Save the Downtown Hollywood Historic District
If the developer’s plans go through, the historic designation of the Great Southern, and by extension the entire HBHBD, will almost certainly be lost.
Note– Preserving 2-walls of the façade’ in no way saves the historic designation of the building (Letter - FL Dept of State, B. Mattick).
The historic buildings give Downtown Hollywood its unique character. Historic areas (such as South Beach) attract people. The City’s official website uses this to attract tourists to Hollywood: “Historic Downtown Hollywood, Florida”.
The developer’s plan for the Great Southern does not meet most of the evaluation criteria of the City’s Land Development Code for demolition.
Financial benefits: Any benefit to the tax base would probably be outweighed by the loss of business due to losing the whole appeal of the district.
Also, the CRA is not allowed to receive any benefit from adversely affected city designated historic buildings, i.e. the CRA probably cannot receive any money from this project.
Tax Credit: There is a potential loss of eligibility of a 20% tax credit for everyone in the HBHBD if the historic designation of the area is lost.
Unfairness: The developer is not being held to the same standards as others owning historic properties. (Some residents are not allowed to even make changes to their driveways.)
Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District
The few blocks on Hollywood Blvd from Dixie Hwy to Young Circle is designated as the “Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District” or the HBHBD. The area received this designation in 1999 from the National Register of Historic Places. The Great Southern Hotel is a linchpin of the HBHBD.
Great Southern Hotel
The Great Southern was acquired by developers and slated for destruction some 10-years ago. There was a huge battle to save the Great Southern Hotel, and by extension the historic designation of the entire district.
In 2005 the City Commission voted 4/3 to grant the developer a demolition permit. A lawsuit (and appeal) by preservationists, that alleged elected officials ignored city codes that protect city buildings when demolition permits are granted, was lost.
For whatever reasons, the developer dropped the project in about 2006. He has now reappeared, some 10-years later, and is aggressively pushing the project through; with full support of city officials, staff, and resources – no questions asked.
Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District
- Our Stand -
Hollywood must put an immediate hold on this project. Many circumstances have changed in 10-years. Ordinances have changed, and even the developer's own plans have changed. City staff and resources, at taxpayer expense, are being used before the desirability and impact of this project can be determined.
- The entire scope of the project needs to be substantially scaled down to fit the character of the HBHBD.
- The developer needs to work with preservationists to ensure that their project maintains the historic designation of the Great Southern, and by extension the historic designation of the entire district.
- There must be input from preservationists; and most importantly, the residents of Hollywood.
- The city administration must not be allowed to give unfair, preferential treatment that is not in the best interests of the city as a whole.