Here’s visual update of Margate’s plan to squeeze more development into small parcels of land adjacent to residential neighborhoods.
Margate Planning Board waived most parking requirements, set-back minimums and other land-use ordinances.
Tequila Bar Roof-Top Party Deck. Fines levied. No setback. Permit violations. Neighbors prepare for late night noise coming from live music on the party deck.
Amherst Ave, Captain Andy’s.
Massive construction along the Amherst Ave bayfront slowly eroding views, public open space, water access.
Lamberti’s, and now Captain Andy’s.
Residents fear the return of Margate’s infamous Barbary Coast.
The three-story Captain Andy’s building will feature:
- Bait shop on first floor
- 150-seat restaurant on second floor
- Offices on third floor.
Property is across from Sofia’s Restaurant on the bay side of Amherst Ave.
The Margate Planning Board approved site plans from developer Sean Gormley, owner of Harbour Bay LLC.
Two Daughters LLC and Sofia’s tried to block Gormley’s redevelopment plans, but lost.
Margate’s Mayor Mike Collins and father Tom Collins of the Planning Board support aggressive development of bars and other drinking establishments where parking laws are waived.
Margate Business Chamber President Ed Berger agrees: loud bars and party destinations lower adjacent, residential property values. Listen to Ed Berger Planning Board audio clip from JAN 2024:
Blocking Zoom video keeps Residents in Dark
- UPDATE: Margate still blocking live ZOOM video of commission meetings. Remote public comment via ZOOM also prohibited. Negatively impacts 75% of Margate taxpayers, the 2nd homeowners.
Read More about Margate Real Estate Development:
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What is that hideous castle like structure on the bay?
While pictures speak volumes, what are we looking at? Care to provide some context?
“Say goodbye to one of the last remaining spots to enjoy a sunset, launch a kayak or drop a fishing line.” When was this ever the case with Capt. Andys? They never had a boat launch nor did they allow fishing of their docks. What about Scott’s Dock?
“Massive construction along Amherst Ave Bayfront slowly erodes views and public open space.” When was this ever public open space? You get the same view right down the street at the public pier and open space.
I’ll tell you what will kill property values is a city that is just homes with no business and places to enjoy.
Margate with its restaurants and bars is a destination attracting residents from other towns that don’t have what we have and it boosts city tax revenue.
The commercial areas in Margate have for the most part have always been commercial so for those residents who have moved to those areas in the past several years and are complaining you obviously didn’t do your due diligence before you bought.
Your comment is ridiculous that “what will kill property values is a city with just homes and no business places to enjoy” LOL!
Have you taken a look at LONGPORT property values? They have 3 a total of 3 businesses. Property values are way above the sinking values Margate is experiencing (especially in the Bay area).
Margate used to call itself “A Residential Community by the Sea” —– no more.
When they run out of places to destroy the City will start putting clubs in the Gardens – what about Beach Block Residential neighborhoods. Come on – you can destroy more!
With no city business privilege tax, how does this boost Margate tax revenues?
These bayfront private properties sat derelict and for sale for years. Thank god someone bought them and invested millions of $$$ to provide much needed services and increased tax ratables to the city.
If all these new “tax ratables” are generating additional tax revenue to Margate City, why aren’t our taxes going down? Get real, someone or even more than one person in government, has to be an idiot when it comes to putting all that extra cash to good use. I certainly don’t see any public projects being created. Something’s fishy in Margate.
You are getting a $3mil parking lot.
Good use of our tax dollars ?
I can’t breathe!!
Looking forward to some new restaurants and bars. Remember, unless you have a direct bay front home you may or may not have a view.
Margate is turning into a REAL SH*T SHOW!
Beyond sad. This is why I moved from Margate. Grew up there. Never thought I would leave but look at the corruption, the droves of rude people coming into Margate, etc. The elected worry about the summer, not those of us who lived in Margate all year long. Greed.
The Margate Master plan states this-
Preserve the character and appeal of existing neighborhoods.
I would guess that the people on the boards and the Mayor who has a store selling hardware probably does not know and does not care about that.
I think great restaurants are always a plus for a shore town, but Margate needs to build a train station to get all the people into the new establishments that are opening here. Where will people park?
Fast Ed Berger, the head of the Margate Businessmen’s Association said at a recent Margate Board meeting, “I couldn’t afford a home in Margate, but when I searched near the bars on the bay, homes were much cheaper there”. Yes, bars look like fun places to hang out, unless you live near one.
This out of control race to turn Margate into Bourban Street is not going to end well. However, should create a lot of jobs….for additional police officers. We are going to need them. Margates residents will also need earplugs if they don’t like live music until 4AM.
