Hollywood Residents Fight Back Against 27-Story Beachfront Tower

☀️ GOOD MORNING, HOLLYWOOD! Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! City offices are back open, the beach is still calling, and we've got a packed week ahead — including a major development story that has a lot of neighbors fired up. Let's get into it. ☀️

📋 IN TODAY'S BLEND

📅 Tuesday, May 26 (Hollywood Beach Theatre closed Tuesdays)

📅 Wednesday, May 27

📅 Thursday, May 28

📅 Friday, May 29

📅 Saturday, May 30

🌡️ High: 87° | 40% chance of afternoon shower Mostly nice — keep an eye on the afternoon sky if you're heading to the Broadwalk for reggae night 🌦️

Hollywood Residents Fight Back Against 27-Story Beachfront Tower Commissioners recently voted to move forward with the Related Group's Portofino Hollywood project — a proposed 27-story luxury high-rise at 1301 S. Ocean Drive, on 3.5 acres of public land currently home to a community center, park and parking lot. Hollywood Commissioner Kevin Biederman went on Local 10's "This Week in South Florida" this weekend to defend the vote, pointing to the Live Local Act's requirement that 40% of units be affordable housing. Residents who've been fighting this for years aren't satisfied — they say the land belongs to the public, period. This fight has a long way to go.
Source: Local 10 — This Week in South Florida

1. 🚧 A1A Undergrounding — What's Happening on Hollywood Beach A major infrastructure upgrade is well underway along A1A between Hollywood Boulevard and Hallandale Beach Boulevard. Overhead utility lines are being buried underground and the entire streetscape is getting a stunning refresh — turtle-friendly lighting, wider medians, new sidewalks and lush landscaping. Expect weekday lane closures 9 AM–4 PM for the next several months. Disruptive now, but Hollywood Beach is going to look incredible when it's done. Completion expected Fall 2026.

2. 🚗 A1A Near The Diplomat — Lane Closure Still Active Crews are still working to remove the pedestrian bridge connecting the Diplomat Beach Resort to its parking garage on north Hollywood Beach. Single-lane closures remain in effect — build in extra time through that stretch, especially in the evenings.

3. 🎸 Big Summer Concerts Coming to Downtown Hollywood — June 27 & July 19 Downtown Hollywood is about to become one of the hottest outdoor stages in South Florida. Two massive free Watch Party & Concert events are coming to Young Circle on June 27 and July 19. The city is teasing big things — full lineup details dropping soon. The Hollywood Blend will have everything the moment it's announced, so stay tuned! 🤩

4. 🌟 Hollywood Beach Named an Emerging South Florida Hotspot Parade Magazine spotlighted Hollywood Beach as one of South Florida's rising destination hotspots — pointing to the Broadwalk, the growing dining scene and the laid-back coastal energy that sets us apart from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. If you've been telling your friends and family how great it is here, now you've got a national magazine to back you up!

5. 🐠 Hollywood Beach's Underwater Reef is Thriving — And You Can Snorkel It Just 300 feet off Hollywood Beach, at only 10 feet deep, the Guardians of the Reef project has exploded with marine life just eight months after deployment. Fish moved in within 15 minutes of the structures hitting the water. Today you can snorkel four sites along Hollywood Beach — no scuba required — and swim alongside 50 artistic reef structures including sculptures of sea turtles, manatees, manta rays and the mythical ocean deities Poseidon and Amphitrite. One of Hollywood's best-kept secrets and one of the coolest things to do right in our backyard this summer. Grab a mask and go! 🐠