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| How did 13,400 acres of bean fields and grazing land become a city of 122,000 people in just 40 years? When Coral Ridge Properties ran out of land to develop in Ft. Lauderdale in the early 1960's, it looked for enough and to develop an entire city from scratch. It located a vast tract in northwest Broward County and drew up a complete development plan before a shovel hit the soil. Just as with a first child, Coral Springs growth was photgraphed each step of the way from the ground and from the air in 1963. |
The "Largest Land-Rush Discount Land Sale and Barbecue" in then-desolate Coral Springs brought in $5 million for the sale of 1, 100 l ots and served up three tons of barbecue. Even host Johnny Carson bought 54.6 acres along Royal Palm Boulevard, selling them five years later for five times the purchase price. Guy Lombardo, appearing at the Gait Ocean Mile Hotel, came along for the ride. (Courtesy of Coral Ridge Properties.) |
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| This 1970 aerial picture illustrates how construction progressed. There were subdivisions and country clubs on either side of the Coral Ridge Properties Administration Building. For three years, Robert Hofmann, executive vice president of Coral Ridge Properties, tried to purchase 3,000 acres of ranch land from Luther Remsburg. One year after this aerial photograph was taken, the deal was done. (Courtesy of Dillon Aerial Photography.) |
This 1968 brochure of "The Allegro" model in "The Dells" is one of the few with a price stamped on it. Salesmen carried price sheets for the houses in all the model rows that ranged from $17,900 to $70,000. This four-bedroom, two-bath home featured a screened patio, family room, and two-car garage--with pool optional--and cost $27,750. (Courtesy of the City of Coral Springs.) |
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