The vacant Hollywood Beach Resort, a seven-story hotel built in 1925 by city founder Joseph Young, may be on the verge of a dramatic transformation that would alter the city’s beachfront skyline and test local preservation efforts.
Developer secures site under contract
Related Group, in partnership with BH Group and potentially Terra, has the four-acre property at 101 N. Ocean Drive under contract for $100 million, according to developer representatives. The resort, long known locally as a landmark, has been vacant and fenced off since it was declared unsafe in May 2023.
Developers are reportedly proposing a new residential project that could include 398 units and reach at least 340 feet in height — a substantial increase over current beach heights if the city approves changes to the zoning rules. City commissioners in June adopted a resolution confirming that the current owner has a vested right to build 398 residential units on the site.
Height cap change and preservation incentives at stake
The city is considering a plan that would relax the height cap at the beach, potentially permitting towers as high as 340 feet where the Hollywood Beach Resort now sits. Under a proposed historic preservation incentive, a developer could receive an additional 150 feet, bringing a tower to a total potential height of 490 feet.
Commissioners are expected to vote on the beach height plan as soon as Aug. 26, and the city’s Planning and Development Board is scheduled to hold a vote the week prior. The developer’s team has said it is working with architects and city leaders and expects to present a formal design in the coming months.
“We recognize the community importance of addressing this vacant, deteriorating property,”
“Our team is actively engaged with acclaimed architects and city leaders to deliver a world-class redevelopment that realizes the full potential of this site. We look forward to formally unveiling our design concept in the coming months.”
The statements were attributed to Keith Poliakoff, an attorney for the developer, in remarks to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Local response and preservation concerns
Local preservationists have highlighted the resort’s heritage and drawn comparisons to other grand Florida hotels such as The Breakers in Palm Beach and the Biltmore in Coral Gables. Some advocates say they hope the property can be preserved and restored; others worry that full preservation may be unlikely given the site’s condition and economic pressures.
- Historic status: Built in 1925 by Joseph Young.
- Current condition: Vacant, fenced off and declared unsafe in May 2023.
- Developer proposal: 398 residential units; potential tower height up to 340 feet or 490 feet with incentives.
The site sits between the Broadwalk and State Road A1A at Hollywood Boulevard, a highly visible location that has generated public interest as officials and residents consider the tradeoffs between redevelopment and heritage conservation.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Contract price (reported) | $100 million |
| Proposed residential units | 398 units |
| Site size | 4 acres |
| Potential height without incentives | 340 feet |
| Potential height with preservation incentives | 490 feet |
The debate over the Hollywood Beach Resort site arrives as the city weighs broader policy changes for its beachfront corridors. City staff and elected officials have framed the proposal as a way to address a vacant, deteriorating property and to harness private investment for redevelopment. Preservation advocates say incentives and design review will be critical if elements of the historic structure are to be retained.
With a Planning and Development Board vote scheduled and a commission vote anticipated later this month, Hollywood residents can expect further public discussion and formal presentations from the developer in the coming weeks. The outcome will determine whether one of Hollywood’s oldest beachfront buildings is integrated into a new, taller skyline or replaced by a modern tower that redefines the city’s oceanfront profile.
