Josh Levy, Mayor, City of Hollywood
Invest: caught up with Mayor Josh Levy of the City of Hollywood to hear how new commercial corridors are creating exciting opportunities for businesses and residents citywide. “These initiatives collectively position Hollywood as a competitive economic hub within South Florida,” said Levy.
How is the city leveraging momentum to remain a competitive economic hub within South Florida?
Hollywood is on the rise, driven by a sustainable growth strategy that is transforming our key commercial corridors into vibrant, mixed-use destinations for living, working, and leisure. Our target industries include Aerospace, Aviation, Healthcare, Marine, Technology/Professional, and Retail.
Strategic public investment opportunities have revitalized infrastructure and attracted significant private capital. The city has secured hundreds of millions in funding for capital improvement, infrastructure, and streetscape projects to promote job creation and long-term economic development.
Forward thinking zoning policies adopted in 2018, incentivized mixed-use and smart growth redevelopment. These policies combined with a $200 million Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) investment, have laid the foundation for transit-oriented development and improved connectivity, particularly along our US 441/State Road 7 corridor.
Downtown Hollywood is experiencing a renaissance, with expanded outdoor café spaces, enhanced lighting, landscaping, and the development of a new 343-space public garage is also coming to downtown as part of the University Station project, a 216-unit mixed-use attainable housing project on city-owned land between Polk and Fillmore Streets.
University Station will serve as a key site for the future Broward County Commuter Rail, connecting Fort Lauderdale to Miami with a game-changing proposed stop in Hollywood. Further enhancing mobility and multimodal connectivity throughout the City, Complete Streets initiatives are planned for Federal Highway, Dixie Highway, and Johnson Street.
Major recreational investments include upgrades to our public and private golf courses by top-tier developers in the golf world and enhancements to roads, lighting, parks, sports fields, and playgrounds citywide.
Exciting transformations are also taking shape in the western portion of the city. Our portion of State Road 7 corridor, newly rebranded as “On the 7,” is experiencing a boom with new residential, hotel, and retail projects. In the past five to seven years, the corridor has welcomed 502 hotel keys, 572 residential units, over 441,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and major projects like the Toyota of Hollywood.
Our Economic Development team recently conducted a comprehensive assessment of Hollywood’s major commercial corridors to better understand their distinct characteristics and growth potential. This analysis reviewed current conditions and produced targeted recommendations, including an implementation matrix designed to help reestablish a strong sense of place, brand identity, and market positioning for each corridor. 
All of these initiatives collectively position Hollywood as a competitive economic hub within South Florida, offering accessible, modernized, and opportunity-rich commercial corridors for residents, visitors, and investors alike.
How do you balance the need for modern, upscale housing while maintaining affordability for existing residents?
Hollywood is committed to offering diverse housing options — from luxury residences to attainable and workforce housing — to meet the needs of current and future residents while fostering inclusive growth.
Smart, intentional development is at the heart of our strategy. Through thoughtful planning and design, we’re shaping a city that balances new opportunities with long-term affordability and livability.
Housing development is on the rise, particularly in multifamily products across all market segments. While rental units are leading the way, this growth is driving downtown vibrancy, attracting new residents, and supporting existing and future local businesses.
Maintaining affordability is a top priority. As Hollywood grows, we continue to collaborate with public and private partners to ensure a resilient community, equitable access to housing, and a healthy local economy for all. The Hollywood City Commission has supported numerous affordable/workforce housing projects throughout the City.
Additionally, approximately 5,000 new residential units — primarily multifamily — are under construction or in the development pipeline, with many integrated into transit-oriented corridors that align with our broader mobility and sustainability goals.
Transportation and housing go together. Our support of the Broward Commuter Rail project along the FEC corridor, with a planned stop in Hollywood, underscores our commitment to creating connected, accessible neighborhoods.
How is the city enhancing long-term economic sustainability and quality of life for residents?
Hollywood has taken major strides to strengthen public safety and climate resiliency, recognizing both as key pillars of long-term economic sustainability and resident well-being.
The appointment of the city’s first Chief Resiliency Officer marks a pivotal step in accelerating citywide sustainability initiatives that address the growing impacts of climate change.
Through the Stormwater Master Plan, the city is developing conceptual designs and capital projects to increase stormwater capacity and adapt infrastructure to climate projections through 2100 — accounting for sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and higher water tables.
Infrastructure hardening is underway, including raising east-west streets on the barrier island to mitigate flooding and relocating overhead utilities underground for improved storm protection.
With support from a Resilient Florida grant, Hollywood is advancing tidal flooding mitigation with a two-phase seawall project. Phase I addresses areas lacking shoreline protection; Phase II will enhance existing defenses.
