Hollywood officials selected a team led by local developers Ari Pearl and Chip Abele to renovate a city-owned golf course and build commercial development on part of the land.

The City Commission voted 4-3 on March 1 to rank GCF Development and PPG Development, led by Abele and Pearl, respectively, as the top bidder for the project. Maitland-based E2L Real Estate Solutions was ranked second and Jupiter-based Ernie Els Group was ranked third.

“Our passion is the golf,” Pearl said. “We can build residential buildings anywhere. The golf is what makes this project exciting.”

The Orangebrook course is located at 400 Entrada Drive, on the west side of Interstate 95 just north of Pembroke Road. A city vote previously approved a general obligation bond to renovate the course, but Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said the cost to renovate the course greatly exceeded the amount of the $24.7 million bond.

In July 2020, the city received an unsolicited offer from Green Lynx LLC to renovate Orangebrook in exchange for building a hotel. That triggered a bidding process for a public private partnership (P3) for the property. CBRE helped the city reach out to bidders.

Instead of tapping into a taxpayer-funded bond, the city would have a developer fully fund the golf course renovation in exchange for the city leasing a portion of the course for development for 99 years.

The GCF Development/PPG Development proposal calls for two full-size 18-hole courses, a 34,000-square-foot clubhouse with a restaurant, a pro shop, a fitness facility and a banquet hall, a lighted nine-hole practice course, and a driving range. It would lease 5 to 7 acres to build 750 apartments in three 26-story towers and a 175-room hotel, including 100 units of workforce housing. The financial terms call for a 50/50 split of the profits from the golf course and clubhouse with the city.

Their team includes Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design, golf course designer Rees Jones, Accor Hotel, ClubCorp for golf, GT McDonald for commercial construction and QGS for golf course construction.

“We have a completely local team,” Pearl said. “Our environmental engineers have done over 30 course courses in Florida.”

Pearl is currently leading renovations to the Diplomat Golf & Tennis Club in Hallandale Beach, where is recently completed a 26-story apartment tower. Abele has developed in Hollywood for years, including the Circ Residences at Young Circle.