Lisa Liotta, development officer for the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency, presented the Lead with Love mosaic proposal at the CRA meeting Thursday, Oct. 9. The project pairs the national Lead with Love mural program, run by Business for the Arts Broward, with a mosaic installation on the east elevation of the Hollywood Beach band shell. The artist attached to the project is Say Adams; Business for the Arts provided partial underwriting for Adams’ participation.

The mural design proposed for the band shell’s east wall covers roughly 720 square feet of the wall’s approximately 833 square-foot east elevation, Liotta said. The CRA has identified a mosaic installer and negotiated what staff described as a “very good price” of about $50,000 for installation; Business for the Arts is covering a portion of Say Adams’ fee so the artist’s program fee to the CRA is $10,000. Liotta told the board the CR A would use vitreous glass tile for resiliency in sunlight and salt exposure.

Board members pushed staff and the artist to expand the work beyond the single east wall. Vice Chair Quintana, Board member Biederman, and others asked staff to “wrap” the colors and design forward around the front and to the north and south angled panels so pedestrians on the Broadwalk and visitors approaching from the west could see the artwork. Liotta and other CRA staff said they will direct the artist to consider extending the design and will return with cost and procurement options; staff also said the work could proceed in phases so the back wall installation could begin on the current rendering while the team develops a future-phase scope for the front and sides.

Board members raised technical and maintenance issues. Board member Biederman and others asked staff to confirm the structural soundness of the stucco and stair areas before installation and to ensure the masonry/stucco is prepared for long-lived tile. Burkhart and city staff reported prior restoration work on the band shell; staff said the mosaic installer has visited the site and will confirm substrate readiness at contract stage.

Board members also discussed lighting, finishing for doors and finishes that cannot be mosaicked, and the potential for a narrow “bleed” of painted color where mosaic fabrication is impractical (stairs, pipes, door surfaces). Susan Goldberg, deputy director of the CRA, said areas that could sustain damage (for example stairs) will be painted in matching hues while the mosaic will be used where feasible. Board members asked staff to explore UV-rated polycarbonate or acrylic panels for door surfaces to reproduce the “glass” look in renderings.

Timing: Liotta said that if the board approves the design as presented, the mosaic artist and installer could begin production in December. Board members asked staff to return with a package including cost estimates, a wraparound design option and procurement/logistics plans. The board directed staff to move forward quickly and to present updated designs and phasing back to the CRA for formal authorization.

Board members asked the artist and staff to standardize the mural identification text. The board chose the copy “Hollywood Beach, Florida” to appear on the mural. CRA staff said they would keep the initial backside installation on the current December timeline and pursue any wraparound work as a second phase so the first installation is not delayed.

The board’s discussion emphasized durability and visibility: mosaics of vitreous glass were selected for longevity in sun and salt, and the board pushed to carry the bold palette onto the front and sides of the band shell where feasible. Staff will return with costed options, a procurement path and a recommended phasing plan for board approval.

Ending

CRA staff will return with a design-and-cost package that includes the wraparound options for the band shell’s front and sides, an assessment of substrate repair needs, and a recommended procurement and phasing schedule. The board encouraged staff to move quickly to preserve the installation window and to coordinate finish materials for areas where mosaics are not practical.