City has destroyed the once lovely Bay area. Longport is SO MUCH NICER – without all that nonsense.
Why don’t they start building Clubs and Restaurants on the residential areas by the Ocean?
I’m sure these dopey commissioners have their eyes on that next.
Parking, parking, parking!!! This past summer the increase of restaurant goers seeking parking back by the bay was crazy. Police were towing cars constantly due to illegal parking on one way streets, blocking resident driveways, and parking in yellow painted no parking spots. The traffic zooming around Washington to Coolidge looking for parking was dangerous. Residents deserve better.
Where are patrons of Captain Andy’s supposed to park?
Greed is the word. We have one of the most beautiful, open and accessible bayfront vistas in New Jersey. We also have lots of first class restaurants and office spaces.
However, given that the “deck is stacked” with the commissioners, planning board and aggressive developers, we see the wanton disregard of this legacy in that we allowed Lamberti’s gigantic building, now the monstrosity across from Tomatoes/Sofias, and now another greedy grab of another waterfront space for a Capt. Andy’s restaurant.
Just as there is no regard to parking space, there is total disregard for another blight on our waterfront – which will be there forever, long after the developers get their greedy bucks and move on.
Elected officials are put in office to preserve and protect our city. Instead they are allowing it be exploited.
Easy for you to say, but that’s not what is happening. Our quality of life has been impacted negatively. How do we have a say in these developments? Traffic has been altered to one way streets dumping onto Coolidge. Why are we losing our water views to building violations like Lamberti’s? Where is the balance of aggressive building versus residential tranquility?
I’m starting to believe our Mayor Collins and his sidekick Commissioner Cathy Horn are leaders in appearance only and controlled by their puppet masters.
In a way I feel sorry for them but recognize how dangerous to our community their actions are.
Big Tom (Collins) and John Amodeo together with Solicitor Abbott and certain others control their decisions vetoing our Master Plan with variance after variance to give us a community we won’t recognize in a few years.
It’s happening in front of your eyes!
You want entertainment? Help Atlantic City develop into a world class entertainment capital. It’s just down the street.
We don’t need more bars in our town. You can’t park now! Our infrastructure can’t support it!
Our peaceful enjoyment of our streets and community will require more police to maintain order and peace. And much more.
Late night noise and dirty streets? But plenty of parking for Big Tom Collins.
Wait for the new Master Plan coming to a neighborhood near you soon. I’m sure you’re going to love it.
Follow the money my friends. They are selling out our town!!
Selling? Margate has been for sale since the Becker Dynasty started!
Don’t forget about public urination! Not a bathroom in sight on this entire island where people gather. CRAZY 🤪 😱🙃🤮.
Priorities? People got to pee.
It’s amazing how absurd and uninformed many people are.The properties being rebuilt were NEVER public .Anyone including the city could have bought them and created open space for public use. If the City had bought them the same people whining now would have screamed it’s a waste of taxpayer dollars.It takes courage to take derelict properties and invest millions of dollars to create fabulous venues for all to use.
I seriously doubt ANYONE would whine about a seashore town acquiring OPEN SPACE for public use. Anyone??? I’m hearing crickets……… The City is being piggish with no eye toward the future. What is happening in the Bay area is completely nuts. That’s why I left.
Margate does NOT tax business revenue. Just a mercantile license. Is that correct?
Emperor Has No Clothes. Margate residents fearful of calling out bad behavior from Collins and Horn. Ever wonder why they block live ZOOM video of meetings? Mayor also blocks public comment from 2nd homeowners via remote ZOOM.
With all these lawyers in Margate one would expect some lawsuits and research into the Mayor, inspector, etc.
Just like Mayor Adam’s in NYC, I smell corruption somewhere. Somebody’s pockets are getting bigger.
Now, if there were some true journalism and detective work the case can be cracked.
Margate levies real estate taxes. If it’s city owned there is no ratable.It’s not complicated.
Like the $3mil parking lot.
Case in point the park/parking lot at old gas station. The same usual suspects whining about waste of tax payer dollars.
Parking should not be a problem in most cases. If anyone is having even one alcoholic drink then you shouldn’t be driving. Use UBER or Lyft and save yourself the hassle.
The mayor is doing a fine job. Keep building more venues (bars, restaurants, clubs). We need more in Margate so folks in Longport and Ventnor don’t have to :-)
Uber and Lyft, duh!
Catch restaurant in Longport!
Back in the day…. Ozzie’s Liquor store and Longport Inn, a fabulous restaurant. Greatly missed!
