Hollywood

Taking advantage of Hollywood's amenities is made simple in 441 Corridor. Restaurants, markets, industrial shops and car dealerships line the neighborhood’s namesake thoroughfare, giving the area an urban-suburban feel. 441 Corridor avoids the tourist traffic of the city center while still fitting the bill for those in search of proximity and practicality. “It’s a convenient, up-and-coming area that is still relatively affordable,” says Sherry Lebowitz, Realtor with Lifestyle International Realty, who has 11 years of experience selling in South Florida. “With the access to the highway, plenty of shops and restaurants are within reach, and you can easily get to downtown Hollywood and the beach.” Midcentury modern homes, side-gabled national style and low-lying ranch houses line the streets of 441 Corridor. Front yards are small and shallow, and some homes run perpendicular to the street rather than parallel. Backyards lined by chain link or wooden fencing provide more space and are peppered with palm and oak trees. Prices for a renovated three-bedroom ranch home range from $385,000 to $470,000. Larger four- to five-bedroom homes with modern upgrades or in-ground pools sell for $620,000 to $795,000. There are multi-family options available here, too. Duplexes are priced around $650,000, while Mediterranean-inspired townhouses are listed near $432,000. Road verges allow for off-street parking, though many homes have small carports or driveways. Though U.S. Highway 441 splits the neighborhood, Lebowitz says, “The homes and the residential streets are quiet, so you don’t really notice much traffic noise.” The 441 Corridor is full of international flavors. Mimi’s Ravioli has served fresh pasta and Italian classics for decades, and its market sells imported goods. Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine is a family-owned restaurant serving authentic fare, ranging from seafood to empanadas. There’s Ceviche Dozo for Japanese cuisine, offering a wide variety of sushi and specialty dishes. Locals also gather at beloved hole-in-the-wall spots like Lucky 7 Billiards and Thirsty’s Pub, a lovable dive bar with pool tables, darts and a jukebox of old favorites. Sedano’s Plaza includes its namesake grocery stores and Vicky Bakery, which serves Cuban desserts. There’s also a Publix at the nearby Sheridan Plaza. The small shopping complex houses larger retailers like Bath & Body Works, Kohl’s and Carter’s. Lovers of all things vintage and eclectic can hunt for treasure at the nearby Antique Center. Those looking for something a bit livelier will want to stop by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, less than 2 miles north. Locals can unwind with a drink or meal at one of many lounges and bars or watch artists like Def Leopard and Janet Jackson perform. Students here are zoned for Broward County Public Schools, known for its magnet programs. They may attend Sheridan Hills Elementary School, which has a B-minus rating from Niche and offers a STEAM innovate program. At C-rated West Hollywood Elementary School, students can enroll in the aeronautical science magnet program and build upon those skills in a similar program offered at Apollo Middle School. The school also has a magnet program in STEM and earned a B-minus from Niche. The other two middle schools serving the area are Olsen and Attucks, with C and B-minus ratings from Niche, respectively. The two high schools attended by students in the neighborhood are South Broward High School and McArthur High School. The former has a B-plus from Niche, while the latter gets a B overall. Both are part of the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education program, which allows students to graduate with an international diploma. Three local parks are dotted around the area and are within walking distance. Cathy & Bob Anderson Park has a basketball court, a shaded tot lot and a playground. At Carlton Montayne Park, a walking trail is among the amenities. For a close encounter with nature, locals head to John Williams Park, which features a nature walk throughout the Sheridan Oak Forest. There’s also a dog park and playground. Residents can hop in their cars and make the 7-mile drive east to get to the beach. Along with the sandy shores, they’ll find the Broadwalk, which has laid-back beachfront bars and attractions like the Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Beach Resort. The neighborhood’s name speaks for itself when it comes to accessibility to major highways. U.S. 441 runs through the heart of the area, connecting residents to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, about 8.5 miles away. Locals also take the highway 11 miles north to reach Fort Lauderdale and to get to Interstate 95 and downtown Miami, roughly 20 miles south. Taft Street provides another option to access nearby amenities. Memorial Regional Hospital is just over 2 miles away, while downtown Hollywood is nearly 5 miles east. Both Taft Street and U.S. 441 are flanked by Broward County Transit bus stops for public transit access.

