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Margate CRA Update
• New development hostage to down economy
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Friday,
January 23, 2009
Quite a few residents are asking, “What’s going on with all those stores at the end of Margate Boulevard? Is the town doing anything?”
Yes, town officials and Margate Community Redevelopment Agency (MCRA), a quasi-government within the City of Margate, are doing something, but plans have changed alongside the economy. The city will eventually demolish the three plazas and bring storefronts street-side, but new development across Florida and the nation is stalled. Projects like Margate’s CRA are standing idle in cities and towns across America.
How long will it be before the tall cypress at the rear of the old Swap Shop come down for a burgeoning waterfront with boutiques and restaurants? How long before
street vendors, hot-dog carts and Segways plague Margate’s downtown district?
It’s anybody’s guess. Every economist has their own spin – could be two years; could be ten. The new President seems determined to inject the national economy with billions of dollars for public works projects and, if Margate officials put their minds to it, they can lobby for some of Broward County’s Wish List money, earmarked from Obama’s $800 billion stimulus.
In the meantime, the Margate CRA and Chamber of Commerce are working hard to put together events for residents and visitors. The Green Market starts Sunday, the 25th, and the Margate Street Festival is in February, featuring the Fabulons, antique cars and the Harley Davidson Drill team. There’ll be vendors, food and lots of fun stuff for the kids.
Are some Margate residents fed up with what appears to be a stalled CRA project that even when the economy was good went nowhere?
Yes.
But truth be told; urban development like Margate’s Town Center Project happen over decades, not years. They often take nearly half a lifetime to nurture. In fact, many of us will move away or pass before Margate’s downtown comes to fruition.
The town has sent out to developers what is known as a ‘Request For Qualifications’ or RFQ. This document outlines what Margate officials want from a developer in rough terms of density, design and overall vision. This document is sent to interested developers through appropriate channels with the hopes that one or more will take interest. Initially, a few developers responded, but never came to the table for seconds.
Now we wait. City and CRA officials came back from a Las Vegas convention empty-handed – but with some leads. Time will tell.
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Copyright 2009 Cassius Group Inc.
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