Cosac will relocate its clients to a new location outside of Hollywood and deliver all the properties vacant. The City will resell the homes, demolish the shelter and arrange to the have the land redeveloped.
The Hollywood Commission will probably agree to purchase the COSAC property during the October 15 commission meeting tonight and will spend about $4.8 million on the entire deal. Commissioners seemed elated at yesterday’s workshop about the fact that the homeless shelter at 1203 North Federal Highway may soon be history. City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark said a contract has already been signed between the City and Cononie and now it awaits commission approval.
The City will obtain the money for the purchase from an arrangement with Margaritaville and from the sale of the property to developers. The homeless shelter, which is in poor condition will be demolished. “We want to develop this area. We are not turning our backs on the homeless but this is not a good place for a homeless shelter,” said City Manager Cathy Swanson-Rivenbark.
Over the years, Cononie’s homeless shelter has drawn complaints from area businesses and residents. Business owners have complained that the homeless visiting and living at the shelter make customers uncomfortable and residents have complained that the shelter hurts the image of the area.
The date of the final closing will be around April 15, 2015. The transaction will include eight parcels of land including the homeless shelter at 1203 Federal Highway and two timeshares. The homeless shelter is valued at $1,200,000. The total purchase price for all the parcels is $2,521,800.
The Post Closing Agreement is for $2,298,200. Cononie cannot provide any kind of shelter short or long term including mass feedings. He is allowed to provide emergency transport in a state of emergency or Broward cold weather.
The City of Hollywood has hired Laurie Ann Walton to serve as the coordinator for the City’s efforts to help the homeless.