Critics of a plan that would see a sleek condo tower rise on a quiet stretch of public beach in Hollywood are fighting to save what they call a little patch of paradise.

So far, they’re losing.

Hollywood commissioners said yes to the deal in 2022, signing off on a comprehensive development agreement with the Related Group that calls for a 99-year lease of the land.

Another blow to the critics came Wednesday night, when the commission approved the developer’s request for a land-use change 5-2. A second and final vote is expected early next year.

The land in question is home to Harry Berry Park and the Hollywood Beach Culture & Community Center at 1301 S. Ocean Drive.

The developer submitted an unsolicited proposal to the city in January 2020 for a luxury condo tower that has since been named Portofino Residences Hollywood. In 2021, the land had a value of $35 million. By 2022, commissioners had agreed to the public-private partnership.

Because the project will be built on public land, it’s exempt from height and density rules, city officials say.

The Related Group plans to break ground on the $375 million project in late 2026, according to Keith Poliakoff, attorney for the developer.

During the City Hall meeting, Poliakoff unveiled new renderings, showing a slightly shorter, more streamlined tower.

“The project you see today is a drop from 190 to 111 units,” Poliakoff told the commission.

Original plans called for a tower standing 365 feet high — seven times what the current code allows. New plans call for a 327-foot tower with 27 floors.

The tower was reoriented to preserve views of the neighboring condo to the north, Poliakoff said.

The developer has also promised to build a spiffy new two-story community center with a view of the ocean. Hollywood taxpayers would pick up the tab for the new center, which could cost up to $20 million. The developer would pay for upgrades to the park.

The condos would have a starting sales price of $4 million, according to Poliakoff.

After the condos are sold, the city would collect $71 million in rent, Hollywood officials say. According to city estimates, Hollywood would net more than $1.3 billion over the term of the 99-year lease.

Critics don’t care.

They have held protests, spoken out at City Hall and taken their battle to social media, blasting the project with relentless ferocity.

Cat Uden, a Hollywood activist who lost a run for mayor in 2024, has led the charge to stop the project. On Wednesday, she was one of 36 people who signed up to speak against the new tower.

She argued that a 27-story building doesn’t fit in with the quiet neighborhood on the south end of Hollywood beach. That it’s in conflict with the county’s resiliency plan. That it flies in the face of the city’s own beach master plan.

“The city’s Planning and Development board recommended denial of the land use amendment and you should follow their recommendation,” she said.

Hollywood activist Ann Ralston argued the commission should hold a referendum vote to let the residents decide.

“I just hate this project,” she said. “It’s the wrong place and the wrong size on a barrier island that’s an evacuation zone. I’m sorry. I just don’t like it. A 99-year lease is just a giveaway to get around the charter and (avoid) having a public vote. Just put it to a vote. If we lose, we lose. But if we win, we preserve the barrier island for many generations to come.”

Resident Dennis Dimartino reminded the commission of all the people who had already spoken against the project over the past five years.

“What is it that I can say that hasn’t already been said,” he told the commission. “One word just keeps coming to mind: No. No, we don’t want that tower. No, we don’t want the face of Hollywood beach to be looking like Sunny Isles. No, we don’t want the increased cars coming in making A1A look like Hallandale Beach Boulevard. No, we don’t want to run the risk of buildings sinking on a very small and very short portion of the beach.”

Commissioner Adam Gruber told the crowd he’d heard from hundreds of people in his district who back the project.

“What has been proposed and voted on and (approved) was to have a new community center with views of the ocean,” Gruber said. “The size of the park will be increased and the green space for the parcel will be increased. And what is paying for all of that will be condos. It’s a touchy subject. But please understand that there are people in the city that are OK with it.”

The city’s planning board cast a unanimous voteagainst the project two years ago, but the Hollywood commission has the final say.

And Wednesday night, the majority of the commission said yes.

Mayor Josh Levy joined Commissioners Peter Hernandez, Traci Callari, Adam Gruber and Kevin Biederman in approving the land-use change from community facility to medium high residential. Vice Mayor Idelma Quintana and Commissioner Caryl Shuham voted no.

Before the vote, Shuham argued the land-use change request should go back to the city’s planning board because the project had undergone significant changes.

“The new application is completely different,” she said. “New design. Different height. Different footprint.”

For that reason, the commission also needed to take another vote on the comprehensive agreement it approved three years ago, Shuham said.

“We are looking at a complete new deal,” she said.

The developer’s attorney agreed the comprehensive agreement would require a new commission vote, but said it could be addressed at a later date.

On Friday, Mayor Levy said each and every critic was welcome to speak up and have their say, but that doesn’t mean they represent each and every resident of Hollywood.

“Thirty-six people don’t reflect the sentiment of 150,000 residents of the city,” Levy said. “In a perfect world, everyone would love the project. Residents are getting a brand-new modern community center and an improved park. And the city is getting $1.3 billion over 99 years. This is all by the public, for the public.”

Article Link: Public outcry in Hollywood doesn’t stop proposed beachfront condo from clearing another hurdle
Author: Susannah Bryan