In 1976, my parents purchased a villa at Garden Patio Villas which was part of the original model row. Back in those days, I-95 was nearing initial completion. Access from Miami to West Palm Beach via I-95 became possible. Atlantic Blvd. as we know it, did not have ramp access off of I-95, using 441-State Rd. 7 as the route to Margate was necessary. I was going to college at Nova at the time. Traveling to Davie was way different in those days. University Drive was the way to travel, passing cows in empty fields, no school zones, and no traffic delays. Margate even had the Swap Shop and drive-in movie theaters at the end of Margate Blvd. and State Road 7. The main mall out west was Broward Mall. (now presently called Westfield Mall) In 1978, Coral Square Mall didn’t exist until 1984. There was a small mall known as Coral Springs Mall which had a small movie theater and a very limited number of stores. There was a great deli which had really good Pastrami sandwiches on the corner of Sample Road and University Dr. (now presently known as Coral Springs Charter school.)
TODAY: Driving in West Broward, I’m confronted with 3 school zones in a row; two light changes between Rock Island Rd. and Royal Palm Blvd. One must calculate leaving earlier as part of the equation to get where you want to go to avoid traffic congestion.
Now, residents of Garden Patio Villas are faced with the prospect of losing our privacy, due to a pending sell off of Golf Course property running adjacent to one of our clusters on the west side. It has been real peaceful living here, and we are all apprehensive about losing our beautiful view of the Margate Executive Golf Course; sunsets are always beautiful in our community.
We do not need any more traffic between Margate Blvd. and Rock Island Rd/NW 76th Ave. intersections. If they decide to make this area residential, that is exactly what we will have. More congestion, and noise; this is not what this area was zoned for!
Maybe instead, they can make a park with fitness trails, bike paths, jogging trails, just wishful thinking!
– Jeff M (2020 Board Member at Large)