“Kevin” must not live in Margate. I bought there over 40 years ago because it DIDN’t have bars, restaurants etc. It was residential and quiet but Ventnor and A.C. were nearby for that. Now it’s overdeveloped and congested.
Parking for family and visitors can be a problem. Residents expecting guests will put their cars on the street if possible, even blocks away, to save driveways for their visitors.
Restaurant reservations have to be made early in the Spring, if possible, because you won’t get them during the summer season.
If you live near the expanded Ventura’s, you have to deal with their noise level from the bar(s) and music.
A previous comment suggested the Poconos for peace and quiet but I suggest he settle in Atlantic City if he prefers traffic congestion , noise and parking problems- although, unfortunately, Margate has some of now as well. Anyway, the Poconos do not have a beach.
Maybe Margate Florida, Margate NJ had twice as many bars 40 yrs ago, rowdy, loud fun bars. You and some lucky others bought homes here, and the word got out about this cool quiet residential community on the beach right at the end of the Expressway. Soon, property became more expensive, the locals couldn’t refuse the crazy money being offered and the little houses became big houses,and the demographic changed. The quiet residential tags came off in favor of “down the shore” for the summer. The rowdy loud bars went away just like the little houses because people paying that much for property shouldnt have to deal with that element. Successful changes to appease the new masses. And that was ok. Post Covid and its now 80/20 2nd home/ primary residents and the push back is on again to change Margate into something that it never was, a sleepy 2nd home community. Wake up call, what made Margate attractive 40 years ago is what still makes it attractive, the ocean, beach , bay and some places to go to have a little fun. That’s right fun, it was the ability to do something after the beach that made Margate, fortunately or unfortunately, so desirable. The recipe is an old one, but still a good one. Don’t mess with it.
Putting more restaurants in Margate IMO, is not the best “redevelopment” option.
Politicians shouldn’t be advocating for them since it demonstrates short-term greed type thinking.
Within 10 miles of Margate, how many restaurants are there and how many are vacant?
Where is the advocacy for the quality of life for the residents?
Longport ha much more expensive homes than Margat, but no bars. Longpoet also has less congestion and more parking than Margate. Longport is also much more peaceful than Margate. So tell me why real estate taxes are lower for home owners in Longport than they are in Margate?
No kids. Check your property tax. School board is usually 60% of municipal taxes. Longport has no schools, no school board, only a handful of kids taking seats in sending districts.
The once great Margate has become a victim of greed and contempt . The political Hardware machine has sold the people of margate out for their own gain. Margate is no longer the pearl of Absecon Island. We can thank the past and present puppeteers for this mess. Sad!
I don’t mind restaurants. Some bars are out of control. it is hard for the police the 3 or 4 busiest weekends of the year. Other times are OK.
I am disappointed in allowing the open roof bar and noise from the beach bar.
There were bad or questionable zoning approvals and parking variances but there is no literal corruption. it is all legal if the notices are published.
Horn and Collins are disappointments but the opponents had a bad campaign.
The damage is going to come with the new Master Plan, watch out.
Sad that there is no public water access on the bay or kayaking and paddle boarding.
I heard that Margate recently sold the marina next to Lamberti’s. I think it is the last Margate owned marina.
Under the Public Trust Doctrine, in 2019, the NJ Legislature passed a Public Access Law that was signed by Governor Murphy and explicitly incorporates the Public Trust Doctrine’s right of public access into the New Jersey statutes.
The Statute defines public access as “visual and physical access to, and use of, tidal waters and adjacent shorelines, sufficient perpendicular access from upland areas to tidal waters and adjacent shorelines, and the necessary support amenities to facilitate public access for all, including, but not limited to, public parking and restrooms.
Is Margate violating this requirement?
Yes, Margate is violating this requirement. I was part of a Citizens Group in Margate 20 years ago that filed a lawsuit against the City (and one specific establishment) to protect the Public Access Rights that was eroding back then.
You might be able to find it as part of the Public Record. It went nowhere because the Environmental Attorney we hired cut a deal with (then) City Solicitor to omit the City from the lawsuit. That omission killed the case.
This “problem” in Margate goes way back.
I’m out of there, couldn’t handle the blatant “in your face” corruption. It’s right in front of you.
Contact the Governor’s office and do some research. Good luck, you are on the right path already.
Can you provide any evidence of this “In your face corruption”.??
The hideous building will be the beginning of very tall buildings along the bay. It started with LAMBERTI’S. So high! Looks like an alien. Yes, restaurants and businesses are most welcome. Do they have to be so very high????
Not true. Only private Bayfront properties with over the water buildings before 1978 can be built on.
No others can be built except at the very small building at Stacey surf shop.
It’s troublesome when whiners just make stuff up.