http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/ City Center Copyright � 2008-2011 MargateNews.net All Rights Reserved Solupress News - www.solupress.com http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article1015.asp It�s been a long hard road for Margate community redevelopment. Fifteen years to be exact, half the life of the Margate CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency), the quasi-governmental taxing district formed in 1997 to address blight and commercial disinvestment in the city. The MCRA owns 44 acres of strip malls and green space at the eastern end of Margate Blvd and 441, better known as the �City Center.� The Agency�s Redevelopment Plan was updated in 2001, and then again in 2007 and 2009. The MCRA came close last year to signing a contract with a developer to begin construction of the proposed City Center, but Agency officials and developers didn�t see eye to eye and [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article912.asp[linkclose]severed ties[/linkend] after months of give and take. At their January meeting, MCRA officials decided to set a date to revisit the City Center vision; solicit input from business leaders and the public and formulate a new course of action. �Things have changed from the beginning until now,� said Margate Commissioner, David McLean. �We have to go back to the drawing board.� [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article1015.asp [linkclose]Read more�[/linkend] __________________________________________http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article777.asp A resident living across the street from Discount Liquors in Downtown Margate hurled a caf� table through the front door of the store early Monday morning circa 3 am. The resident stole rum, soda and cigarettes. The medium-height, stocky white male was caught on tape. [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article777.asp [linkclose]Read more�[/linkend] __________________________________________http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article396.asp Margate celebrates its 55th birthday on May 30, 2010. [italic][bold]Happy birthday one and all![/bold][/italic] Nicknamed �the City that Jack Built� after Margate�s founding financier, Jack Marquesee, the name also applied to the city�s original �Builder of Margate,� Jack Sullivan, as acknowledged by Margate Commissioner David McLean at last week�s city commission meeting. [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article396.asp [linkclose]Click here to read more.[/linkend] __________________________________________http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article114.asp Readers have been emailing MargateNews.net regarding the demolition of the old Dollar General Plaza. Here are some answers: 1. The demolition project wasn�t sent out to bid, but according to state and local laws, CRAs (Community Redevelopment Agencies) and city governments can secure services without utilizing the bidding process provided they follow proper procedures in determining the �like� to �like� nature of the work and leave a clear and concise paper trail of procurement. [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article114.asp [linkclose]Click here to read more.[/linkend] __________________________________________ http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article106.asp A prototype of what may be the bus shelter of the future in Margate was recently erected at the intersection of State Road 7 and Coconut Creek Parkway at a cost of $40,000. This prototype shelter was paid for by a grant received by the Margate Community Development Agency (MCRA). It�s similar to shelters in Lauderdale Lakes and Lauderhill and built by the same contractor: Coastal Contracting & Development. The MCRA is considering building 11 more. If they do, the contract will be sent out to bid, said MCRA Executive Director, Frank Porcella at a recent city meeting. [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article106.asp [linkclose]Click here to read more.[/linkend] [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/sections/section16.asp[linkclose] Reader Opinion[/linkend] __________________________________________http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article85.asp For all you freshwater fishing fanatics out there, Lloyd Fox recently moved his bait shop from Southgate Boulevard to the Margate City Center in the Ace Hardware plaza. His rods and reels are priced competitively and the majority of his tackle cost less than Bass Pro Shops. Lloyd doesn't have much competition, as the two closest bait shops are at Andrews and Prospect, and Flamingo and 595. [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article85.asp [linkclose]Click here to read more.[/linkend] __________________________________________http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article70.asp It�s easy to forget about the war. It�s not happening in your backyard and you read more about sports scores and weather everyday than you do about American men and women dying in the name of freedom. You wish it weren�t true, but it is and somebody has to do it. What amounts to the largest call up in Florida State history, 4,000 National Guard troops prepare to ship off to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, uprooting thousands of American families and throwing mothers, fathers, cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters into the line of fire, as in recent days more than 150 people have been killed in Iraq, many of whom were praying or standing in line for food. [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article70.asp [linkclose]Click here to read more.[/linkend] __________________________________________http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article60.asp Margate business owner, Thomas Sharkey, was stabbed in the back coming out of the Pair of Jacks Pub 441 on State Road 7 early Thursday morning. Sharkey told police he was attacked outside the pub and as he subdued his attacker, two unidentified men came from the bar, beat him, kicked him and stabbed him in the right upper shoulder, according to a Margate Police report. The object used to stab Sharkey is unidentified in the report. [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article60.asp[linkclose]Click here to read more.[/linkend] __________________________________________http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article42.asp Business owners in downtown Margate�s Ace Hardware plaza have requested that their landlord, the Margate Community Redevelopment Agency, erect a road sign for their plaza at the intersection of State Road 7 and Margate Boulevard to generate more public exposure for their businesses. [linkstart href=http://www.margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article42.asp[linkclose]Click here to read more.[/linkend] __________________________________________