Coral Gables Condos
It’s Not Just Miami, It’s Coral Gables.... Those That Know, Know The Difference

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About Coral Gables 

Here are some important reasons why it makes sense to relocate your business to Coral Gables: 5.5 million square feet of office space available; 4.5 million square feet in downtown Coral Gables alone with offerings ranging from affordable Class B to AAA ($16-$28 per square feet). 40,000 white collar employee base with median per capita incomes in excess of $60,000; total worker population within three miles of downtown Coral Gables exceeds 100,000. Beautiful residential areas offering a wide variety of housing choices including rental units, condominiums, and single-family homes in a stable real estate market. Strong emphasis on quality of life: Tree City USA for 12 consecutive years, comprehensive recreational facilities and top-rated municipal services. More than 1,400 hotel rooms, 50 percent of which have luxury or first-class status. Just 4 miles from Miami International Airport. Home to 21 consulates and trade offices. Thirty-two banking institutions have offices in Coral Gables. Fifth lowest combined property tax rates in Miami-Dade County. No State Income Tax. Coral Gables - Florida’s Global City - is the crown jewel of the world renowned community of Miami-Dade. It is a City known for its preservation of history and lifestyles of old Florida and is often referred to as the Beverly Hills of Miami-Dade, but with cutting edge innovation in the latest technological advances...such as a wireless downtown and being the first municipality to connect to the Network Access Point (NAP) of The Americas. The city equally enjoys a reputation of a globally recognized ‘Center of Commerce’ as Latin America and regional headquarters to US, European, Latin American and Far East-based corporations, such as ABC News, AT&T Americas, Adobe, Alcoa, American Airlines, Apple Computers, Bank Boston International, BBC, Club Med, Del Monte, Dow Jones, ExxonMobile, Carvajal International, Chevron/Texaco, Fox News Latin America, Goodyear, IBM, HBO, Hill & Knowlton, H.J. Heinz, Olgilvy & Mather, Perini, Time Magazine, Turbana, United Airlines, Venevision, Wall Street Journal and Yahoo Latin America, just to name a few of the more than 175 multinational corporations, with over 42,000 executives and corporate employees coming to work in the city each day. It is widely recognized throughout the world - along with all of Miami-Dade - as the preferred meeting point of the hemisphere and has evolved into the natural Capital of the Americas and Gateway to the Caribbean. Executives of multinational companies for decades have enjoyed the unequalled quality of life and working environment that has made Coral Gables a preferred address for global business. The city’s strategic location with its multicultural and multilingual employee base, together with its outstanding community and family-oriented environment makes Coral Gables an attractive choice for living and working. It is a city in which Preservation and Innovation share equal importance. Globally based leaders in communications, IT, transportation, banking, international trade, manufacturing, distribution and technology transfer gives Coral Gables businesses an unparalleled choice of opportunities to interact with some of the most experienced and brightest executives of world commerce anywhere. Located just four miles from Miami International Airport, Coral Gables is centrally situated in Miami-Dade County to provide ease of access to and from downtown Miami and other areas of the county with multiple access routes. ============================================== Coral Gables provides excellent municipal services, having achieved the highest national standards in almost every field. It is the only City in Florida to have attained "AAA" issuer credit ratings from both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. This points to the City’s strong economic base, where less than five percent of the land area contributes 46 percent of the tax base. Coral Gables also boasts an accredited Police Department, a distinction shared by only 2.5 percent of local and state police departments in the United States, and is one of only three cities to have both a Class 1 and an accredited Fire Department. The City has one of only two Class 1 Building and Zoning Departments in the nation. All combined, Coral Gables is one of two cities across the nation to have met all these standards of excellence. In addition, Coral Gables has been named a Tree City USA for 14 consecutive years by the National Arbor Foundation. It was also the first municipality to ever to receive the National Emergency Management Award, in 1993. Land Use: 54% single family, 6% duplex & apartments, 5% commercial, 4% educational, 1% industrial, 30% recreational & public use. 14 square miles. Coral Gables Homepage 2002 Local Property Taxes: Municipal Millage Rate: 5.8410 Total Millage Rate: 22.5935 (seventh lowest combined tax rate in Miami-Dade County) Total assessed value for all commercial and residential property within Coral Gables: $7,202,418,521. FOREIGN CONSULATES, TRADE AND TOURISM OFFICES Consulates, Foreign Trade and Tourism Offices located in Coral Gables: 20 The following countries have official representation in Coral Gables: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, Honduras, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Taiwan (Republic of China), Thailand, and Uruguay. For names and address please refer to www.dos.state.fl.us/oir/consular/index.html Enterprise Florida International (EFI) - Enterprise Florida International Division - responsible for the development of trade opportunities for Florida based companies and all foreign offices representing the State of Florida globally. TRANSPORTATION Air - Miami International Airport: Four miles from downtown Coral Gables. Ninety-four airlines serve 141 cities throughout the world. In 2002, MIA handled 30.1 million passengers and over 1.8 million tons of domestic and international cargo, becoming the nation's third busiest international passenger airport and the busiest international cargo airport. Ocean - Port of Miami: Six miles from downtown Coral Gables and recognized as the "Cruise Capital of the World," is home to 18 cruise ships Handled approximately 3.6 million cruise passengers and 7 million tons of cargo in 2002. Public Transportation Services: Metro-Dade Transit Agency buses (305-770-3131) serve the Miami district, including Coral Gables Two Metrorail stations (305-770-3131) serve Coral Gables: the Douglas Station and the University Station. Tri-Rail commuter train (1-800-874-7245) that runs a 67-mile track from Miami International Airport to West Palm Beach, which is connected to the Metrorail system. Highways Serving City: Interstate: Near I-95, SR-826 and SR-836 (1 mile to nearest interstate) Federal: US-1 (South Dixie Highway) State: Red Road (S.W. 57 Ave.), Coral Way (S.W. 24 St.) , LeJeune Road (S.W. 42 Ave.), Bird Road (S.W. 40 St.) MEDICAL/HEALTH SERVICES No. Within City No. of Beds Hospitals - 1 Approx. 773 Nursing Homes - 1 20 Doctors 304 Dentists 118 UTILITIES Electricity Supplier: Florida Power & Light Co. Rates: 6.49 cents per KWH (commercial rate) Water & Sewer Supplier: Metro-Dade Water and Sewer Authority Water rates: Monthly minimum for first 500 cu.ft. or 3,750 gallons - $4.88 wet season (June 1-Nov.30); $5.12 dry season (Dec.1-May 31). Sewer rates: $3.92 monthly minimum; monthly flow rates $1.40 per 100 cu.ft.; $1.87 per 1,000 gallons. DEMOGRAPHIC COMPARISON 2002 ESTIMATE CITY OF CORAL GABLES / MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA CORAL GABLES CITY LIMITS DADE COUNTY & CORAL GABLES Population 42,357 2,297,796 Households 16,741 788,591 Average Household Size 2.32 2.86 Per Capita Income $ 54,649 $ 19,850 Median Family Income $ 99,169 $ 45,648 Median Household Income $ 70,820 $ 39,604 Average Household Income $ 134,492 $ 57,844 % Household Income: $0 - $14,999 7.8% 17.5% $ 15,000 - $24,999 8.2% 14.3% $ 25,000 - $34,999 8.6% 12.9% $ 35,000 - $49,999 12.0% 16.1% $ 50,000 - $74,999 15.4% 17.9% $ 75,000 - $99,999 10.1% 9.2% $ 100,000 - $149,999 13.8% 7.2% $ 150,000 - $249,999 11.9% 3.0% $ 250,000 - $499,999 6.9% 1.2% $ 500,000+ 5.1% 0.7% % Population by Age: 0 - 4 4.8% 6.4% 5 - 9 4.8% 6.8% 10 - 14 4.9% 7.3% 15 - 19 8.2% 6.9% 20 - 24 8.7% 6.6% 25 - 34 13.0% 14.5% 35 - 44 14.7% 15.5% 45 - 54 14.5% 13.0% 55 - 59 6.3% 5.3% 60 - 64 4.4% 4.5% 65 - 74 7.3% 7.0% 75 - 84 5.9% 4.4% 85+ 2.3% 1.8% Median Age - Male 37.8 34.5 Median Age - Female 39.6 37.4 Median Age Total Population 38.7 36.0 ================================= The City of Coral Gables is known for its top-rated municipal services, fine residential areas, historic landmarks, and high quality of life. Coral Gables has also emerged as the Corporate Capital of the Americas, with more than 150 multinational corporations positioning Coral Gables as their Latin American headquarters. ACCOMMODATIONS Coral Gables is home to a superb selection of hotels which offer the very best in high quality service. From Hotels and Extended Stay Suites to full-service Resorts, these luxurious accommodations make Coral Gables one of the most popular places to stay in Miami. Accommodations in Coral Gables are created to offer a quiet retreat from the rush of the city. However, visitors are still just a short distance from Miami's most popular attractions, such as trendy South Beach and Coconut Grove. All hotels are just minutes from fine dining, culture, shopping and great entertainment. DINING Coral Gables is home to many of South Florida's finest restaurants, from casual eateries to the nation's most celebrated restaurants, and an array of options to satisfy every taste and occasion. Prepare your taste buds for a treat, and take your palate on an international tour! THINGS TO SEE AND DO For purely physical beauty, Coral Gables is a showcase. The city's major entrances are marked with graceful coral rock arches dating back to the 1920s. Virtually every residential street is lined with stately trees, and many are covered in canopies of banyans, oaks and royal Poinciana trees. The municipal Venetian Pool is a spring-fed former coral rock quarry designed to resemble an Italian grotto. Many of the Mediterranean-style homes, businesses and public buildings from the 1920s and earlier have been lovingly preserved or restored by Gables residents. The boyhood home of the city's founder, George Merrick, was built in 1899 and is now the Coral Gables Merrick House Museum. The Biltmore Hotel is a functioning hotel in a registered historic landmark. The largest private research university in the southeastern United States, the University of Miami offers sports, an art museum, theater, music and other cultural events. In addition to popular festivals, the city hosts monthly gallery nights year round, and offers the finest shopping, dining and spas in the country. SHOPPING Coral Gables is one of South Florida's most sought after shopping destinations, known for the personal attention of its shop owners, you will not be left wanting more after you have visited everywhere from the specialty stores with unique gift selections and beautiful outdoor surroundings to the amazing shopping destinations that resemble small cities. Coral Gables offers one-of-a-kind shops that emphasize personalized customer service. With a wide variety of fashion for everyone, it's the best of what South Florida has to offer. The City Beautiful is home to South Florida's finest jewelers, award-winning European and domestic furniture manufacturers, art galleries and world renowned bridal shops and boutiques. Coral Gables has built a well known reputation for itself which is reflected in your shopping experience. HISTORICAL SITES A Look Into The Past By Stacey Steig Coral Gables, the City Beautiful, stands out as a rare pearl in South Florida, a cohesive community built on a grand Mediterranean Revival architectural style to create an overall harmony with the environment. Early city planners and visionaries were influenced by the aesthetics of the City Beautiful Movement that swept across America in the early 1900's. Inspired by the works of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed New York's Central Park, The City Beautiful Movement encouraged the use of wide tree-lined avenues, monumental buildings, winding roadways, green space, ornate plazas and fountains galore. All these elements of style have been and continue to be incorporated by Coral Gables city planners. Villa Viscaya, built in 1914 by James Deering, set the pace for the Mediterranean Revival style that began to take hold in South Florida during the 1920's land boom. Visionaries like George Merrick of Coral Gables and Addison Mizner of Palm Beach carried this style through, planning and designing unparalleled communities to look as if they had been picked up and transported directly from the Mediterranean Coast in all their antiquity. For Merrick, Majorca, Sevilla, Cartagena, and Malaga were not just cities in Spain, but symbols of his American ideal; his dream was to develop his vast land holdings while building on Florida's rich Spanish history. George Merrick (Founder of Coral Gables) came to Miami with his family from Duxbury, Massachusetts in 1899. His father, Reverend Solomon Merrick had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of undeveloped land which he operated as a family plantation, producing avocados, oranges and grapefruit on land near what is now the Granada Golf Course. By 1921, ten years after his father's death, George Merrick had amassed about 3,000 acres of land, enough to begin a massive real estate development project, unprecedented in Florida. Merrick set out to prove that he was not only a man of great imagination, but a man of action whose story is perhaps the greatest Miami has ever known. Merrick's plan was to create a new city called "Coral Gables" named after the native rock home where he spent his childhood. He would do it in a cohesive, aesthetic style that would incorporate the visions of artists and poets, like himself, who were rapt in the fever of the Florida land boom and inspired by the simplest of beauties. It was an exciting time for these frontiersmen, awestruck by Miami's tropical climate and coastal magnificence. While they wanted to put their own stamp on the real estate market, they were anxious to share South Florida's beauty with the world, seeking fame more than fortune. Together with a team of extraordinary designers which included artist Denman Fink, architects H. George Fink and Phineas Paist, and landscape architect Frank Button, Merrick set out to create a unique suburb of the city of Miami. A project that would be an unrivaled beauty, constructed in the Mediterranean Revival style, featuring all the elements of the City Beautiful Movement right down to the finest details, like city lamp posts. The Merrick land holdings were subdivided with clear zoning and usage specifications. These original city planners set aside residential and country club areas, business, industrial and craft subdivisions and recreational areas including bridle paths, parks, tennis courts and golf courses. Phineas Paist, the supervising architect or the city was largely responsible for ensuring the continuity of development of the city of Coral Gables and for creating the aesthetic codes that keep Coral Gables beautiful today. Paist established the Board of Architects Review Panel at the city's conception, an organization that remains in existence today. The Panel oversees architectural details including paint selection and roofing tiles in terra cotta, ocher and sienna colors which deflect and neutralize the brilliance of the Florida sun. Paist was a known colorist and created a vibrant color scheme for the city that ranged from the pastels to the more intense, all true to the original Mediterranean style. Under this master architect's hand, even the newest buildings were made to look old. Architectural designs featured the rounded arches and loggias of ancient Rome, and the majority of homes were built of concrete block or oolitic limestone (coral rock) and finished with stucco. Artistic advisor Denman Fink who was largely responsible for conceptualizing Coral Gables Grand entryways and plazas, is credited for using exposed brick on these colossal arches to give them the look of antiquity. By 1925, nearly the blink of an eye, the City of Coral Gables was incorporated. During the four years between its conception and incorporation seven million dollars of property was sold, more than six hundred homes were constructed, sixty-five miles roadway were built and over eighty miles of sidewalks were added. Hence, the City of Coral Gables was born. The greatest miracle of this real estate boom in Coral Gables, and an event indicative of the building fever that swept over South Florida in the early 1920's was the rapid erection of the Biltmore Hotel which stands today as an enchanting example of Coral Gables trademark Mediterranean style architecture. The Biltmore tower, which ends in a three stage cupola, was inspired by the Giralda tower of the Cathedral of Seville, Spain. This 400-room premier resort designed by Leonard Schultze and S. Fullerton Weaver went up in just 10 months, breaking ground in March of 1925 with a grand opening held in January 1926. Today, the Biltmore stands almost exactly as it did on opening day, right down to its rich terra cotta color scheme. As interest in Coral Gables real estate began to taper off, George Merrick's creative wheels again began to turn and in 1926 he came up with a $75 million dollar plan to build what was then the largest home development project in history. Merrick's vision to build fourteen villages from different international regions marked a severe departure from the Mediterranean Revival style in Coral Gables. The goal of this joint venture between Merrick, The American Building Company and former Ohio Governor Myers Cooper was to attract home buying prospects from up North by offering them some variety in architecture. The Village Project which aimed to showcase the architectural styles of China, France, Italy, Mexico and Africa, among others was destined for failure, a dream blown away with the Hurricane of 1926 and the ensuing depression which put a screeching halt to land development. Remnants of this dream stand today as vestiges of Merrick's dream. Fewer than 80 of the 1,000 planned residences were built, but many of them are still standing. The Florida Pioneer village (Southern Colonial) stands today on Santa Maria Street bordering the Riviera Country Club golf course, the French 18th Century Village is located in the 1000 block of Hardee Road, The French Normandy Village is on LeJeune and Viscaya, and the Dutch South African Village is on LeJeune at Maya Avenue. Also standing are the Italian Village, which is spread throughout an area located just south of Bird Road between Granada Boulevard and Riviera Drive, and an 8-unit Chinese Village that stands out colorfully from behind a gated wall on Riviera Drive, just South of U.S. 1. A modern day group called The Villagers currently has a project in the works to restore these historic homesites. By 1928 it became evident that George Merrick's luck had run out. He fell heavily into debt and was removed from the Coral Gables Commission, retreating to Matecumbe Key where he operated a resort property left to his wife Eunice by her parents. While Merrick eventually returned to Coral Gables, becoming the postmaster for Dade County in 1940, he never fully recovered his losses and died in 1942. World War II breathed new life into the city of Coral Gables as thousands of soldiers flooded the area, occupying many of the unused buildings, including the University of Miami and The Biltmore Hotel, which became an army hospital. The emergence of Miracle Mile in the 1950's marked the beginning of a new era of development in Coral Gables, and paved the way for the commercial development in the 1960's. During this time height restrictions were waived and several high rises went up, drawing large American, Latin American and Caribbean companies to the area. Without the watchful eye of Phineas Paist and the City's other original architects and planners, many of these newer buildings stood out as anomalies, clashing stylistically with Mediterranean Revival structures as much as the Chinese Village of the early Merrick years. In 1986, the City adopted a Mediterranean Architectural Ordinance which provides incentives to builders who conform to the Mediterranean Revival style, using terra cotta colors and barrel tile roofs. While there are a few glass sheathed modernistic buildings lingering out there, it appears that Coral Gables has come back to its Spanish architectural roots. Coral Gables boasts access to some of the finest health care facilities in South Florida. The city’s central location makes it convenient for whatever type of care is required. Everyone from children to senior adults can receive quality healthcare within moments of their residence. There are many institutions with specialists who are nationally recognized in their fields and a medical and health care community committed to providing the best care available. The University of Miami, the city’s largest employer, operates the Jackson Memorial Medical Center which is the second-largest public hospital in the nation. With the University’s medical campus ranking highly among the nation’s Medical Schools. ===================== Celebrating Our Sister Cities Even as City Founder George Merrick was in the beginning stages of creating Coral Gables, he dreamed of it as an international city, inspired by the great Mediterranean cities and serving as a gateway to the Americas. Today, Merrick's dream has come true. Not only is the City Beautiful a thriving, multi-cultural community, it also serves as a cultural and economic gateway to the Latin America region. To further establish international ties, the City has forged relationships with cities around the world through Sister Cities International, an organization founded by President Dwight Eisenhower designed to create opportunities for cultural exchange at the municipal, county and state level. When the first Sister City relationship was established with Cartagena, Colombia, in 1957, the program focused mainly on cultural exchange. Since then, the scope of these relationships has expanded to further promote understanding through educational and economic links as well. Coral Gables currently has Sister City agreements with the following: Aix-en-Provence, France Cartagena, Colombia Granada, Spain La Antigua, Guatemala Province of Pisa, Italy Quito, Ecuador A Tale of Two Cities Coral Gables and Aix-en-Provence could not be better matched in their cultural, business, and academic climates. Recognizing the potential for mutual growth from an alliance between such compatible cities, the mayors of both municipalities signed a Sister City Agreement on April 23, 1997, outlining cooperation in the fields of economic development, tourism, and education. Because of their strategic locations, both cities play equal roles as gateways to important regions. Involving both the private and public sectors, the new relationship will help open doors for Coral Gables and Aix-en-Provence businesses wishing to tap into new markets. Through the agreement Coral Gables will use Aix-en-Provence as the perfect gateway to Southern Europe and the exclusive point of contact for the Rome/Barcelona Arc. In turn, Aix-en-Provence will use Coral Gables as the preferred gateway to the Southeastern United States and Latin America and the exclusive point-of-contact for Florida. The City of Coral Gables Development Department and its counterpart in Aix-en-Provence, Paya D' Aix Development, will further the economic and tourism ties between the two cities through information sharing. Both departments will: • furnish businesses with regional commerce and business expansion information • provide tourist and business referrals • inform travel agencies in the Sister market of available tourist information in the native language • generate business development mailings to all Chamber of Commerce members • provide the Sister City with quarterly market updates and press releases • create direct links with each of the area Web Sites Additionally, the Universities at Aix-en-Provence and the University of Miami will develop ties for students, professors and research. Aix-en-Provence Rich history and recent economic growth come together in Aix-en-Provence, making it both a city of tradition and a city of the future. As the capital of Provence in the Middle Ages, it inherits the universities, courts and spas that have earned it's reputation as a center for art and culture. Current performance in industry and engineering, coupled with its ideal location as a threshold to the Mediterranean, position it as an important business center in today's global market. Situated between Genoa and Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence is a natural point of entry to the Rome/Barcelona Arc, which serves 160 million consumers. The City is located at the Heart of one of France's densest communication networks. Just 20 minutes from the port of Marseille and 15 minutes from Marseille-Provence International Airport, it provides convenient and direct links to the Mediterranean countries, Northern Europe and the World. Aix-en-Provence's growing Industrial Park, home to more than 670 businesses, is the number one employment center in the region and a leading center for computer-electronics, engineering, logistics, beauty, health and fitness and environmental corporations. The following are some of the corporations with regional offices or headquarters in the Industrial Park: • Hewlett Packard • Pomona • Technicatome • Daniel Jouvance • Veritas The City's high concentration of museums, theatres, and performance halls are important cultural resources, providing locals and visitors with a number of activities ranging from art exhibits to drama. Additionally, the City's three major annual events - Aix en Musique, Festival International d' Art Lyrique and Danse a Aix - draw more than 88,000 spectators to the area. Aix-en-Provence is also home to three Universities, Aix- Marseille I, II, and III, specializing in Literature and Humanities; Economics and Technical Studies; and Law, Political Sciences and Applied Economics, all of which serve as major research centers and provide opportunities for cultural exchange. Another important resource is the Institute for American Studies, the largest American institution in Southern France and one that has been promoting intellectual and cultural exchange for almost 40 years. Coral Gables, The City Beautiful From Renee Chapple, Your Guide to Miami / Miami Beach, FL. FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Brief History of The Gables Just south of downtown Miami lies beautiful Coral Gables, or simply "The Gables" as it's known to natives. This planned section of town is

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