Is Coral Gables unique in South Florida? (Miami, West Palm Beach: lower-class, renting)

[randian]

I would think the lush landscaping and beautiful Spanish-Mediterranean architecture (very California) would be quite popular, but oddly that doesn't seem to be the case judging by the lack of imitators. Are there other areas/neighborhoods that look like that?

[bale002]

Originally Posted by randian

I would think the lush landscaping and beautiful Spanish-Mediterranean architecture (very California) would be quite popular, but oddly that doesn't seem to be the case judging by the lack of imitators. Are there other areas/neighborhoods that look like that?

I can speak for southern Palm Beach County, also the area just south of downtown West Palm Beach. You can find individual houses/properties like that, maybe a few in the same neighborhood, but no significant extended area dominated by those features. The same may be said for the Roads neighborhood just below downtown Miami.

I believe that Coral Gables has its root in Florida's "gilded-age" era, while the rest of the southern Florida has its roots in the 1950s-1970s era. You can judge the cultural differences yourself.

[tallrick]

The big difference is that in Coral Gables they aren't allowed to destroy trees. There are similar homes all over the south Florida area.

[illini84]

Coral Gables is also very expensive to live in (as far as purchasing a house goes, or even renting somewhere), so there aren't many "low-income" projects...

[jhlcomp]

Coral Gables was developed by Merrick and was the first planned community in south Florida.


See:

Addison Mizner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coral Gables, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[randian]

Originally Posted by tallrick

The big difference is that in Coral Gables they aren't allowed to destroy trees. There are similar homes all over the south Florida area.

Ah. So hurricane prep (trees smashing houses == bad) is why there are few imitators?

[Musclehead]

Originally Posted by randian

I would think the lush landscaping and beautiful Spanish-Mediterranean architecture (very California) would be quite popular, but oddly that doesn't seem to be the case judging by the lack of imitators. Are there other areas/neighborhoods that look like that?

Parts of Coconut Grove , Pine Crest and Miami Shores ... not much else .

[tallrick]

It seems that low-class people are afraid of trees. Perhaps another explanation is that people of lower quality are not inclined to take the time to enhance their home's appearance through landscaping. In a lot of Florida's older small towns there are tree-lined streets and yards full of life. The lower-class immigrant areas tend to be lacking in vegetation, so a higher-end area like the Gables has more greenery. Southwest Ranches, while not a "planned" community has an even better appearance than Coral Gables due to its large size and lack of "Miami" concrete lawns.

[spyderman33]

Originally Posted by Musclehead

Parts of Coconut Grove , Pine Crest and Miami Shores ... not much else .

Second that...

[Musclehead]

Originally Posted by tallrick

It seems that low-class people are afraid of trees. Perhaps another explanation is that people of lower quality are not inclined to take the time to enhance their home's appearance through landscaping. In a lot of Florida's older small towns there are tree-lined streets and yards full of life. The lower-class immigrant areas tend to be lacking in vegetation, so a higher-end area like the Gables has more greenery. Southwest Ranches, while not a "planned" community has an even better appearance than Coral Gables due to its large size and lack of "Miami" concrete lawns.

Tallrick ... there you go with South West Ranches again ... you are missing the point the OP likes Coral Gables because of the "European" or " California" feel .... CG is a very beautiful and unique neighborhood ... South West Ranches is neither of those and does not even compare .