An established enclave tucked into the southwest corner of Hollywood, Beverly Park is a quiet residential community that offers access to many of the amenities of modern urban life. Densely populated with homes built primarily in the 1950s, the neighborhood is anchored by a community center and surrounded by major roadways and diverse dining options. Though neighbors live in relatively close quarters, many homes offer either large yards or large driveways. Several homes feature carports. The established dwellings are “good solid homes, all with concrete block construction,” says Samuel Fugina, owner and broker of Marlin Realty and longtime area resident. Prices typically range from the high $300,000s to the low $500,000s. Extensive renovations of larger homes and homes built in recent years can list for $600,000-plus. Prospective buyers should be aware that noise can be a factor, as certain homes on the east, west and south sides are located near major roadways. Wind also can be an issue, especially during hurricane season, and insurance rates can reflect the extra coverage required. Residents enjoy easy access to an array of ethnic eateries. The area is a particular hub for Caribbean cuisine. Locals can walk to Captain Jerk, a Jamaican counter-service restaurant offering daily lunch specials, or Miramar Bakery, a family-owned spot for Cuban pastries and breakfast sandwiches. Residents can stock up on essentials at nearby retailers that include Aldi and Walmart. Kay Gaither Community Center is located in the heart of the community. It offers indoor and outdoor amenities, the latter anchored by a lighted basketball court and a shaded playground. An aftercare program and summer camps are provided by grants from the Children's Services Council. The city’s community centers are a popular gathering spot for residents and also host community events. The Spring Marshmallow Drop at the nearby Boulevard Heights Community Center is a highlight. With children eagerly waiting to collect, a helicopter drops 30,000 marshmallows. Several pocket parks can be found in neighboring communities, including Zinkil Park, where residents can take advantage of an interactive splash pad, exercise stations and a paved walking trail. The city’s buzzy beachfront is located about 7 miles away. The neighborhood’s youngest students can attend Orange Brook Elementary, a C-plus-rated school by Niche. Older students can attend Apollo Middle, a B-minus-rated school, before moving on to McArthur High, a B-rated Cambridge International school that also offers dual enrollment in college-level courses. Broward County students qualify for the district’s Universal Free Lunch program, which provides free meals regardless of eligibility status. Broward County Transit buses run regularly along Pembroke Road, State Road 7 and Hollywood Boulevard, all of which surround the neighborhood. Hollywood Boulevard provides direct access to the Hollywood Station commuter rail line less than 4 miles east as well as the city’s beaches. State Road 7 and the Florida Turnpike, which forms the western edge of the neighborhood, connect to Interstate 95 a few miles south. I-95 provides access to points of interest up and down the coast, including Fort Lauderdale about 10 miles north and Miami about 20 miles south. North Perry Airport, a general aviation is located nearby. Though Beverly Park is not in the flight path, in 2023 locals called on county officials to study air quality in the area, after the Environmental Protection Agency ranked North Perry fifth in the nation for airport lead emissions. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a little more than 12 miles from the neighborhood.

