Article
Courtesy of Local 10 News
By Jeff Weinsier
Published May 12, 2021
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HOLLYWOOD – A battle is brewing in Hollywood after a
condo association blocked access to a popular public beachside pathway.
It was once a busy, thriving path along North Beach in Hollywood.
But “DANGER” signs and fencing have stopped people from passing through
for months.
The condo association at the Renaissance on the Ocean
says there was an erosion issue on the path after a storm last year. But
some are questioning if there is a real problem, or if condo residents
just don’t want the public so close.
“I used to go down it and then they closed it,” said bike rider Fred
Lofgren. “It says danger. You look down there. Do you see any danger?”
The signs clearly say “danger,” claiming parts of the pathway are washed
away and it is unsafe.
The pathway is public, but the signs and fence weren’t put up by the
city of Hollywood. They were placed there by the adjacent Renaissance on
the Ocean.
And it’s forcing bike riders onto busy A1A. |
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According to a development agreement from 1995, the developer of the
Renaissance agreed to maintain the pathway, which is a public right of
way.
“It makes it seems like the owners, the building managers don’t want the
public going through there,” said bike rider Bella Mendez said of the
signs.
Another bicyclist, Nick Kirkland, added: “It doesn’t look they are doing
any kinda work, so it seems like they are trying to keep people out.”The
city has cited Renaissance for blocking a public right of way and
violating a site plan.
Ironically, Local 10 News spotted a real estate agent who was showing an
apartment in one of the buildings using that dangerous pathway.
Our cameras also saw residents using the path with no sign of danger. We
encountered one of them who said she could use the path because she
lived there.
In a statement to Local 10, an attorney for the Renaissance says it is
their goal to re-open the path to the public as soon as possible.
“The Renaissance on the Ocean is actively working to resolve the issues
related to the beach path closure,” Deana D. Falce of ShubinBass, legal
counsel for Renaissance, said in the statement. “It is Renaissance’s
goal to safely re-open the beach path to the public — including to its
own residents — as soon as possible. The closure of the beach path was a
response to safety concerns only. A meeting has been scheduled between
the Renaissance, its engineer, and City of Hollywood staff to address
this matter. At this time, we cannot provide further comment due to the
pending City of Hollywood code enforcement actions.”
Some legal experts say having to maintain the public pathway puts an
unfair burden on condo owners, that the agreement with the city was with
the developer.
The city of Hollywood is taking Renaissance in front of a special
magistrate on June 9 for the code violations.
At this point, it is not clear when the path will re-open.
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