In my last piece, I wrote about Bay Harbor Islands’ history and how it got to be what it is today. Now, I want to take the time to dive into specifics about the islands, calling attention to the best features that the islands have to offer.
First, I want to highlight the quality of life and general “livability” on Bay Harbor Islands. In the past few years, new developments and the neighborhood’s unique location have caused the islands to blossom. And, with the 70th anniversary near, it only makes sense to showcase all the reasons why Bay Harbor Islands shines and is slowly emerging as one of the top places to live in South Florida.
Home away from the city
Something unique to Miami’s landscape is that islands and areas are easily separated into neighboring towns. Normally, cities like Manhattan, for example, have crossover and hardly any true separation. Hell’s Kitchen flows into Chelsea, which becomes the West Village, and so on — and all these neighborhoods are residential but have a vibrant nightlife. In Miami, neighborhoods don’t overlap and combine as often, therefore allowing areas to separate themselves enough from the city to provide quiet, quaint regions for people to reside. It’s quite rare to find peace within the bustle of the city, yet Bay Harbor Islands acts as a buffer and sits only twenty minutes from the heart of Miami.
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Walkability
The term “walkability” was coined by hotels, neighborhoods and real estate companies to promote how friendly a neighborhood is. Bay Harbor Islands is very walkable, as the town is not only small enough to walk to and from places easily, but is also considered a very safe area for your nightly stroll or children to play outside. For the most part, depending on where you are on the islands, the average walk to the beach is only 20 minutes.
Boutique feel
Nobody wants what everyone has — a statement very well-known and understood in the luxury real estate industry. Bay Harbor Islands as a geographic location sets itself apart from other areas, making it a unique option for the elite. Its quaint location gives off an uber-lux feel, attracting unique boutique shops and store owners to do business there, giving residents on the island access to items, food and drinks that others in Miami don’t have. And if that’s not enough, Bal Harbor Shops, one of the most famous boutique strips for shopping and dining in America, is only a five minute drive away!
Family-oriented
If the walkability score and quiet area aren’t enough of a giveaway, Bay Harbor Islands is also a great place to raise or start a family. In the past few years, there has been influx of younger families moving onto the islands (54 percent of households are families). Most are looking to settle down, as Bay Harbor Islands acts as the perfect in-between for young professionals ready to start a family. Not to mention, Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor K-8 Center is rated one of the top-rated grade schools in Miami-Dade County.
With only 70 years under its belt, Bay Harbor Islands continues to grow and develop into a unique and booming area within Miami with suburban-like qualities and lifestyle, yet only 20 minutes from the city.
Tim Lobanov is the managing director of the Verzasca Group. He has experience in the international real estate space, specifically identifying emerging market trends across both commercial and residential real estate.