Hialeah

"You might assume that people in Little Havana are from Havana, but they’re not," says real estate broker Raquel Colp with Axis Premiere Realty. Hialeah is filled with multiple generations of families from Cuba and other countries, she says, and they stay here because "they don’t have to speak English and don’t want to." Colp grew up in Hialeah, and her grandmother and mother speak fluent Spanish. “Think of Hialeah as a mini-Cuba,” she says.

Besides its Spanish tongue, Hialeah attracts homebuyers with its desirable homes. Most were built between 1945 and 1979 when midcentury-modern and ranch-style houses were going up everywhere. They feature large backyards that are often used for patios or pools, boat and RV storage, or to expand the square footage of homes. Properties needing repair can be bought for as little as $230,000 in Hialeah, while well-maintained and updated homes list in the $500,000 range. The largest with extras like fruit trees, Jacuzzis or barbecue areas for entertaining, can run as high as $825,000. Town houses are also available between $300,000 and $400,000, and one- to three-bedroom condos run between $175,000 and $400,000, depending on their size. With such a need for multigenerational dwellings, it may be no surprise that duplexes and other multifamily properties also sell frequently for as much as $1 million.

The public schools that serve the neighborhood include Mae M. Waters Elementary, which received a B from Niche and offers special programs in art and music, physician education and Spanish. At Henry H. Filer Middle School, a C-rated school, students can choose from six academy programs, including culinary arts, legal studies and STEM. Students at Hialeah Senior High, which scored a C-plus, can earn an Advanced Placement Capstone diploma by completing six AP classes — from art history and human geography to United States government and politics.

Parks and recreational facilities are abundant in Hialeah, such as the James H. Goodlet Park. Named after a World War II Air Force veteran and former Hialeah city clerk, this 28-acre green space features everything from athletic fields and playgrounds to a community theater and dance studio. Sports lovers flock here for the 11-court tennis center, youth baseball fields, basketball courts, sand volleyball courts, racquetball courts, artificial turf soccer fields and running track. Residents can take theater, dance and music classes and showcase their talents at the Goodlet Theater and Performing Arts Center. Henry Milander Park, another standout space, was named after a former mayor of Hialeah and offers the Ted Hendricks Stadium, which is used by local high schools for sporting events. Visitors can also enjoy the Olympic-sized swimming pool and water playground at Milander Aquatic Center. The James Silas Walker Community Center, part of Walker Park, is named after a former city councilman and a community activist. It houses an e-library and daycare center and is home to an annual parade that celebrates the Cuban community in Hialeah. The park also features a monument dedicated to the Federation of Exiled Cuban Freemasons. Neighborhood children enjoy coming here for its sun-shielded playground, basketball courts and swimming pool.

For everyday needs, you’ll find a Presidente Supermarket on West 29th Street. This grocery chain has been privately owned and operated by a Cuban American family for over 30 years. Across the street is Pico Pico, a Cuban cafeteria-style restaurant with fast service, a menu with daily specials and a clean, inviting interior. Several businesses are alongside it — dry cleaners, event halls and local pharmacies. Discount shops are popular, and you can buy fresh flowers right on the street. West 29th Street is packed with restaurants, such as Polo Norte, an ice cream shop and pizzeria that serves some of the best authentic Cuban Pizza you’ve ever tasted. For standard American stores, Westland Mall features national retailers, such as anchor stores Macy’s and JCPenney’s or chain favorites H&M, Foot Locker and others. The Hialeah Park Casino, the site of the oldest thoroughbred horse racing facility in South Florida, features traditional gaming tables and some of the most popular gaming machines on the market.

While the heavy influence of Cuban culture on Hialeah makes it a very comfortable place for generations of people to live, Colp acknowledges that third- and fourth-generation Cubans are much more Americanized. She, herself, has become one of the top real estate sellers in Brickell, the financial hub of Miami. But to her, returning to Hialeah is like going home. It will always retain its Cuban charm.

Written By

Christopher Kopczynski

Photography Contributed By

Eduardo Ford

Video By

Pasha Chichagov