HOLLYWOOD – A slew of construction projects on the Hollywood Reservation have begun to form a new and growing center of the community.

Generally referred to as Seminole Estates, bounded by State Road 7 to the east, Florida’s Turnpike to the west, Stirling Road to the north, and near the area of Sheridan Street to the south, it now includes new and existing homes to its east and west. The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is to the north and the rodeo arena and 4-H complex make up its southern end.

One of Seminole Estates most recent significant projects (completed in 2020) is the Betty Mae Jumper Medical Center, which relocated and expanded the reservation’s health care services. Since then, there have been several other notable projects in the planning and construction stages, including a new recreation center, preschool, senior center and tribal headquarters.

“We’re bringing the new amenities to the middle of the reservation,” Derek Koger, the executive director of Tribal Community Development (TCD), said.

Koger said the plan for a new tribal headquarters is in the consultation phase with Tribal Council in order to first determine who the architects would be.

“What the Council wants is for this to be the Seminole Tribe’s flagship office building across from the Hard Rock,” Koger said. “It will be something that screams Seminole Tribe.”

The new headquarters would be located south of the Seminole Classic Casino and new senior center.

Koger said the tribe has outgrown its current headquarters, which is more than 30 years old. The current headquarters at 6300 Stirling Road would eventually be demolished to make way for additional homes, he said.

Koger and Fabian Lefler, director of community planning and development at TCD, said they’re preparing a questionnaire for all the tribe’s executive departments to help identify what office space would be needed in the future, before any design plans are drawn up.

“It’s definitely going to be an exciting project that the Council will elicit community feedback on,” Koger said. “These facilities that we build will be here longer than any of us.”

Set to surround the medical center is a new preschool, senior center, recreation center and skate park. Lefler said the new recreation center plans are under consideration by Tribal Council. It would be a state-of-the-art facility that’s double the size of the existing center. Meanwhile, the preschool is in the first phases of construction just east of the medical center, and the senior center would be located adjacent to the preschool.

Residential projects continue to move along as well. Koger said the first phases of the Seminole Park single-family homes and townhomes have been completed. Phase three – the Townhomes at RV Hideaway – would add 29 homes and a playground. In addition, the former Eight Clans Estates buildings have been demolished to make way for 18 new townhomes with a playground and additional parking for the cemetery. Finally, Koger said the Priscilla Sayen Way apartments (16 three and four-bedroom units) are in the final inspection phase and he expects residents to start moving in sometime in September.

Brighton

The Brighton Reservation has seen perhaps more new construction in recent months than any other community. In addition to the Flowing Well residential community – with 30 single-family homes and 40 rental homes – commercial projects underway include the new Seminole Casino Hotel Brighton and a complex that will host a new Boys & Girls Club, library and community cultural center. New Pemayetv Emahakv Charter School immersion program buildings opened in August.

Koger said more phases of homebuilding are in the pipeline, including a new playground in the Knots Landing neighborhood.

On the commercial end, the community can expect to see ground break in the near future on a new preschool, an upgraded skate park, and a new health clinic.

Big Cypress

One of the biggest projects on the Big Cypress Reservation that is nearing its final phases is the massive expansion of the Ahfachkee School. Other commercial projects in different phases of development include a new preschool and playground, senior center and a recreation center.

The Groves residential development, with 57 rental homes, is under construction with some homes complete, Koger said. The neighborhood is similar to that of the Mabel T. Frank residential development.

Immokalee

The Immokalee Reservation can expect a new recreation center to break ground in January 2024, and to host a ribbon cutting for a new public safety building in about six months, Koger said.

In addition, a new health clinic similar to the one in Big Cypress is in the pipeline.

Lakeland

Koger said a groundbreaking for the new Lakeland Community Center will likely happen toward the end of September.

“This is going to be an amazing amenity to the community,” he said.

In addition, the Lakeland Reservation’s first phase of 46 homes are occupied, and Koger said phase two will feature 26 homes for sale and rent.

Fort Pierce

On the Fort Pierce Reservation, the community’s new playground, located adjacent to its community center is almost complete.

Trail community

Construction of a new building that will serve as a government center, community center and hurricane shelter for the Trail community is still in work. Located at 57257 Tamiami Trail in Ochopee, Lefler said the project is still moving through environmental permitting and it could be another year or year and a half until ground breaks for construction.

For more, go to tcd.semtribe.com.