I live in the Westminster
Retirement community of Gateway in Fort Lauderdale on one of the richest properties
in the city. This is the story of where it started and how far it has
come.

************************************************************

At one time in the 1920s
Gateway was a lush tomato farm, a simple beginning for the place over 300 people
call home today. In the late 1940s the land was purchased by a young developer
from Connecticut who's idea was to build the first townhouse community in Fort
Lauderdale for the wealthy to enjoy
for the winter season. The developer's wife name was Karen, so to honor her he
aptly named the place "The Karen Club". In the mid 60s condos attracted the
wealthy to the beaches and the property was acquired in 1967 by the Second
Presbyterian Church and with the help of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development converted it to affordable housing for the elderly under section 202
of the Housing Act of 1959.

Over the years the property fell into disrepair and
actions from the city called for it to be torn down. In 1985 with the help of
Congressman Clay Shaw and a 5 million dollar grant Presbyterian Retirement
Communities saved the community and its residents from the wrecking ball by
agreeing to use the grant money to renovate and repair the property to bring it
up to HUD standards.

The rest of the story has to be seen in person as
you walk around 8 landscaped acres, with 32 buildings containing 265 apartments
of various sizes ranging from studios to a large 3 bedroom apartment. There is
1500 feet of seawall and 8 docks that accommodate yachts from all over the
world. At the 'point' on Karen Bay is the Olympic sized pool.

There are 232 trees on the
property consisting of Royal Palms, Citrus, African Tulip, Gumbo Limbos, Schefflera, Cassia Fistula, Black Olive,
Yellow Tabuia, Sabal Palms, Addontia, Lugustrum, Camphor, Areca Palms, Orchids, Mahogony, Calamondin, Live Oaks, Calaphlum, Mango, Bottle Brush, Bishofia, Coconut Palm, Queen Palm, Silver
Buttonwood and Queen Crepe Myrtle just to mention a few. The Queen Crepe Myrtles
are very special trees that will not grow north of Lake Okeechobee.

There are laundry rooms, a
library, a beauty salon, a country store, a breezeway, a large community room
along with other accommodations to make life as easy and as comfortable for all
the residents.

Gateway has come a long way, from near destruction
to one of the most desirable properties in Broward County.

There is a 2 year waiting list but there are more
applications being given out soon--you might be eligible to join me in the
"Garden Of Eden" so why not check out:
http://www.westminsterretirement.com/html/gateway_terrace.html