The Margate Community Redevelopment Agency voted to approve a contract to purchase the property at 5713 Park Drive for an amount not to exceed $875,000.

The resolution, presented at the CRA meeting on Jan. 15, 2025, authorizes the agency chair and executive director to execute the purchase-and-sale agreement with Mirab LLC (folio number 48-412-503-1110), to pay for associated services including inspections and surveys, and to investigate the property condition prior to closing.

The approval followed public comments that tied the parcel to broader debates over the planned city center. A resident who identified themself during public comment urged the CRA to reduce the proposed number of downtown residential units and to preserve space and parking for nonresidents. “I’d suggest cutting the amount of residential units down to below 1,000 while not lowering the amount of parking,” the resident said.

Another resident, Jonathan Krotzick, urged the CRA to plan for tenant relocation if the agency acquires the apartment building currently on the site. “If anyone’s currently living there and the CRA does purchase this property, that the CRA aid the tenants with relocation,” Krotzick said, and suggested postponing demolition until alternative downtown housing is available. Krotzick also suggested using the property as a municipal campus, saying the site “would be a good location for either a new police department or city hall.” He noted that the city budget includes about $480,000 to remodel the commission chambers and first floor of city hall, and warned it would be “a waste of money” to renovate then tear down the building without a longer-term plan.

David (executive director) told the board staff negotiated with the seller and began with a lower offer. “We started at a…we made an offer well below this price,” he said, adding that the seller was not marketing the property and therefore held leverage. After an independent appraisal, staff returned to the seller but were unable to secure the property at the appraised value.

Board members discussed the appraisal and the agency’s negotiation position during the meeting but did not identify any conditions that would stop the acquisition. The motion to approve passed on a roll call; Board member Simone, Board member Schwartz, Vice Chair Casciano and Chair Rosano recorded “yes” votes.

The resolution authorizes expenditures for closing-related services and empowers the executive director to complete due diligence and finalize documents for closing. The resolution text also authorizes staff to investigate the property condition pursuant to the contract and sets the resolution’s effective date as the date before the board for consideration.

The CRA did not provide a public timetable for demolition or tenant relocation in the meeting; staff said they would carry out property-condition investigations as authorized by the resolution.

Votes at a glance: the agency approved the purchase resolution on Jan. 15, 2025; mover and seconder were not recorded in the transcript.

Funding sources for the acquisition were not specified during the meeting.