The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency on March 12 authorized staff to enter negotiations with Brookfield Properties to develop the Margate City Center, voting 5-0 to move the project forward to a developer agreement stage.

The vote authorizes staff to negotiate a development agreement and long-term ground lease with Brookfield; the agreement and any proposed terms will be returned to the CRA board for approval. Chair Casciano cast the deciding recorded “yes” alongside Board Members Schwartz, Serio, Simone and Vice Chair Rosano.

Colliers International, which the city retained to solicit and evaluate proposals, presented a summary of three finalist teams: Brookfield Properties, The Michaels Organization, and Related Group. Colliers representatives Brooke Mosier and Mark Rubin told the board they had received six initial responses, shortlisted three firms, and had since organized site tours and one-on-one meetings to help the CRA compare programs and financial scenarios. Colliers staff emphasized the proposals were preliminary and that final program, design and financial terms would be developed in negotiation with the selected partner.

Representatives of Related Group, The Michaels Organization and Brookfield each addressed the board. Related’s Matt Flowers described a revised submission that he said responded to board feedback and offered flexibility on structure and revenue sharing. Michaels’ Jamie Hancock said the firm could serve as a master developer with or without residential on the east side and noted its financial package was submitted after the Colliers deadline. Brookfield’s Frank Frelichardi emphasized flexibility and experience executing mixed-use centers and said Brookfield could expand retail and food-and-beverage programming on the site if the board desired.

Board members pressed developers on likely program size, phasing, revenue sharing and how the project would address traffic and pedestrian crossings across State Road 441. Colliers and the developers said further technical work — traffic studies, site-plan approvals and wetlands/utility reviews — would be required before any building permit or final agreement, and that community engagement and multiple public hearings would be part of the process.

Several commissioners reiterated that the vote was to select a negotiating partner, not to approve a final plan. Vice Chair Rosano and other members said they expect negotiated agreements to reflect community input and that any final development agreement would return to the CRA for approval. The board directed staff to begin negotiations with Brookfield and to return a proposed development agreement for future consideration.

The CRA’s selection ends the evaluation stage but starts a multi-step process: Colliers and city staff will negotiate deal terms with Brookfield, the developer will undertake technical studies and the public will have further opportunities to review site plans and designs. The timing presented by Colliers anticipates a multi-year phased buildout; board members noted that final construction timelines, phasing and exact uses will change during negotiation and permitting.