About 20 miles north of downtown Miami is the suburb of Hollywood, and on the western fringes of the city, bordering with Pembroke Pines, is the neighborhood of Boulevard Heights. This established area is close to Florida’s Turnpike toll road and within a few minutes of the sprawling Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and guitar-shaped 36-story hotel. “It’s a great starter home or second home area,” says John Lucka, broker associate with RE/MAX Select Group with nearly 50 years of experience. “It’s an affordable area, and there’s high turnover because the people who have bought a starter home here have a growing family, and they have moved on.” Homes in Boulevard Heights were built between the 1950s and ‘70s, and some have been given renovations because of their age. Some need a facelift. Most of the homes in this area are either sprawling ranch-style homes or what Lucka calls rectangular-shaped smaller ranch-style homes, with prices between $400,000 and $525,000, concrete block and stucco construction, and between 1,000 and 2,000 square feet of living space. Some of the homes have circular driveways. “With some of the older homes, it’s something that the homeowner has added later," Lucka says. "Another popular feature is converting a garage into an extra room. There’s no homeowners association here because the houses are older, and it gives the freedom to make renovations without restrictions.” The Boulevard Heights Community Center offers meeting rooms, an amphitheater and a playground. The center houses several senior wellness programs and hosts teen game nights, concerts in the park, and several fitness, dance, games, and craft classes. An amphitheater is behind the community center under an oak canopy. There is a large, grassy area for dancing to music acts but no seating. The Marti Huizenga Boys and Girls Club of Broward County is another community pillar, offering young people activities, programs and opportunities. The Generals Club Construction Program introduces teens to construction careers. The center provides services like SAT prep, career planning sessions, scholarship assistance, resume building and financial planning. The facility also includes a recreation room, cafeteria, basketball court and swimming pool. The sixth-largest school district in the nation, Broward County Public Schools, serves the Boulevard Heights community for those school-aged children whose parents opt for the public school system. Hollywood Park Elementary School is rated a B on Niche and has an intimate 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Apollo Middle School’s ratio is 21-to-1, with a B-minus overall grade. McArthur High School students can participate in the Service Learning Program, which provides an opportunity to volunteer at various nonprofit organizations. The school earns a B grade on Niche. From the very young who like to play on swing sets to daring teenagers who crave a daredevil experience, the parks in Boulevard Heights provide something for everyone. Fletcher Park includes ball fields, batting cages, a pavilion and a playground. Montella Park provides grills for cooking, picnic tables, a walking path and a playground. The Hollywood West Skate Park is located behind the Boulevard Heights Community Center and was designed with the help of local skaters. It features a large skate area with a half-pipe, rails and steps. West Hollywood Park has various athletic fields next to the skate park. Casa Borinquen is a family owned and operated Puerto Rican restaurant on Taft Street. One of its specialties is the Jibarito slider, made of flattened fried green plantains instead of bread and house sauce with either pork or chicken. The Tripleta is a mix of steak, pork and ham. La Carreta serves "abuela-style” food, like Cuban grandmothers would make. They’re also known for authentic Cuban espresso. Grocery shopping is convenient at one of two Publix locations. Broward County Transit bus lines have stops on major north/south routes like University Drive and 72nd Avenue and east/west thoroughfares like Johnson Street and Pines Boulevard. The light rail station for Tri-Rail at Hollywood is 5 miles to the east. The closest hospital is Memorial Hospital Pembroke. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport is about 15 miles away.

