Florida’s Hollywood has come a long way since incorporation 100 years ago.
Last time The Real Deal spoke with Assistant City Manager Raelin Storey, she offered a glimpse of how the city was gearing up to mark its centennial with a new redevelopment plan and infrastructure projects. Storey sat down with us again to talk about the progress Hollywood has made on these projects and how the centennial will celebrate the city’s rich heritage and vibrant culture.
A Vibrant City with a Small-Town Feel
Back in 1925, when Hollywood was first incorporated, it consisted of one square mile of undeveloped farmland. But founder Joseph Young recognized its potential.
“He had this vision for a dream city by the sea that would be a city for everyone,” says Storey, “He really seemed to value the idea that it would be a city that would welcome diversity and would be inclusive for all walks of life—and we have become that.”
Since then, Hollywood has grown to 30 square miles and approximately 153,000 residents, but it still has a hometown vibe.
“Even though Hollywood is really a vibrant larger city within Broward County, it still retains a bit of that small-town feel,” says Storey. “You have these distinctive neighborhoods where people know their neighbors.”
She credits that community atmosphere to the city’s efforts to create pedestrian-friendly public spaces, pointing to the recently completed Downtown Hollywood Boulevard Streetscape Project as an example.
“It creates wider sidewalks and these beautiful gathering areas where people can dine and walk and enjoy our year-round great weather,” says Storey. “They’re experiencing sort of a modern version of the quaint downtown that Joseph Young envisioned.”
Expanding Housing and Transit Options
Hollywood’s downtown area is experiencing significant growth, including multi-family development. That trend is likely to continue as transit options expand—the Broward Commuter Rail station is scheduled to open in 2027.
Stroll along Hollywood Boulevard, and you’ll see a blend of the city’s original architecture alongside new developments. Hollywood Heights, a new luxury rental property, is designed for urban livability.
“People can walk downstairs and go to a restaurant, they can walk to their dentist or their eye doctor, and they can walk to the ArtsPark and enjoy an evening of music,” says Storey. “Eventually, they’ll be able to walk to a train station and take a commuter train to downtown Fort Lauderdale or downtown Miami—and make the transition to the Brightline and take that train to Orlando or Tampa.”
As the city’s footprint grows, the 441 Corridor / State Road 7 is a western gateway. This area has also undergone substantial investments, including a linear park, a new Hollywood Kia dealership, affordable housing, and mixed-use development.
The north-south corridor, now branded “On the 7,” offers an inviting entryway to Hollywood. “It has great bones, and a lot of attractions, between the Guitar Hotel, the new shops and restaurants, the new living spaces, and the existing business that make it really vibrant,” says Storey, adding, “There’s a lot to do and a lot to see on the 7.”
Preparing for the Future: Sustainability and Resilience
As Hollywood looks ahead to its next hundred years, sustainability and resilience are at the top of mind.
“Everyone has their antenna tuned toward sea level rise, what that’s going to mean, and any climate change impacts that we’ll see,” explains Storey. “That has to be a factor in how we think about the city of the future.”
Current projects include a robust stormwater master plan, moving utilities underground and raising roadways on the barrier island, along with exploring ways to mitigate tidal flooding. The city has partnered with the state and county on beach and dune restoration plans.
“We’re all working in tandem on solutions to these issues, because Hollywood can’t do it alone,” she says. “We’ve partnered with other communities to make sure that we’re all thinking about the future together.”
Fulfilling and Expanding on Joseph Young’s Vision
Joseph Young may have only dreamed of Hollywood’s future, but his vision was surprisingly accurate. Storey has seen advertisements and marketing materials from the City’s early days that said things like, We want to be a year-round city that welcomes everyone, that’s vibrant, that’s a place where you can make a living and live while you make it. These values still resonate for Storey and her colleagues as they follow the path Young created a century ago.
“Over the years, there have been a lot of people that have loved this city and cared for it and shepherded it forward, building on the founder’s original vision,” says Storey. “It’s exciting to be a little part of that history and hope that it continues on.”
Find out more about the City of Hollywood at www.ChooseHollywoodFl.com.