Lauderhill

“Times have changed since Jackie Gleason’s time,” says Steven Modica, a broker with Real Estate Home Sale Inc. of Lauderhill. The famous Honeymooners star put Lauderhill on the map when he bought a home at the Inverrary Country Club in 1970. By the time nearby Boulevard Woods North was developed in the 1980s, the neighborhood was attracting retirees and snowbirds from up north who made it their second home. Today, it is a thriving community of “people from different places,” Modica says. A variety of people and ethnicities are drawn to the neighborhood’s central location and good-sized homes. Single-family houses in Boulevard Woods North are large, comfortable ranch-style dwellings. They range from 1,800 to 3,000 square feet, offer three to four bedrooms and sit on lots between 7,500 and 10,000 square feet. Some have grand double-door entrances that lead to foyers, and many have vaulted ceilings, two-car garages, paved drives and beautifully maintained backyard patios and pools. While a great deal enjoy stunning lake and canal views, only a few are part of an HOA that maintains the central lake. Otherwise, there are no other HOAs in the neighborhood, and homes here list for between $450,000 and $650,000. The schools that serve the neighborhood include Discovery Elementary, which received a B from Niche and offers special programs in art, music, media and physical education. Millenium 6-12 Collegiate Academy was also graded above average (an A-minus) in part for its Shining Stars Pathway program that gives high-achieving middle schoolers the opportunity to earn high school credit and high schoolers the opportunity to earn a college associate degree along with their high school diploma. At Piper High, students can join more than 30 clubs, including Future Educators of America, JROTC, Latinos in Action and Student Government Association. Piper also participates in the Broward County Public Schools dual enrollment program with Broward College and three Florida state universities that allows students to take college courses in high school. The closest park to Boulevard Woods North is Jackie Gleason Park, paying tribute to the famous actor. The park is close enough to walk or ride bikes to across Inverrary Boulevard and features a basketball court, a covered playground, a set of swings, and benches. A colorful children’s splash pad entitled “Living with Wildlife” pictures birds and other creatures on its mosaic floor and sprays water from fountains sculpted to look like some of the animals. Another green space not far away is Hampton Pines Park. This picturesque area offers a lake that residents can use for fishing, boating or kayaking. Picnic tables and shade trees surround the lake, and walking trails provide a comfortable footing for visitors to take in all the natural beauty of the area. You can also challenge yourself by using the park's outdoor exercise stations. For everyday needs, University Drive is loaded with local businesses, such as the Oriental Market and Korean Grocer. A little farther up the street, you can stop at the Festival Supermarket or the Publix at Midway Plaza. Go the other way on University, and you’ll hit Ohana’s Bakery and Bistro, a small Argentinian eatery that sells a variety of sandwiches, empanadas and pastries. Try their chicken and avocado sandwich or a smoked salmon croissant. The lattes and cappuccinos are well made too. University Drive runs north through Tamarac into Coral Springs where residents can shop at the Coral Square Mall. Head east on Commercial Boulevard, and you’ll hit the Sawgrass Expressway, which will take you north to Boca Raton or south toward the FLA Live Area, where the Florida Panthers play, and Sawgrass Mills, one of the largest outlet and value store malls in the United States with more than 350 stores. Boulevard Woods North has changed greatly since reruns of The Honeymooners aired in the '80s. What remains unchanged are its excellent schools, tranquil parks and convenience to shopping and attractions — a neighborhood that “bang … zoom” puts you within reach of wherever you want to go.

