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City Leaders Consider Letting Voters Decide the Future of Housing at Margate City Center

by David Volz March 16, 2026

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City Center rendering. {City of Margate}

Margate residents may decide whether to build housing units at City Center.

During the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, a group of residents spoke out against the developer Brookfield’s initial plans to build 950 housing units on the property. The developer agreed to reduce it to 600 units. Commissioner Tommy Ruzzano suggested placing the question of whether housing units should be built at City Center on the November ballot.

The request has gained traction and will be given consideration. Mayor Antonio Arserio said the question will be placed on the commission’s agenda for discussion at its April 15 meeting.

“I want to see if there is consensus to move forward to put the question on the November ballot,” said Arserio.

The status of the ballot question remains unclear. Time and money would be needed to place the item on the ballot, and the city attorney would need to draft the question. A partnership between Brookfield and the CRA has been established, and the developer wants to build housing units alongside restaurants and stores, according to Arserio.

Commissioner Arlene Schwartz said she wants upscale restaurants, stores, and housing units on the property. She said it is important that the land be developed to attract people to the area, or Margate will remain a pass-through city and gradually fade away.

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David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.