Centrally located near Miami and Fort Lauderdale Suburban life in Driftwood belies its centrally located spot on the map, with the Florida neighborhood sitting about half an hour away from major cities and attractions in each direction. With Fort Lauderdale to the north, Miami to the south, the sandy beaches of the coast to the east and the nationally-recognized wetlands of the Everglades to the west, residents of Driftwood retain their quiet residential atmosphere while staying close to what southern Florida has to offer. “I would say it’s definitely a growing area,” says Marta Yecora, a real estate broker and owner of Guardian Real Estate. “It’s becoming very popular among buyers from the Miami area because the lots are larger, there’s no association fees and people can get a really nice home very close to Hollywood Beach.” Ranch homes with vibrant exteriors Many of the homes sitting along the quiet streets and palm trees of Driftwood are ranch homes, almost exclusively single-level constructions primarily built in the 1950s and 1960s. A few are from the 1970s, and there’s the occasional newer home as well. Pools are often found on the properties, and fenced or gated yards are also popular; whether lining the front yard or, sometimes, just the backyard, that privacy is an added feature in the neighborhood. Find stone patios adorning the fronts of homes, and the colorful variety of exteriors make Driftwood’s topography vibrant and filled with character. Pricing rarely falls below $300,000, typically ranging between $450,000 and $550,000, and some larger homes, including those with Spanish-influenced styling, have sold for over $1 million. Highly-rated schooling Within Driftwood’s boundaries, two public schools serve the student population as part of the Broward County Public Schools district. Driftwood Elementary School receives a C-plus from Niche and hosts enrollment from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, while Driftwood Middle School is graded at a B-minus and is considered a magnet school. Hollywood Hills High School, serving grades nine through 12, is just a few minutes to the east of the neighborhood, off of Stirling Road. Receiving a C-plus rating with a student population of nearly 2,000, Hollywood Hills High offers athletics including football in the fall, boys’ and girls’ basketball in the winter and more. Outdoor opportunities await at a trio of parks Over at the Driftwood Community Center, a quadrant of baseball fields awaits those wanting to take to the diamond. Complete with a concession stand and close to other complex amenities like a pool, shaded playground, lighted courts for basketball and tennis and a lit track facility, the community center is the area’s preeminent athletic outlet. The community center itself offers classes and programs, as well as opportunities to rent out the building. On the west side of Driftwood, Seminole Park offers a pair of picnic shelters and a playground, while closer to Sheridan Street on the south side Bicentennial Park features a lighted trail, play system and half-court for pickup basketball games. Motorsports munches and hailed hoagies Grab a bite of local fame by visiting Sonny’s Famous Steak Hogies, featured on one of celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s programs, or plan an outing at one of two notable bar and grills just to the north of Driftwood. The Cage Bar and Grill’s logo is stylized like NASCAR’s branding and takes some design cues with stock car hoods and bumpers mounted on its walls, while Cloud 9 Lounge offers its patrons a sports-bar atmosphere along with karaoke and DJ nights. Chains include CVS and Wawa for various needs, and the Hollywood Palms Shopping Center features a Publix and the Flippers Cinema, which showcases the latest releases from the west coast’s version of Hollywood. Games, gaming and rocking out To the east, just across the neighborhood boundary and Florida’s Turnpike, a pair of guitars stand back-to-back and rise 450 feet into the air. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood features three hotel structures, including the guitar-shaped centerpiece, and offers a casino, pools and restaurants for its visitors. “The Hollywood Strip and beach boardwalk is a great area to be at for entertainment,” Yecora says. “The Hard Rock offers a lot of restaurants and entertainment, and there’s also stadiums with concerts and football. As far as entertainment, there’s plenty to do.” Hard Rock Stadium is about 15 minutes south of Driftwood, where the NFL’s Miami Dolphins play their home games. Drifting beyond Driftwood Centrally located, Driftwood is within an hour or less to major cities and features of its area of Florida in each cardinal direction. Fort Lauderdale is about half an hour to the north, while Miami is just over half an hour to the south. Hollywood Beach is just under 30 minutes to the east, meaning Driftwood residents are never far from the coastline, and access to the Everglades is about an hour or more southwest via Ronald Reagan Turnpike. The Shark Valley Visitor Center is the primary entrance closest to Driftwood, one of the entrances to the 1.5 million acres of wetlands on the Florida peninsula. “Driftwood’s central location is very beneficial,” Yecora says. “You can be at the beach in 30 minutes and it’s very close to the Hard Rock and restaurants. It’s kind of like it’s in the middle of a small city between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.”

