Page 143 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2023

Out of every community in the Magnolia State, Florence Gardens was tapped by Reader’s Digest as the “Nicest Place to Live in Mississippi.” And with good reason.
The community has a myriad of walkable neighborhoods with amenities – including a private school – that are unmatched anywhere else on the Coast or even in the state. Countless families call Florence Gardens home, including Goldin’s immediate and extended family. “And that’s who we want out here,” Goldin said. “We are all about family and it’s not just a subdivision we have developed.”
The community features an events committee that plans and coordinates annual events and traditions and includes everything from neighbor meet and greets to chili cook-offs. “It’s amazing to see all the new faces with every event,” Goldin said. “I think we have six different events during the holidays, so we try to give everyone a chance to meet their neighbors and just celebrate together.”
The 500-acre development was first created in 2004 by Goldin’s father, Martin, and the multi-generation developers have created more and more neighborhoods over the years. It was named Florence Gardens after Goldin’s grandmother, Florence, who also lives in one of the neighborhoods.
“We are a very close tight-knit family,” Goldin said. “And we all live here, near each other. I’m the third generation and we have multiple family businesses. In a few years, my son will be the fourth generation. Gulfport is our home. We were born and raised here. I don’t plan on leaving here because it’s such a great place to raise a family and a great community.”
And the Magnolia District is not the final phase of Florence Gardens. “We are still carving out the rest of the subdivisions,” Goldin said. “And we probably have at least five or six phases left, maybe more.”
Martin and Ryan Goldin.
Florence Gardens Magnolia District:
www.florencegardens.com/magnolia
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net November 2023 | 143