Miami Real Estate by Land and Sea

Miami has many more historic homes and districts than many people are aware of.  Although first claimed by Spain in 1566, Miami first started to develop into a settled area in the 1800s by Henry Flagler and friends Julia Tuttle and William Brickell.  Most historic areas hug the coast for obvious reasons (prior to Flagler's railroad, the only way to reach Miami was by boat). 

Miami really saw prosperity and growth in the early 1900s as developers Merrick, Collins and Curtis built such communities as Coral Gables, Miami Beach and Miami Springs.  Dual disasters of a bursting real estate bubble followed by the great Hurricane of 1926 all but halted new development for many years until nearly the end of the Second World War.  By then, such great architects such as Walter De Garmo had long stopped designing homes, but many designs have stayed with us throughout the years.  

Many historic homes in Miami have recognizable features; Mediterranean, Moorish or Adobe designs; use of such unique building materials as coral rock, decorative (whole and broken) tile work and mosaics and Pecky Cypress Dade County Pine; arches, porticoes and arcades and more.  Since most of these homes were built before air conditioning, many have been retrofitted to accommodate central AC.  One thing you won't find are the hall closets most Northerners are used to (no need!)

The oldest existing house in Miami still situated in it's original position is located in Barnacle State Park, it was built in 1891.

Very few homes built before 1900 still exist, but one is currently for sale at 6801 Maynda St in Coral Gables.  Dating back to 1899, it is Coral Gables's oldest private home. 

If you love Historic Homes as much as we do, we are sure you will find something to tickle your fancy in Miami!

PS: Our sister company (Papillon ReDevelopment) is a Florida State Licensed and Insured General Contractor which specializes in historic renovations and additions, ask us for details and photos of our work!

 

Top Miami Neighborhoods where you can find historic homes for sale are:

 

 

 

 

 

Coral Gables

Coconut Grove

Miami Beach

Miami Shores

Morningside

Bay Point

Miami Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a Map of the Areas where you are most likely to find historic homes in Miami

 

View Miami's Historic Districts and Communities in a larger map

Coral Gables is known for it's amazing architecture, especially Mediterranean Revival, which was one of the prevelant styles implemented during the birth of Coral Gables in the 1920s.  The developer of Coral Gables, George E. Merrick, selected Walter C. De Garmo as one of the lead architects to design the public facade of the new City Beautiful.

 

De Garmo was a Coconut Grove resident, having moved to The Grove in 1903 after graduating from Cornell with a degree in architecture.  He helped design the face not only of Coral Gables, but many other historic neighborhoods in South Florida including Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Star Island, Belle Isle, Miami Shores and even futher locales such as Key Largo and Ft.  Lauderdale.

De Garmo's most prolific years were from 1906-1926, during the Miami Boom times, slowing dramatically after the devastating 1926 Great Miami Hurricane.

De Garmo used Mission Revival and Mediterranean Revial styles in his design, with elements Coral Gables residents know well; stucco, open air loggias, courtyards, arches, Moorish influences, tiled flooring, barrel tile roofs, columns, etc.

Many of his designs are still landmarks throughout South Florida, both in public buildings and private residences.  Here is a map of the areas you are most likely to find a De Garmo design.

View Walter C. DeGarmo - Miami's Architect in a larger map

For further information on De Garmo, the Historical Museum of South Florida has a collection available for further research (by appointment).

De Garmo homes still are available as residences and do come on the market from time to time.  They are of course, sought after and anyone interested in looking for one should be prepared to wait diligently for one to hit the market, but the wait is well worth living in such a real architectural gem and piece of our own history. Here are few below...

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