As green and attractive as its name suggests, Emerald Hills provides the comfort and convenience of suburban-style living amid a picturesque setting in the heart of Hollywood. The Club at Emerald Hills, a top-rated South Florida golf course, winds its way through much of the neighborhood around an eclectic collection of housing in gated communities and traditional subdivision settings. “It’s a charming neighborhood with beautiful homes,” says Eileen Burns, an associate broker with Trans State Commercial Realty who has more than two decades of experience in the South Florida market. “You’ve got good schools, both public and private, plenty of restaurants and shops, and you’re close to the beach.” Known for its meticulously maintained rolling terrain, The Club at Emerald Hills’ 18-hole layout stretches for more than 7,800 yards, with water hazards and more than 40 bunkers providing a unique challenge. The course, which has made Golf Digest’s list of “Best Places to Play,” has hosted several qualifying events for major championships as well as local LPGA events. The semi-private club includes a full-service pro shop and practice facilities. Nature and recreation combine at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, known to locals as TY Park. It is anchored by a popular lagoon, and a seasonal water park is a featured attraction. Additional amenities include basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, a paved path for walkers and cyclists and a campground area. “It’s really an asset to the neighborhood,” Burns says. Emerald Hills also is conveniently located within 5 miles of the city’s oceanfront. Hollywood Beach stretches for several miles along the Atlantic Coast. Golf course homes are prominent, and much like the course itself are found throughout the neighborhood. Homes along a canal that runs through a portion of the neighborhood offer another high-value option. Several homes of differing sizes and styles can be found, typically priced from the mid-$500,000s to about $900,00. A collection of ranch-style homes on spacious, sidewalk-adjacent lots is generally priced between $1.1 million and $1.7 million. A few estate-style homes can be found in select locations, and they are priced between $2 million and $4 million. Condos and townhouses featuring resort-style amenities range in price from the low $200,000s to the high $600,000s. Monthly HOA fees range from $225 to $900-plus. While flooding is often an issue with Hollywood neighborhoods, Burns describes Emerald Hills as “high and dry,” meaning residents enjoy relative elevation and added protection during hurricane season. Stirling Elementary School and Hollywood Hills High School, both rated C-plus by Niche, are located in the neighborhood. Nearby Attucks Middle School is rated B-minus. Preschool and kindergarten students can attend Emerald Hills School, another neighborhood learning facility. Sheridan Hills Christian School and The Jewish Academy offer private K-12 alternatives. The former is built around Sheridan Hills Baptist Church, and the latter shares a campus with Temple Solel, one of two surrounding Jewish worship centers. “The neighborhood is within walking distance of the synagogues, which is paramount in Emerald Hills.” Retail stores and dining destinations are easily accessible. Publix anchors Sheridan Plaza, a retail center on the neighborhood’s south side that also features Kohl’s and Marshalls. Surrounding eateries include Asian, Latin and Greek options. Nearby specialty stores include KC Market, a Kosher grocery store, and Sedan’s Supermarkets. DiSalvo’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant and Aldi are convenient options on the neighborhood’s north side. Oakwood Plaza is a sprawling retail center less than a mile east of the neighborhood. Residents also have easy access to Memorial Regional Hospital, which is about 2 miles away in neighboring Hollywood Hills. The city of Hollywood organizes a variety of community events throughout the year, including celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day. As an oceanfront city, activities such as the Cardboard Boat Race and the Kids Fishing Tournament are also part of residents’ event calendar. Seasonal socials include the Spring Marshmallow Drop, an event hosted by the Boulevard Heights Community Center. The unique event culminates with 30,000 marshmallows being dropped from a helicopter into a crowd of excited children ready to collect them. Public transportation is also conveniently located. Broward County Transit buses run regularly along the roadways surrounding the neighborhood. Residents can walk to the Sheridan Street commuter rail station just outside the neighborhood. The rail line provides travel north to Fort Lauderdale and south to Miami, as does Interstate 95, which is located just blocks away. Sheridan Street, which forms the southern edge of the neighborhood, provides direct access to Hollywood Beach and the city’s famed oceanfront “Broadwalk.” Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is within 10 miles of the neighborhood.