The National Civic League gave Lauderhill an All-America City Award for its diverse population of civic-minded residents. The density of this small city a mile outside of Fort Lauderdale affords it a large selection of housing available to many income levels. Its arts and sports institutions are hubs of resident activity, and the city is growing. Those looking for a more resort-like lifestyle may prefer more upscale suburbs, but Lauderhill has proven attractive for new and old Floridians looking for a relatively affordable and pleasant quality of life. Japhet Jn-De-Dieu, a local realtor doing business in Fort Lauderdale since 2020, says Lauderhill is “the type of neighborhood people don’t want to leave.” He recommends the Lauderhill Mall on 16th Street for shopping, dining and just about anything else. “That’s where it’s at,” he says. From local Indian chains like Joy’s Roti Delight to salons where women get their hair braided and weaved, Lauderhill Mall and its environs cater to a global community. Caribbean restaurants like Donna’s, serving Jamaican patties and stewed or fried goat dishes, are easy to find in this neighborhood. A branch of the regional supermarket chain Bravo and a Walmart Supercenter are nearby. Locals turn out in droves at Central Broward Regional Park Stadium for international cricket games hosted by the International Cricket Council. This park was the first place in the United States to host the ICC, and since then, fans for the game have multiplied, making matches between global cricket powerhouses like Sri Lanka and New Zealand a site to behold. A few blocks away, the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center offers events of a more artistic variety, such as Broadway musicals and major comedy headliners. Residences in the city are mainly townhomes and condominiums, with a few streets of detached ramblers. Two-bedroom units in three-story buildings with Art Deco-style designs can be found for under $200,000 in centrally located gated communities. Homeowners association fees are generally under $250 per month. There are also 55+ communities where qualifying homebuyers can find two-bedroom, two-bath condos for under $250,000 in larger complexes with pools and other amenities. HOA fees tend to be significantly higher in these communities, though. Detached homes in Lauderhill vary between ramblers and ranch-style houses, often painted in Caribbean pastels on green lots with tropical shrubs and palms. Three-bedroom homes sell for under $500,000. Aside from its stadium, Central Broward Regional Park also has ample green space, 1.5 miles of walking trails and a seasonal water park, making it a very popular place to go all year long, says Jn-De-Dieu. West Ken Lark Park is just east of the stadium, a 10-acre space with a rubberized running track, a recreation center, sporting fields, courts and playgrounds. Wolk Park Tennis Center has seven tennis courts for residents to use freely. “There’s a new bus terminal in the neighborhood,” says Japhet Jn-De-Dieu. “Many people only have one or no car and commute by bus to work in Miami.” The Lauderhill Transit Center opened in 2021. This colorful depot has shaded benches where residents may wait for busses connecting throughout South Florida. Residents can reach Miami by bus in an hour. Lauderhill is a mile west of Interstate 95, which runs from Canada down to Key West. Lauderhill Paul Turner Elementary School received a C from the school ranking website Niche. Lauderhill 6-12 is a magnet school that received a C-plus. The combined middle and high school focuses on a STEM curriculum and earned a B-minus for its college preparatory program.

If greens could talk, imagine the tales they would tell in Inverrary. This Lauderhill area is known for Inverrary Country Club, a golf haven made famous by comedian Jackie Gleason, of “The Honeymooners.” Gleason lived at the club and lent his name to the Jackie Gleason Inverrary Classic. The prominent golf tournament sprouted here in the 1970s, attracting figures such as President Gerald Ford and golf legend Jack Nicklaus. The country club closed permanently in 2020, yet the surrounding neighborhood still attracts home seekers. The area is now known for its mix of single-family homes and condos at relatively accessible prices and its convenient location within the city. And the crime score here ranks just slightly above the national average, according to the CAP Index. “There’s a lot of interest because of the condos, and it attracts a lot of first-time buyers,” says local Realtor Arlene Obasogie of Keller Williams Central. Most of the residences here were built between the 1960s and the 1980s, but that time span comes with a range of choices. There are pockets of the neighborhood filled exclusively with traditional single-family homes — rows of neatly organized ranch- and contemporary-styled houses. Other parts of the area, particularly closer to the now-defunct country club, are dominated by condo and townhome complexes. “You have a bunch of really neat condos,” says local Realtor Andria Dalmadge of Infinity International Realty. “It’s a fair mix really.” Perhaps the best part is that there are condos here that can be had for under $100,000, while others range to the mid-$300,000s. Townhomes in Inverrary sell for prices from the low $200,000s to the high $300,000s, while single-family homes start in the high $200,000s and typically top out in the $700,000s, particularly for properties by one of the area’s lakes or canals. The Broward County Public Schools System covers Inverrary, a district with a B-plus overall rating on Niche. The district allows students and their families to apply for the schools of their choice, but a possible path for those in Inverrary based on address assignments includes starting at the C-rated Village Elementary, which offers afterschool care. Students can then explore entry to the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at the C-rated Lauderdale Lakes Middle. The area’s C-plus-rated Piper High features a career technical education department that offers instruction in culinary arts, entrepreneurship and business, health science, engineering, and journalism. People can leave this quiet enclave and reach other spots around the region in a relative jiffy. “It’s close to the highway, people want to be close to the highway,” says Dalmadge, who has been in real estate in the area for a dozen years. For instance, the Florida Turnpike runs right along the eastern edge of the neighborhood and can take drivers down to Miami in a trip of just about 30 miles. Arteries in town like West Oakland Park Boulevard can take locals to the coast even quicker — Earl Lifshey Ocean Park in Fort Lauderdale is less than 10 miles away on that route. “The beach is always there,” Dalmadge says. Inverrary comes with multiple stops in the Broward County Transit bus system as well. The closing of Inverrary Country Club, which was spurred by the pandemic, doesn’t leave the neighborhood devoid of outdoor recreation. Rather, spots like the almost 13-acre Lauderhill Sports Park here bring people together with its football, baseball and soccer fields. There’s even a cricket field here. Locals of all ages, meanwhile, can get their exercise in on the paved trail at Westwind Park. There’s also a pool in the neighborhood, at Veterans Park. Inverrary’s central location places it in proximity of many commercial attractions, too. “It’s central to shopping,” says Obasogie, who has been a realtor in the area for over 17 years. “Lots of restaurants there.” Some of the options have a Caribbean flair, including multiple Jamaican restaurants, Obasogie says. One example is Peppa Seed, a popular restaurant on University Drive that is known for its curry goat. Donna’s Caribbean Restaurant, part of a regional chain, is another option nearby, well-liked for its breakfast. There’s a fair share of big box stores in and around the neighborhood as well, from Burlington, Staples and Ross Dress for Less to supermarkets like Publix and Festival. And multiple houses of worship are conveniently close, including the Synagogue of Inverrary-Chabad and 770 Moshiach Center. Among the things Lauderhill is known for are its outdoor concerts, which Obasogie says are popular. The list includes the Jazz Picnic in the Park concert series, held at the 3-acre Ilene Lieberman Botanical Gardens right in the neighborhood. Jazz Picnics feature local bands and occur one Sunday a month from November to February. Jammin in the Park is another local tradition, an April concert with multiple acts, at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium.

