Moving to Hollywood Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale: salons, apartment, city hall) - (FL) -Broward County - City-Data Forum

radaz25 · 04-16-2010, 01:16 PM

My boyfriend recently got a job in Fort Lauderdale. We found a place to live in Hollywood, Fl for $850/month. We both lived and worked in Chicago. I've read several threads that Hollywood is "rough". I'm wondering how rough is rough, considering we both lived in a big city.
I appreciate any native floridians insights on living in Hollywood FL and/or working in Fort Lauderdale Area.

Thank you

fauve · 04-16-2010, 01:52 PM

Where in Hollywood did you rent? Considering your from Chicago, I'm sure you'll not find any area of Hollywood very rough. Sketchy maybe, but not rough.

hollyinhollywood · 04-16-2010, 02:42 PM

It's hard to explain the bad areas, because there are so many pockets of good/bad areas. Generally, 16th ave and east is good. I lived right on 17th and Fletcher, and it's very sketchy. I found that moving north of Johnson and east of 16th ave has been a huge difference. When I was at that address on 17th, I had a constant stream of questionable people knocking on my doors wanting to wash my car, and my neighbor's house was broken into while I was making coffee.

It's not so much rough as seedy and transient, with US1 south of Johnson being especially grimy. Understand that there are numerous halfway houses and methadone clinics in that area, and that many different municipalities do or used to dump homeless and mentally ill people in Hollywood for many years, so there are going to be some interesting people, to say the least.

I have lived here since 1987, and have had two break ins. Both areas were pretty seedy, I lived alone, and both times the doors didn't have dead bolts. I had noticed being watched in both cases, which hasn't happened in a long time.

I would say don't go out late at night unless you go to well populated areas, and keep your doors and windows locked, and you should be fine. Having a dog helps a lot, too. Be aware of your surroundings and the people in them.

radaz25 · 04-16-2010, 04:40 PM

We are renting at Taft/27th Ave. We found the place online and haven't visited the Area yet, but are looking forward to seeing the area.

JimboUSMC17 · 04-16-2010, 04:48 PM

Well that is not really a bad area. Actullly a lot of shopping centers and things of that nature. But I think that is more like the Pasadena area if I'm not mistaken which is in Pembroke Pines.

hollyinhollywood · 04-16-2010, 04:50 PM

That's not a bad area. My friend has a really nice little house there on a canal. It seems pretty quiet, and is close to Hollywood Hills. If you need a Gym, the Y is about a half mile west of you on Taft. It's pretty centrally located, and the worst elements in Hollywood are to the southeast of you, not close at all.

27th is right next to 95, but there is no entrance, so traffice there is sparse. If you are back off the street, many of the houses are on canals.

radaz25 · 04-16-2010, 04:51 PM

Yes, its located next to I-95, which I read lots of bad reviews for the area from West of US-1 to East of I-95. But on google earth streetview, it doesnt look like a run down area, but I might be mistaken.

radaz25 · 04-16-2010, 04:57 PM

Great, this puts my mind at ease. Thank you all for the wonderful information.

hollyinhollywood · 04-17-2010, 11:45 AM

That's sort of a general rule for Hollywood, (west of us1, east of 95 being undesirerable), but I find that mainly applies to Johnson st and south. The neighborhood you are going to be in has small, older houses, but it's not run down, and many of the side streets dead end at the canals, so there isn't much traffic. Taft and 24th is a little rundown, but it's not as bad as the streets south. You are too far west for the homeless spillover from US1, so I don't think you'll have problems in that area. I looked at an apartment at Isle of Venice right in your area, and would have been comfortable living there alone, but they did not take dogs at the time. I took a place on Dewey and US1, and lived there for four years with no problem, and that's a far worse area.

Hollywood is an odd place, which you will either love or hate. If you like it, it's a fun place to live. We have the best beach in S.Florida, because the businesses are right on the beach, not across the street like Miami Beach and Ft Lauderdale. Plenty of good and ethnically diverse restaurants, and easy access to other places. As seedy as Hollywood can be (You really are north of the worst of it, too), it feels like a little city, unlike the western suburbs. I think you'll enjoy living here. There's a lot to do, and I find the people to be funky and friendly.

jasmin4200 · 04-20-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radaz25

My boyfriend recently got a job in Fort Lauderdale. We found a place to live in Hollywood, Fl for $850/month. We both lived and worked in Chicago. I've read several threads that Hollywood is "rough". I'm wondering how rough is rough, considering we both lived in a big city.
I appreciate any native floridians insights on living in Hollywood FL and/or working in Fort Lauderdale Area.

Thank you

Dear radaz25,
I am from Chicago also, older I suspect, different generation, but look up and forward and I believe that you will be content in this particular area. I lived in many sections of Chicago(not the suburbs) and was safe in Uptown, Newtown, Lake Meadows growing up , U of C Hyde Park where I went to highschool--back in the day...I live in Hollywood, and am very content with my area, and I live about two miles WEST of 95. Where I live is about five to seven miles south and west from where you intend to move...My area is Hillcrest, on the golf course-two blocks from Memorial South Hospital, About one and a half miles from the Police Station; about 1/2 mile west of that is our fire department and city hall....(although I am not a golfer). You will not have a problem going a hop skip and jump north of taft to sheridan or south of taft to hollywood blvd to get on 95. There is a publix near your intended address, target's...cvs drug store... from there it is mabe a 15 minute drive to the beautiful Hollywood Beach, via the small downtown hollywood business, restaurants, salons, and a nice arts park...Hollywood area kind of weaves in and out of sketchy to comfortable....the area west of 95 that you have been warned about is not what you think....I would say going west from 95...it may decline in class and beauty...but this is not a "bad" area...just try to stay east of SR 441...This is not Lincoln Park, but it can become YOUR Lincoln Park; you should soon be able to feel a sense of community and pride in this area....all the best.