Pump station upgrades and permeable hardscape design are being integrated on the barrier island to improve drainage, reduce flooding, and promote long-term coastal resilience.
Beach renourishment and dune restoration, in partnership with Broward County, offer natural storm barriers and protect coastal properties, helping to reduce disaster recovery costs and support tourism-related economic activity.
Public safety remains our top priority, ensuring that residents, businesses, and visitors feel secure as the city continues to grow and evolve.
Hollywood’s investment in public safety includes new fire trucks and rescue units, additional firefighters and police officers, and enhanced training technology to prepare our first responders for real-world emergencies.
A new 100,000 square foot Hollywood Police Headquarters, funded by a 2019 voter-approved General Obligation Bond, is under construction and designed to meet future growth demands.
The new facility will be a hub for modern policing, equipped with advanced tools like 3D immersive training simulations and built to foster innovation, community engagement, and operational efficiency.
Beyond bricks and mortar, the new headquarters symbolizes Hollywood’s commitment to creating a safe, connected, and resilient community—one where every resident can thrive.
What specific actions is Hollywood taking to attract and retain businesses?
Our Economic Development team recently conducted a comprehensive assessment of Hollywood’s major commercial corridors to better understand their distinct characteristics and growth potential. This analysis reviewed current conditions and produced targeted recommendations, including an implementation matrix designed to help reestablish a strong sense of place, brand identity, and market positioning for each corridor.
All of these new initiatives collectively position Hollywood as a competitive economic hub within South Florida, offering accessible, modernized, and opportunity-rich commercial corridors for residents, visitors, and investors alike.
Additionally, the city and CRA manage various commercial property improvement programs that offer grants to commercial and industrial property owners for restoring or renovating their properties. These programs enhance the visual appeal of our commercial corridors, stimulating private investment while attracting more customers. By improving the physical characteristics of highly visible commercial buildings, these programs support the city’s retail recruitment efforts, making the area more appealing to potential retailers. These programs provide grants ranging from $25,000 to $75,000 for capital improvements, with the amount depending on the property’s location.
To strengthen citywide and CRA retail recruitment efforts, Hollywood executes an annual national advertising campaign strategically designed to elevate the city’s profile as a premier destination for retail investment. This high-impact campaign targets top-tier retailers and developers across the country, showcasing Hollywood’s dynamic market potential, growing population, prime commercial corridors, and commitment to smart, sustainable growth. By highlighting key development sites, demographic trends, and success stories, the campaign positions Hollywood as a competitive and desirable location for retail expansion.
How are you ensuring Hollywood remains a desirable place to live, work, and invest in?
As Hollywood celebrates its 100th anniversary, the city is embracing a bold and forward-thinking vision for the next century — one that builds on our rich history while driving innovation, resilience, and opportunity for all.
Over the next few years, Hollywood will be reimagined through transformative investments in infrastructure, sustainability, housing, transportation, and economic development that position the city as a model for smart urban growth.
Our long-term strategy prioritizes sustainable development, with a strong focus on climate resilience, transit-oriented projects, green energy, and the expansion of public green spaces to enhance quality of life and protect natural resources.
We continue to make significant investments in flood mitigation and coastal resilience, including over 130 ongoing or completed projects totaling more than $500 million through city funding and external grants.
Hollywood is a regional leader in environmental sustainability, collaborating with Broward County on a Net-Zero Carbon Plan for 2050 and actively participating in initiatives like the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and the Miami-Dade Climate-Ready Tech Hub.
Citywide infrastructure improvements—including upgraded lighting, resilient street design, and an expanded tree canopy—are enhancing safety, beauty, and environmental performance. Our first-ever tree asset management program has catalogued more than 15,000 trees and identified future planting sites to increase our urban forest.
We’re actively shaping a future-ready economy, focusing on commercial corridor revitalization to support business retention, attract new investment, and create pathways for upward mobility among residents.
Housing diversity remains central to our growth, with new attainable workforce, and market-rate developments designed to meet evolving needs while preserving affordability and supporting a dynamic workforce.
The future Broward County Commuter Rail project — with a planned stop in Hollywood — represents a game-changing opportunity to enhance regional connectivity and support our vision for mixed-use, walkable communities.
Transit-oriented and mixed-use development is being encouraged through strategic rezoning and public-private partnerships, creating vibrant neighborhoods where people can live, work, shop, and play — all within walking distance.
Hollywood is doubling down on community resilience, ensuring that our infrastructure, economy, and environment are built to withstand future challenges while improving everyday life for residents.
As we enter our second century, we are committed to building a city of opportunity, a place where innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity thrive. Hollywood’s future is bright, and we are laying the foundation for a resilient, prosperous, and welcoming community for generations to come.
