The History of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida ~ SUNNY ISLES BEACH ~
THE VENICE OF AMERICA
•
Mott Marvin Kornicki, Broker • Waterway Realty, LLC • 305.935.3533 • Realtors®
Sunny Isles Beach,
the city of sun & sea, is located on an island in the northeast corner of
Miami-Dade County. Sunny Isles Beach is bounded by the turquoise-blue waters of
the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Intracoastal Waterway on the west. The
City of Golden Beach lies to the north; Bal Harbour and Haulover Park are
immediately to the south.
In 1920 Mr. Harvey
B. Graves, a private investor, purchased a 2.5 square mile tract of land for
development as a tourist resort. He named it Sunny Isles - The Venice of
America.
Five years later the
completion of the Haulover
Bridge made the area accessible from Miami Beach. Developers came and widened
streams, dug canals and inlets, and created islands and peninsulas with
waterfront properties on Biscayne Bay.
FULFORD'S FOLLY
In 1926, with nearly
One Million Dollars, a group of investors built an all-wooden racetrack with
stands for 12,000 spectators. After just one 'international auto race,' the
track was destroyed by a hurricane, its wooden beams blown all over the county.
Some observers believe this event, dubbed 'Fulford's Folly,' helped to spur the
auto races at Sebring and Daytona.
Sunny Isles
developed slowly until the 1950's. The Golden Strand, the first 4-story hotel on
the beach in this area, was built in 1946. The Ocean Palm, the first two-story
motel in the USA, was built in 1949.
FAMOUS VISITORS AND RESIDENTS
The Golden Strand
served for many years as a majestic enclave for the rich and famous. Visitors
included America's royal princess Grace Kelly; industrialists such as the
DuPonts, Guggenheims and Vanderbilt's; celebrities such as actors Burt
Lancaster, Mike Todd, Joseph Cotton and and Gary Cooper; band leaders Benny
Goodman, and Guy Lombardo; and notables such as major league baseball star Babe
Ruth and politician Ted Kennedy.
The Beatles of Rock
& Roll fame were also regular visitors to Sunny Isles.
HISTORIC FISHING PIER
In 1936, the Sunny
Isles Pier was built and quickly became a popular destination for tourists and
fishermen. The half-mile pier was designated an historic site in 1982, and is
still used by fishing enthusiasts, tourists and sightseers from around the
world.
DEVELOPMENT IN THE 50's & 60's
During the 1950's.
the first single-family homes were built in the Golden Shores area. More than 30
motels sprang up along Collins Avenue during the 50's and 60's, including the
Aztec, Driftwood, Thunderbird, Sahara, Dunes and Golden Gate. The collection
soon became known as "Motel Row" and tourists from all over came to enjoy these
motels of exotic design and themes.
The City of Sunny
Isles Beach was incorporated on June 16, 1997 out of the unincorporated area of
Miami-Dade County. It operates under ordinances of the City, the Charters of the
City and Miami-Dade County, and statutes of the State of Florida.
MAYOR DAVID P.
SAMSON
The founding father
and first mayor of the City, David Samson, passed away unexpectedly October 12,
2003 while serving his second term in office. As required by the City Charter
the Vice Mayor, Norman S. Edelcup became Mayor.
SUNNY ISLES BEACH ~ THE FLORIDA RIVIERA
Sunny Isles Beach is
experiencing a redevelopment renaissance on the east side of Collins Avenue
(Oceanfront), the main corridors and beach access pathways will always offer
residents, visitors and guests; "A LIFE WITH A VIEW." To the west of Collins
Avenue, the City is building parks, improving the infrastructure and laying the
groundwork for future redevelopment. The emphasis of most of the redevelopment
is on residential condominium construction. Luxury Oceanfront Sky Homes are
steadily replacing outdated motels. Much of this residential construction is not
intended for year-round occupancy. However, statistics show a steady growth in
young families who want to be near the ocean.
The City's three
single family communities ~ Golden Shores, Atlantic Island and Golden Gate, a
new luxury exclave at the northern tip of the City - are all on the Intracoastal
Waterway.
The City of Sunny
Isles Beach is quickly becoming known as The Florida Riviera.
•
Mott Marvin Kornicki, Broker • Waterway Realty, LLC • 305.935.3533 • Realtors®
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