Developer, Officials Hope to Revitalize Struggling Section of Hallandale Beach
Even with the condo market booming and units popping up around the coast in Hallandale Beach, the Northwest section of the city has lagged behind.
According to the Miami Herald, new construction hasn’t happened in the historically black neighborhood, which continues to struggle despite the state’s overall economic prosperity.
But on Wednesday, a South Florida real estate developer will ask the city to allow a new project for the east end of Foster Road, one that some officials and residents hope will breathe new life into the neighborhood.
“I feel good some changes are about to take place on that part of town,” said John Hardwick, a community activist who owns a barbershop on Foster Road.
Hardwick hopes that projects like the Dixie Foster Townhomes proposed at 25 Foster Rd. will help “bring in some beautification in that area.”
Global Development LLC wants to build 17 townhomes on a vacant lot just west of Dixie Highway, next to city-owned land.
The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath units would rise amid a stretch of single-story homes and a few apartment buildings. Each townhome would have a two-car garage, and prices would likely start around $325,000, said Daniel Sawicki, a manager at the development company.
“This will be the first real development of the Northwest section in years,” Vice Mayor Bill Julian said. “It’s something we really need. I believe this will be the catalyst that will start the domino effect of businesses and developers taking a second look at Foster Road.”
On Wednesday, the commissioners will take an initial vote on building permits and other approvals for the affordable housing project.
In the past few years, the city has worked to spruce up the area, shutting down drug-infested apartments and spending on drainage improvements and repaving to allow new development. The city also has bought land it hopes to develop with multi-use zoning along Foster Road.
“We want to see affordable housing where people can live on Foster Road,” Julian said. “I want to see some light businesses. They definitely need a produce market and grocery store in that area.”
But lifelong resident Angie Glass doesn’t want to see more multi-family homes.
“We have enough homes. We need some protection. We need some security. They have all of that across the tracks. They have everything they ask for, and we pay the property tax bills and we’re left holding the bag,” she said.
Paying a Florida mortgage might be hard, but some Hallandale residents have even more important things to worry about. Some want a police substation to help cut down on crime, a small post office, and a community pool.
Julian said a study about two years ago indicated the city did not have the manpower or the money to run a police substation.
“We might be able to take another look at it in the future,” he said.
