, including 114 affordable units at or below 120% of the median income. The developer is invoking the “Live Local Act,” which allows certain zoning laws to be bypassed to push for affordable housing.
According to the new lawsuit, the $80 million project was planned for about seven blocks north of Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, the 349-room resort on beachfront land owned by Hollywood.
Margaritaville is 17 stories and eight inches taller, according to the lawsuit.
“They approve projects when they want it for them,” said attorney Keith Poliakoff who is representing the plaintiff Condra Property Group.
The city cannot approve “height for some projects and not others,” Poliakoff told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Wednesday.
He said the state law allows new projects to match the existing height of other projects within one mile, and he’s asking the court for permission to build. “The city is wrong in prohibiting us from developing this project,” he said.
City staff had ruled that it was not an allowable height because of its location. “To date, the applicant has not provided a compelling argument for the legitimacy of height,” the city’s director of Development Services wrote in an August letter. In the letter, staff writes that Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort has different zoning.
Envisioning redevelopment
Poliakoff said there are motels on the site now, which would be torn down for redevelopment.
The proposed project also would include more than 35,000 square feet of commercial use. The project would span several city blocks, and include a two-story beach club and six-story parking garage and rooftop pool.
Poliakoff said it is the first Live Local-related lawsuit in Broward.
In 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 102, also known as the “Live Local Act,” into law. It was a sweeping law that, in part, aimed to remove certain zoning restrictions to push more affordable housing.
Live Local allows developers to override local laws to build units in commercial and industrial areas as long as 40% of the units are affordable. It allows working around local zoning codes that include development’s height, density and use to build new housing, intended to accommodate working people who can’t afford market rate homes.
According to Broward County, the area median income for the county currently is $89,100.
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash
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Author: Lisa J. Huriash