A quirky conglomerate of carnival rides, a flea market, a Ferrari museum and a drive-in theater attract millions to the Swap Shop in Fort Lauderdale every year. It doubles as the world’s largest drive-in and flea market, and locals living in Broward Estates have prime access to the hodgepodge of flower shops, grillz makers and indoor go-karts filling the 180,000-square-foot attraction open year-round. “It’s a huge draw for people who like living near all the shopping and entertainment,” says Louvenia Lewis, real estate agent with TruRealty, who has been selling in the area for 14 years. “The neighborhood also sits between Interstate 95 and State Route 7, so it’s very convenient.” Low, long ranch homes are situated behind modest front lawns dotted with palm trees. Vibrantly painted bungalows add a splash of color along Broward Estates’ sidewalk-lined streets. Homeowners have made tweaks over the years, including new roofing and modernized kitchens, while maintaining the midcentury aesthetic. The renovated three- to four-bedroom properties are often listed between $380,000 and $425,000. “It could be considered a great starter community because it’s more affordable than some surrounding neighborhoods in Plantation where prices can reach above $1 million,” Lewis says. Steel chain link fencing is common throughout the area, whether in the front or back end of the homes, to provide a touch of privacy around the well-maintained yards. While many people pull into short, paved driveways at the end of the day, grassy road verges separate the sidewalks from the roadways and are often used as another option for parking. Along with the flea market finds around every corner of the Swap Shop, small strip malls housing national retailers are within reach. Locals can peruse the aisles at Marshalls and DTLR or pick up groceries at the Walmart off West Broward Boulevard. Chain and eclectic local restaurants are also interspersed along the thoroughfare. Locals pull up at the drive-thru at Dutch Pot for authentic Caribbean cuisine. Across the street, residents will find rib platters at R&R World Famous BBQ and a mix of seafood and Chinese dishes at Jade Flower. Children living in Broward Estates are zoned for Broward County Public Schools. The elementary school carries the neighborhood’s name shares a campus with Parkway Middle School. The schools have C-minus and C ratings from Niche, respectively, and offer STEM magnets. Parkway Middle School also provides specialized magnet courses in performing and visual arts. Students who filter into Dillard High School can build on those skills through a similar magnet program. High school students interested in graphic design or robotics can enroll in the emerging computer technology magnet. Neighbors connect at St George Park. The spacious 6-acre green space is a short walk from the homes in Broward Estates. An expansive basketball pavilion opened in 2022, named for Richard ‘Butch’ Ingram, Jr., who was a longtime basketball coach in the area. Residents looking to pick up a new sport will have plenty of other options here, with cricket, soccer, football and baseball fields on-site. Creatively designed playscapes give kids room to roam and burn off some energy. Benches canopied by shade sails and palm trees sit nearby when people need a reprieve from the sweltering Florida heat. Sturdy steel fencing, crepe myrtles, palms and other mature trees surround the playground and paved walking path weaving through Maye Frances Brooks Jenkins Park. A vibrant mural of flowers sits under a wooden pergola, adding a charming touch to the small community pocket park. Accessibility to surrounding Fort Lauderdale is made possible by nearby Interstate 95. The freeway sits roughly 2 miles east of Broward Estates. Residents can reach Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport by making the nearly 8-mile trip south. Commuters will want to head in the opposite direction to get to Fort Lauderdale’s central business district. While West Broward Boulevard is packed with retail and restaurants, it also provides access to the Broward Country Transit system and is a convenient route for drivers to downtown Fort Lauderdale and the city’s beaches, all within 5 miles.