Today’s visionaries say the cities of tomorrow will feature flying cars, commuters riding trains from here to there, and people young and old flocking to live in apartments along urban corridors.
Hollywood leaders say they want to be ready for that future — a future some admit they might not even live to see.
On Wednesday, the entire Hollywood commission embraced that future with a unanimous vote that would pave the way for thousands of new high-rise apartments along key commercial corridors on Federal Highway and State Road 7.
Another 8,000 apartments would be added to the current cap of 15,100 dwelling units allowed on Federal Highway, stretching the entire city limits from Sheridan Street to Pembroke Road. That number does not include 2,000 currently permitted flex units. Another 4,370 apartments would be allowed on State Road 7, bringing the total to 9,688 dwelling units.
A future commission vote is needed for final approval.
On Wednesday, Commissioner Kevin Biederman predicted the move might provoke criticism from today’s residents, who tend to worry about gridlock on the roads and the impact of high-rise towers on nearby neighborhoods.
“We get criticized because we don’t plan for the future,” Biederman said. “Now we’re planning for the future. Nobody’s building 8,000 units tomorrow or next year. It’s about over the next 25 years. By the time this stuff is built, we’re going to have flying vehicles.”
The thought of flying cars might meet with skepticism today, Biederman acknowledged.
“I know it’s hard to believe,” he said. “We all watched ‘The Jetsons’ when we were little. The future is closer than we think. And we need to make sure we’re planning for it now and not waiting till it happens and we’re just left behind.”
And Hollywood, a city that has watched booming development take off in cities to the north and south, does not want to be left behind.
Hollywood’s Young Circle is now home to several tall residential towers, growth cultivated by the city over the last few decades.
But Federal Highway, a river of pavement often overlooked by developers, has not attracted the same keen interest.
If that ever changes, Hollywood hopes to be ready.
As director of Development Services for Hollywood, Andria Wingett was one of the masterminds behind the proposed changes to the city’s master plan.
“We are adding additional capacity to what the city already has in order to be able to absorb future population growth and to be able to have a balance of affordable housing but also market rate housing as well,” she told the commission.
Critics have wondered why the city needs to increase the cap on dwelling units when some apartment buildings are currently experiencing vacancies.
Commissioner Traci Callari addressed that question Wednesday.
“The downtown has vacancies,” she said. “It’s had vacancies. We will continue to have vacancies until people move in and utilize the area. And that’s starting to happen. But it’s still going to take a long time before it comes to fruition. And development is what creates that. Build it, they will come.”
High-rise development might be on the way, but it’s not always popular, Callari said.
“Some people don’t like it,” she said. “They want the sleepy town. But at the same time they want to turn around and yell at us that things aren’t getting done and that there’s no action. So they have to go to Fort Lauderdale because our downtown doesn’t work here. Well we’re trying to fix the problem. It doesn’t happen overnight.”
There is good reason to update the city’s master plan, Callari argued.
“I think this is important because this will help meet our objective, which is create some synergy and help promote livability and functionality,” she said before voting in favor of the changes.
Mayor Josh Levy explained why the timing is perfect.
“I’m excited that we are updating this plan for the decades ahead,” Levy said before the vote. “I want to remind everyone that our city grows at a rate of less than 1% a year. This just prepares us for development cycles ahead as the market comes and is ready to build.”
Commissioner Caryl Shuham suggested Hollywood hold a town hall meeting to explain the reason behind the willingness to invite more dwelling units to the city’s two primary commercial corridors.
Shuham recommended city officials reach out to all impacted civic associations.
“This is not about building 8,000 more units,” Shuham said. “It’s (about) replenishing the availability for the next generations in years and decades ahead to have these units.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan