Archive for October, 2007

Banyan Tree - Palmetto Bay and Beyond

October 11th, 2007 Categories: Palmetto Bay, South Florida Living

When I first moved to South Florida I fell in love with the trees here. The different varieties of palm trees are hard to keep up with. The Royal Poinciana is another favorite. But the Banyan tree captivates me.

Banyan trees can be found throughout South Florida. They are quite impressive. If you take a drive on Old Cutler Road starting in Palmetto Bay and heading north to Coral Gables, you’ll see many of them. Their canopies can extend clear across the street. But it’s their trunks that mesmerize. There’s something primitive about them. They always make me look and wonder. I’m not quite sure what I wonder about when I look, but time seems to stand still when I’m around the Banyan.

I researched the Banyan shortly after arriving here and was surprised with what I found. The Banyan tree is a fig that usually starts it’s life on another tree. Birds will drop the seed in a crevice of the trunk of another tree and the seed will germinate. It then sends roots down to the ground. Eventually, the Banyan ends up engulfing the tree that gave it life. For this reason the Banyan is also known as a Strangler Fig.

In Robinson Crusoe, the main character made his home in a Banyan tree. The first Banyan tree planted in South Florida was in Ft. Myers. It was a gift to Thomas Edison from Harvey Firestone. Mr. Firestone was introduced to the Banyan in 1925 on a trip to India, one of the native countries of the Banyan tree. The tree he gave Mr. Edison was originally 4 feet tall and now covers 400 feet. Incredible.

Even knowing that a Banyan tree strangles it’s host tree I can’t help but admire it’s beauty. Despicable natural instinct or tenacity? Maybe that’s what I think about when they capture my attention. How they share certain qualities with people.

Looking to buy or sell real estate in Palmetto Bay? Contact the real estate agent who can guide you each step of the way.

Keeping the Real in Real Estate…

¦..Maggie Dokic, Realtor®

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Palmetto Bay Charges Fee For Use Of Park

October 10th, 2007 Categories: Palmetto Bay, South Florida Living

People are ticked off. They’re angry over the resolution passed by Palmetto Bay commissioners charging the public a fee for using Coral Reef Park.

The resolution passed last month and parents lost no time letting Palmetto Bay Mayor Eugine Flinn Jr. and the commissioners know how they felt about it.

Palmetto Bay now charges organizations that use the park a $15 user fee per member per season. Use of the park used to be free.

There are many youth organizations and sports leagues that use Coral Reef Park. One such group is Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading. They’re a non-profit group that has used the park for the last 4 decades.

Critics of the resolution argue that funding for use of the park is already in place in the form of property taxes. With the new fee they are, in essence, paying twice to use the facilities.

Village commissioners see things slightly different. They claim that groups such as Palmetto High School and the YMCA already pay a usage fee, so why not everyone else? Especially Pop Warner, since many of their members don’t live in Palmetto Bay.

When CBS4S David Sutta asked the Mayor if residents would get a tax break now that a user fee is in effect Flinn replied, “I don’t think it makes that big of an impact. It’s a very minor impact.”

And to think this is all because of reduced funds due to the tax relief efforts started up in Tallahassee. The tax relief which has been waylaid and seems to be in need of resuscitation efforts. I haven’t seen any tax relief. Have you?

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Palmetto Bay - Village of Parks

October 10th, 2007 Categories: Palmetto Bay, South Florida Living

Palmetto Bay has earned itself the nickname the Village of Parks.  The following parks make up the parks system in Palmetto Bay:

Deering Estate at Cutler - 16701 SW 72 Avenue.  Follow Old Cutler Road to 168th Street where you’ll see signs to this exquisite, unforgettable experience.  The rustle of the palms, lapping bay water and songs of the birds will take you back to gentler times in south Florida.  And to think people actually lived in this paradise.  Not to be missed.

Bill Sadowski Nature Preserve - 17555 SW 79 Avenue.  Just drive on 176 Street and east of 79th Avenue you’ll see the entrance to the park.  To the South of 176th Street lies about half of the total 30 acres, but that area is not trekkable.  The walking trail is to the North.  This preserve is the only facility of it’s kind in the area.  You can enjoy live animal exhibits in the main building, a butterfly garden, campfire ring, bird feeders, canoe rentals, monkey jungle for the kiddies, picnic tables and Eco-Adventure Tours.  One super-dee-duper thing to do here is on Saturday nights.  Each Saturday at 8PM, weather permitting, the Southern Cross Astronomical Society holds FREE stargazing at the outdoor observatory.  Bring a lawn chair, sit back and gaze into the heavens.

Coral Reef Park - in the heart of Palmetto Bay at 7895 SW 152nd Street.  Coral Reef Park is over 50 acres of open green spaces, lush landscaping and facilities available for party rentals.  The curved bridge at Coral Reef has become a Palmetto Bay landmark.  The C-100 canal runs through it, adding to it’s appeal.  The park is even better with the new addition of beach volleyball courts.  Come play or just bring a pinic basket and relax.

Palmetto Bay Park - 17535 SW 95th Avenue.  Formerly known as Perrine Park and sized at 5 acres, Palmetto Bay Park is now a 25-acre park facility, including a skate pavilion, basketball courts, 6 new softball fields, walking path and 2-story concession building.  The park is in it’s final construction phases and is presently closed.  None of the facilities are available for use yet.  Stay tuned for news!

Perrine Wayside Park - U.S. 1 just south of 164th Street.  The original 3-acre park is getting a facelift and will become a dog-friendly park complete with ponds, specific areas for different size dogs as well as pet drinking fountains.  Still under construction.

Ludovici Park - 17641 Old Cutler Road.  Under development.  Future site of the Palmetto Branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library System.  The proposed plans call for a 5,000 SF library building and a 2,012 SF, 2-story Community Center right beside Ludovici Park, an environmentally-oriented park.  The entire complex will be within walking distance of Thalatta Park.

Thalatta Park - try saying that three times fast =) 17301 Old Cutler Road.  A former private residence on four acres right on Biscayne Bay.  Thalatta Park is still under development as the village seeks to follow through with it’s conceptual plans to add walking trails, renovations to the historic structure, landscaping, parking and other features.

If you’re looking for something to do in Palmetto Bay, the parks are always an excellent choice.  As one of the park managers said to me, “as long as it gets you outside, it’s a good thing.”

Keeping the  Real in Real Estate…

…..Maggie Dokic, Realtor®

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Palmetto Bay Basics

October 8th, 2007 Categories: Palmetto Bay

The Village of Palmetto Bay is a vibrant community in Miami-Dade County.  The village incorporated on September 10, 2002.  Prior to it’s incorporation Palmetto Bay was known as the Perrine area of Miami.

Palmetto Bay is located directly south of Pinecrest.  They share SW 136th Street as their common boundary.  The village stretches as far south as Eureka Drive (SW 184th Street) and it’s East/West boundaries are Biscayne Bay and South Dixie Highway respectively.

Palmetto Bay is known as the Village of Parks.  While some might think that 7 parks does not a “Village of Parks” make, several of the parks are extraordinary in their own right, such as the Deering Estate at Cutler and the Bill Sadowski Nature Preserve. 

Because the village is located on the easternmost part of the county, it is not anywhere near any of the highways and expressways which are the most used in Miami-Dade County.  Most folk travel it’s main arteries of Old Cutler Road and U.S. 1 South Dixie Highway when travelling North or South.  Actually, a drive along Old Cutler Road is one of the most relaxing drives in South Florida, with the magnificent trees (including some amazing Banyans) and their giant canopies providing shade most of the way.  The occasional peek at Biscayne Bay still proves a thrill for me every time I see it, oftentimes as the backyard of a breathtaking mansion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Estate in Palmetto Bay is a sound investment, in my humble opinion.  With Pinecrest neighboring to the North and it’s excellent public schools, Palmetto Bay has nowhere to go but up.  The present real estate inventory backs up my opinion.  Palmetto Bay statistics show that the Absorption Rate here is less than half that in the County as a whole.  This is indicative of a healthy real estate market, even in the midst of the doom-and-gloom reports by most of the media. 

Looking to buy or sell real estate in Palmetto Bay?  Contact the real estate agent who can guide you each step of the way.

 

Keeping the  Real in Real Estate…

Maggie Dokic, Realtor®

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Miami Redland Fruit & Spice Park

October 4th, 2007 Categories: Entertainment, South Florida Living

I cannot take credit for the following article.  That distinction belongs to my friend, Chris Griffith.  Chris is usually selling real estate on the other side of our lovely peninsula, but is vacationing on the other side of our country right now.  She needs to have a talk with her activities director, as she is finding herself at a loss for things to occupy her time.  So, being the always-helpful-often-funny person that she is, she decided to write an article for my blog.  It was in sore need of it, too!  She even sent me the picture.  I promise to get back to writing as long as Chris promises to get back to enjoying her vacation.  Deal?  Deal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spice up your life!  The Fruit & Spice Park is a 35-acre subtropical botanical retreat smack dab in the heart of the historic Redland community. It’s just 35 miles south of Miami.  Maintained and operated by Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation, there are more than 500 varieties of rare fruits, herbs, spices and nuts from around the world including 80 varieties of bananas (who knew there were 80 varieties of bananas?) 70 different bamboos and 27 varieties of mangoes.  Who, in South Florida, doesn’t LOVE mango?!  There are tons more of other edible fruit and spice trees too! 

You HAVE to come and see for yourself the lush trees popping with colorful fruit.  If you’re one of my Active Rain fans you may even recognize a name or two: Mangosteen, Fiji Longan, Carambola, Avocado, Dragon Fruit, and Jaboticaba. 

You must also visit the Park’s herb and vegetable garden.  Take a stroll through the shady banana groves and count the varieties. Visitors are permitted to sample fallen fruit (Behave yourself, no above-ground harvesting is allowed) or get a taste of the season’s harvest at the Welcome Center’s tasting table.

This is a fast tour, maybe an hour or even longer if you’re a fan or an arborist.  Some folks make an afternoon of it.  Fruit & Spice Park is a unique, and tasteful experience. 

Miami and the Redland has much to offer. Get out there and enjoy it.   Subscribe to my feed to learn more about Miami, Miami Real Estate and The Redland as I post new articles.

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