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Vol. VIII No. 8 • APRIL 2009 • www.hollywoodgazette.com
IN THIS ISSUE The stars of hollywood CBS 4 News Reporter Jorge Estevez with 2009 Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Beth Kroll of Valley Bank.
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‘Block 55 project’ continues to move forward with ‘Z-plan’ unveiling by Laura Burdick-Sherman Senior Correspondent
HOLLYWOOD Historical Society’s annual HOME TOUR Visitors flocked to Hollywood from as far north as Palm Beach, and as far south as Coral Gables to tour an eclectic range of seven homes in Hollywood, mostly on Adams Street in the Lakes District.
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IN EVERY ISSUE PET OF THE MONTH................8 Baby of the Month.............10 dining review......................22 Hollywood crossword......24 Calendar of Events ...20,21,23
An almost year long wait ended recently when the mysterious “Mr. Z” strode into a March 10th meeting at City Hall. The fabled hero, however, did not show up clad in a Spanish cape, Andalusian hat, black cowl mask, and flashing a sharpened rapier. Instead, Hollywood’s highlyanticipated architect arrived clad in business suit casual, armed with a laser pointer, blueprints, Power Point presentations, and a team of architects. That’s because in this case, “Z” stands not for ‘Zorro’, but for Miami-based architect Bernard Zyscovich, creator of the Hollywood Young Circle Master Plan, most frequently referred to as “The Z Plan”. Although the city of Hollywood hired Zyscovich to conduct the Hollywood Commercial Corridor Study of 441, Hollywood Blvd., Dixie Highway, and Federal Highway, and is creating the Hollywood Beach CRA Master Plan, the downtown Young Circle Master Plan has garnered the greatest controversy. Zyscovich said he was impressed by forum attendees’ attentiveness. “I think it went really well. Zyscovich What was very heartening to me was there were representatives of the community, business organizations, neighborhood groups, the mayor and commission, and there seemed
Shape Up, Hollywood! Free, 12-week program set to begin April 18 by Caron Conway Lead Correspondent The Block 55 Project proposes to transform the blighted site of the former Greyhound Bus Station and Town House Apartments in downtown Hollywood into 424 residential units and 70,000 square feet of retail space.
to be a willing endorsement,” said the quiet, unassuming design heavyweight. Upgrading and tweaking the 2004 Master Plan, the 2009 version and added detail, sub-areas labeled ‘Districts’, and boundary extensions to include Fillmore Street on the north, Monroe Street on the south and 22nd Avenue on the west. The goal of the Master Plan, according to the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency [CRA] is to establish new zoning codes for the Young Circle and North Office/Mixed Use Districts. According to Hollywood Downtown CRA Director Neil Fritz, the CRA worked with the city’s office of Planning, and acted as project manager. Fritz said the Downtown CRA also paid $100,000 for the Master Plan, and an additional $100,000 for the zoning regulations for the Young Circle Area and the North Downtown District. The Downtown CRA helmed the Public Forum. Highlights of the presentation included introducing the concept of eliminating density as a means of calculating space by utilizing floor area room and height instead. “I think the public forum was very successful. Zyscovich presented a great deal of new information, especially regarding proposed heights and the floor ‘Z-PLAN’ continues on pg. 5
A local fitness expert is on a mission to change the shape of Hollywood. Shondelle Solomon-Miles, a personal trainer and the owner of Synergize! weight-loss studio in Hollywood, has introduced Your Best Body Challenge, a free program that could help hundreds of Hollywood adults transform their bodies in 12 weeks. Your Best Body Challenge is part of the fitness and weight-loss contest phenomenon started by the hit TV show The Biggest Loser. Participants will weigh in each week at the studio’s east Hollywood location and will be provided with a a comprehensive work-out guide to follow outside of the studio. “The Saturday work-outs are going to be ‘kick-butt’ at the studio with me and my staff,” said Solomon-Miles. The local weight-loss challenge is open to all Hollywood residents ages 18 and older, and ages 15 to 17 with parental participation. At the time of press there were over 150 registered participants.
Lose that spare tire! Synergize participants have been spotted pushing a bus in neutral as a group across the facility’s parking lot Sonia after
Sonia before SLENDER, SEXY AND PROUD: Hollywood resident Sonia Tigero has shed 112 pounds since she began her training at Synergize! January, 21 2008.
“I know that people are not really investing in personal training or even gym memberships right now due to the economy so I am really doing this to get people CHALLENGE cont. on pg. 27
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