Hollywood Beach's Portofino Project Advances, Adding 'Hero Housing' to Oceanfront Redevelopment

Hollywood Beach's 3.5-acre Culture and Community Center site is undergoing a significant redevelopment, with plans now including 'Hero Housing' rental units. The project, initially known as 'Hollywood Arts' and now 'Portofino Hollywood', is a public-private partnership with the Related Group.

This redevelopment matters to residents because it will replace the existing Hollywood Beach Culture and Community Center, Harry Berry Park, and two surface parking lots with a new ocean-front community center, a refreshed Harry Berry Park with picnic areas and beach access, public beach parking, residential condominiums, and the newly added 'Hero Housing' rental units. This project will change the landscape and available facilities on Hollywood Beach.

The City Commission approved the First Amendment to the Comprehensive Agreement on May 20, 2026. This amendment specifically authorized the inclusion of 'Hero Housing' rental units at the property, located at 1301 S. Ocean Drive. The Related Group began the City's Development Review Process for this public-private partnership project on June 16, 2025.

Discussions about the condition of the current community center and potential development interest in the site began in February 2020 during a public Commission Real Estate Workshop. By the end of March 2020, the City received an unsolicited proposal for the site's redevelopment. This proposal qualified under state public-private partnerships statutes. The City's real estate advisory firm, CBRE, then marketed the opportunity nationally and internationally to over 20,000 development contacts. Proposals were due in September 2020, and by October 2020, they were under technical review. In January 2021, the City Commission reviewed the top four proposals in a public meeting.

The 'Portofino Hollywood' project continues through the development process. Residents can expect further updates as construction plans solidify and timelines for the new facilities become available.