July 19, 2007

Hollywood Beach Underground Utilities Pilot Project receives approval for November 2007 commencement

(Hollywood, FL) The Board of the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency recently paved the way for the commencement of a 6-block pilot project that will begin the process of converting the barrier island’s antiquated electrical network to an underground system.

On Tuesday, July 17, 2007, the Beach CRA Board authorized commencement of an eagerly anticipated Underground Utilities Conversion Pilot Project and redevelopment venture that will significantly change the face of Hollywood Beach. Overhead utility lines will be converted and buried in a 6-block stretch bordered by Grant Street to the south and Cleveland Street to the north, followed by major streetscape improvements. Construction is slated to begin in November 2007, with a completion date scheduled for November 2008.

"This is a major step forward for Hollywood Beach’s renewal," said Gil Martinez, Executive Director of the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency, Beach District. "The undergrounding of power lines and the ensuing aesthetic improvements along the side streets will lead to a cleaner, safer, more picturesque beach environment for residents and visitors alike."

The Beach CRA will fund the public portion of the $10 million project and will participate in the public-private hook-up costs. Property owners will be responsible for private property restoration and will be entitled to a rebate for fifty percent of their costs, up to $5,000. The funding balance was praised by property owners and Beach businesses at the meeting. The CRA Board passed the resolution unanimously.

"This project will not only help reduce power outages during storms, it will also speak directly to our statutory mandate to remove blight," Martinez said. "We expect this 6-block project to also serve as a catalyst for economic redevelopment on Hollywood Beach, and to eventually lead to a larger-scale conversion of the entire district."

To view before-after renderings of the project, please visit http://hollywoodbeachcra.com/portals/beachcra/pdf/undergroundpilotproject.pdf.