Several Margate board members expressed reservations Oct. 7 about a redevelopment proposal they said they had reviewed with a developer (identified in meeting discussion as Brookfield).

Board member Antonio told the board the plan he reviewed appeared “almost identical to the new urban plan” and would place “well over 300 units” on the East Side, remove Ace Plaza and increase retail square footage. He said he was not yet ready to approve that approach and asked that the board prioritize residents' preferences.

Antonio also said his social-media post about the plan received more than 10,000 views and hundreds of comments, and that “I think there might have been 1 person that thought the apartments were good on the East Side,” attributing the broad public opposition to the concept presented.

Other board members suggested alternatives during the discussion: one urged that phase 1 focus on East Side retail, restaurants and public amenities (amphitheater), while moving or initiating multiuse residential development on the West Side or in a separate phase. Another board member said a prior prospective developer had discussed townhomes for part of the site and suggested preserving elements of the Ace Plaza building or reusing pieces to maintain local character.

None of the remarks during the meeting resulted in a formal motion or vote; the discussion was presented as board comments and direction for staff engagement with developers rather than a binding decision. Board members repeatedly urged caution about approving a large East Side residential buildout without clearer resident support or a phased approach that would prioritize retail and public amenity elements first.

The discussion also included a board member comment that the developer indicated they preferred to start on the East Side; several members pushed back and requested that developers consider beginning on the West Side or staging residential construction after early retail/amenity phases.