HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A quiet residential street in Hollywood has become the center of a growing controversy as plans to tear down a home and replace it with a religious bathhouse face fierce opposition from neighbors.
The property at 1434 Monroe St. is currently a two-bedroom, two-bathroom single-family home built in 1949.
The plan is to demolish it and construct a modern Jewish mikvah, a ritual bath facility traditionally used for spiritual purification. While mikvahs are not new to Orthodox Jewish communities, residents say the location and secrecy surrounding the project have created deep concerns.
Michelle Lopate, who has lived in the neighborhood for three decades, helped launch a petition opposing the project. It has gathered more than 260 signatures so far.
“I am opposed to any non-residential intrusion,” Lopate said. “It looks like a doctor’s office, basically. And I think that’s wrong. That’s not what we want in our community.”
Rachel Mazer, a board member of the Hollywood Lakes Civic Association, described the location as completely inappropriate.
“This location is like the worst place you could do this in the neighborhood,” Mazer said. “It was not designed for heavy traffic and lots of parking. Everyone’s horrified. It just doesn’t belong here.”
The proposed building would include several small rooms and private bathing areas. Residents fear increased traffic, safety issues, and a lack of transparency.
Attorney and 25-year resident Adam Trop said he attended a Zoom meeting with the mikvah board and the property’s owner, but left with few answers.
“I had questions about how many people they anticipate would be using the mikvah,” Trop said. “How many people would be parking there? They claim to have no idea. You know, they’re talking about building a parking lot in the back.”
Residents also expressed frustration with city officials, who they feel are either unable or unwilling to challenge the project due to federal protections for religious land use.
In a written statement, the Hollywood Lakes Community Mikvah board said the facility is not a commercial operation and would be used for only a few hours each day by a limited number of people.
The statement added, “While there has been some misinformation, we remain focused on transparency, community engagement, and building a project that reflects both legal compliance and shared values.”
The board declined to elaborate on what it considered misinformation and did not agree to an on-camera interview.
Local 10 Investigates has documented similar religious facilities quietly operating in other parts of the city. Many are located in converted homes on residential streets. Some serve large congregations and have led to complaints about parking issues, noise, blocked swales, and general disruption.
Despite the concerns, local governments have limited power to stop religious groups from operating in residential areas. Under the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, cities cannot impose zoning restrictions that create a “substantial burden” on religious exercise.
The law supersedes many local zoning codes and has led to expensive legal settlements for municipalities that attempt to deny religious applications.
Hollywood knows this all too well. In 2006, the city paid $2 million to settle a lawsuit over its denial of a property to a religious group.
Many of the homes don’t meet fire codes or Americans with Disabilities Act standards, yet remain protected and often tax-exempt.
In fact, property records found nearly $700,000 in lost property tax revenue from homes in Hollywood that have been reclassified for religious exemption.
Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy acknowledged the tension between religious freedom and neighborhood quality of life.
“It is a touchy issue. There is a freedom of worship,” Levy previously told Local 10. “We can accept federal law as it is, or we can complain about it. If it’s allowed, and if people are law-abiding and just looking to worship, then we have to accept things as they are and embrace our community.”
Levy added, “We are one of the largest cities for Orthodox Jewish people, so if people don’t like the synagogues, get ready for more.”
Some residents who oppose the mikvah said they’ve been accused of being antisemitic simply for raising concerns.
“That really upsets me, especially because I’m Jewish,” said Mazer.
Trop and Lopate also identify as Jewish.
“It’s about what’s right or wrong,” Mazer added.
Residents say they want more clarity and a voice in the process.
“No say,” Lopate said, when asked if the public has had any influence.
“Let the public be involved in this,” Trop added.
“Where does it end?” asked Mazer.
Although zoning laws are supposed to protect residential neighborhoods from commercial-style development, federal law may ultimately decide the outcome.
For now, the neighborhood on Monroe Street remains divided: by faith, law and what many feel is a lack of transparency.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
