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Marathon City Commission Meeting on Beach Condo Project Ends Without a Vote
Vice Mayor Caryl Shuham raised a motion against the development. The motion was seconded but not approved. Following her motion, Shuham gave a lengthy speech detailing her view of the plan. “None of the calculations that you are relying on to think that these big dollars are coming our way are set in stone, like they were in the Margaritaville deal,” Shuham commented. She later added, “You may not like that building (Margaritaville) but it has transformed our city. The reason we did it was for economic development. We have a much more lucrative boardwalk because of Margaritaville. This project does nothing for our city’s economic development. It only brings in revenue.” Shuham went on to criticize a number of the fine points in the proposed agreements. The Proposal “I have received over 2,000 outreaches from On January 21, 2020, Related Group submitted Controversy residents. There is not a single civic organization, an unsolicited proposal to the city to develop the The City Commission meeting to discuss and volunteer group, city committee, task force, or civic property, which is currently a public park and vote on the proposal lasted from 5:00 pm until association that has come out in favor of this project.” community center. The City Commission subse- 3:00 am and ended without a vote. More than Related Group founder, Chairman and CEO quently discussed the condition of the current 100 people signed up to speak at the meeting. Jorge Perez also spoke at the meeting, indicating community center and development interest in this The majority of speakers were against the plan, the project is a “very, very good deal for the city site in a public Commission Real Estate Workshop. with most referencing the elimination of the open of Hollywood… We’ve been here for 42 years. We Following that meeting, the city decided to broadly space and new levels of building height on that [are] now getting close to 120,000 units that we market any opportunity to redevelop the site. Their end of the beach. built mostly in South Florida. We have a deep, deep stated objective was to achieve the best possible “Three acres were deeded to the city for parks commitment to the South Florida community.” proposals for the benefit of Hollywood residents. and recreation, open space and public purpose, The Hollywood Commission decided to table The City of Hollywood released a Request for and one acre was bought with water, land and the issue until a March 16th meeting where the Proposal (RFP) to solicit other developers to bid on conservation money for a public park,” said Susan Commission will again consider the proposal. The the property. After about a year-long process, the Caruso during public comments, “this proposal is time for the meeting has not been release at the time city selected the original developer, Related Group’s not a public use.” of publication. It will be held at Hollywood City Hall. proposal on February 18, 2021. The recommendation he City of Hollywood is working with developer Related Group to build a condominium tower and new ocean-front community center on Hollywood Beach. The development would be located on a city-owned 3.5-acre beach-front parcel currently home to the City of Hollywood Beach Culture and Community Center, Harry Berry Park, and two parking lots. The proposal has generated significant community engagement, with many opposing the proposal. Community members opposing the development raised several concerns including the height of the proposed tower, the use of public land for private development, and increased density on Hollywood Beach.
was subsequently approved by the City Commission on March 17, 2021. City negotiators have been working with Related Group since then to agree upon terms for the proposed development. They developed a Comprehensive Agreement and Ground Lease Agreement with the hopes of attaining a vote of approval at the City Commission meeting on February 2. The proposal would be a boon to Hollywood’s balance sheet. The city would enter into a 99-year land lease and receive 14% of the developer’s gross condominium sales, which is estimated to be more than $50 million. In addition, ongoing tax and rental revenue are estimated to total more than $3 million a year.
22 / Our City Hollywood / March 2022 / OurCityMedia.com
