View Larger Map

Available September 1. This has been reduced to $1,350, ALL UTILITIES PAID! The current residents have kept the place in fine condition, but they are moving on, so I am looking for some nice, stable people with good references to move into this great old house.

The house is a renovated two-bedroom, two-bath Hollywood home. The neighborhood is Parkside, which adjoins the south side of the Arts District downtown. I refinished the original oak (not laminate) floors, and I laid tile in both bathrooms, the kitchen, and the Florida room. The whole place has good paint inside, and it has a nice, strong central air conditioning system.

The laundry room is in the separate cottage in back, and it has a new Kenmore washer and dryer. The refrigerator is a big side-by-side with filtered ice and water in the door. There's also a Pur water filter on the tap, and there's a Whirlpool dishwasher.

The house was built in 1945, and the deco detail in the house and on the facade makes this a fun, retro place. After sitting on the tile front porch, you walk through the front door straight into the classic old South Florida lifestyle. Inside, you'll notice the tile window sills and the old tile work in the kitchen and bathrooms. Also, the deco curves of the fireplace are an interesting focal point for the livingroom. There is also a dining room and a Florida room with tile floors.

One bathroom is small, but it has a fully tiled shower and the entrance is actually inside the bedroom, so it is completely private. The other bathroom is quite large, with tile floors and walls.

This is old Hollywood living, and a three or four-minute stroll puts you in the middle of all the restaurants, shops, and events on Harrison Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood's historic, revitalized downtown. Look how close it is. Frequent performances in Young Circle make it always easy to find something new to do without ever getting in the car. Visit the singing tree, the fountains, the landscaped gardens, the new performing arts center, and the interactive water features of Young Circle's Artspark. Another thing you can do while avoiding the traffic altogether is shop at Publix on Young Circle, and the Walgreen's is right next door to the Publix. Palm Paint and Hardware is also right out the back door and a quick cut through the alley.

When you do drive, the house has off-street parking for two cars.

Oh, and the beach! The beach is a pretty good walk, but by car it's only five or ten minutes to sand between your toes. Hollywood beach is known for its white sand and sparkling blue-green water. If you haven't seen all the renovations down on the broad walk, you definitely need to have a look at how nice it has become.

Maybe a couple of neutered cats would be okay if they aren't destructive, but I think a dog would probably scratch up the wooden floors.You will have a front and back yard to enjoy, and I would love it if you would take an interest in caring for the plants and trees should there be a dry spell. Joe, the tenant in the cottage in back, deals with the lawn guy, but someone will need to water the plants and trees if they start to shrivel up, but that's about all you need to do. Feel free to start an herb garden. The previous tenants already cleared a patch for it. I am open to your planting your own plants, too, if you take an interest. After all, you'll be renting a real home, not a condo! Might as well enjoy the yards. The back yard has a large shade tree, and the breeze tends to be very nice back there. The tree suffered some major damage in the hurricane, and is in decline, but I think it is going to make it. Just in case, though, I have already planted a mango tree back there to take up the slack should the wild tamarind tree die. The tenants say the mango is already bearing. By the way, there are easy-to-hang hurricane panels, and the house is a solid, masonry fortress in a storm with a gas stove, which is good in the event of a hurricane that knocks out the electricity. The roof is only three years old.

As far as repairs go, you will pay the first $100, and I will pick up the rest. However, if you check with me first and save the receipts for any parts needed for do-it-yourself repairs, I will reimburse for all parts and materials. This policy is to encourage you to do simple repairs yourself instead of calling in a professional, which always costs me hundreds if not thousands of dollars. I will be living out-of-state, and will not be able to come over and fix things myself. It would just be better for all concerned if you would, for instance, take it upon yourself to do things like replace a toilet float if one wears out because it is a simple job that would cost a lot for a plumber to come out and do it. I encourage you to talk to the previous tenants and find out all about the place and their experiences with me. They will still be there during August, and will be glad to show you the house and talk with you about it.

The next-door neighbors are very cool, and I hope to find tenants who can add to the easy relationship we have all developed in the neighborhood. Joe (at left), a Navy veteran in the back cottage, is a housekeeper who feeds the neighborhood cats, suns himself in the afternoon, keeps a successful running vendetta against the local noisy parrots and mockingbirds, watches football, and is in for the night by sundown. Because you would be sharing the laundry room in the cottage, you would only be able to use it in the daytime so as not to disturb Joe. The house and cottage on the west side are owned by a retired Hollywood police officer and are home to his family members who are creative people.

This is a comfortable, healthy place for you to live, and I will not intrude on your privacy. I will be looking for tenants who will show respect toward the property and be nice to the wonderful neighbors in return.

I prefer to rent the house with ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED for $1,350 monthly for two occupants. If there will be more than two occupants, another $50 per month per person should cover it. When you move in, you'll pay first and last month's rent, plus a $1,375 security deposit. If you are interested, please call Lisa Kennedy, the realtor who will be showing the house for me, at 954-815-4024 or email her at lisakennedy137 at gmail dot com. Thanks!

p.s. Hard partiers, druggies, criminals, and inconsiderate loud music blasters will be happier elsewhere.