Publix, where shopping is a pleasure for boaters? Mayor teases a waterfront market
The only surprising thing about having a Publix supermarket on the water in South Florida, with a boat dock and outdoor cafe tables, is why didn’t they think of it sooner?
According to Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy, this scenario may be reality within two years.
Levy posted on his Facebook page on Thursday that the Florida grocery giant proposes to build a new store on the Intracoastal side of south Hollywood beach “on an empty parking lot just north of the Diplomat, across from Ocean Palms.”
Theoretically, the new three-story building would boast cafe tables on Ocean Drive in the 3100 block and a boat dock that would allow “boaters to pull up and buy groceries for their day on the water,” Levy said.
He called it a “great amenity for the beach and for Hollywood boaters!”
So far, the Lakeland-based chain is being mum. But according to the Sun Sentinel, plans for the waterfront Publix are expected to go before Hollywood’s Technical Advisory Committee for zoning review in December, followed by the Planning and Development Board for a recommendation to the Hollywood City Commission.
The city’s planning staff is focused on the potential store’s design, Levy said in his post. Boat docks are also not a certainty as some nearby condo residents may oppose their inclusion.
Still, if Levy is excited, so, too, seem to be some of the residents who posted more than 105 comments and shared his post more than 100 times as of Saturday morning.
“So cool the boat dock! I don’t have a boat, but it’s a nice touch for boaters,” read one comment.
“Can go from Holland Park to Publix to shop. Wow in my boat! Can’t Wait! That will definitely help during the season,” read another.
Numerous residents also called for Publix to incorporate “green infrastructure” to deal with issues such as flooding and sea rise. Some ideas included the addition of rain gardens and tree boxes to collect water.
“Our green building ordinance applies to new projects such as this,” Levy responded on his Facebook thread.