Welleby

In 1960, Iowa-based developer Norman Johnson had an idea to buy a section of land in Florida and sell lots to residents of the Northern United States who sought a warmer climate. By that time, people already had been flocking to the Sunshine State for exactly that reason since the early 20th century. But Johnson was not to be put off his idea, and he bought 2,650 acres of undeveloped land between Ft. Lauderdale and the Everglades Wildlife Management Area, which he named Sunrise. There was, however, a slight problem: Nobody had ever heard of Sunrise, Florida. So Johnson devised a scheme that would have made P. T. Barnum proud. He built an upside-down house, complete with an upside-down car parked in an upside-down carport, with furniture bolted to the upside-down floor. When Life Magazine ran a story on the odd architectural creation, curious folks came in droves to see it, and many of them stayed. Today, Sunrise is home to 96,000 people, 11,000 of whom live in the Welleby neighborhood, about a mile from the original site of the upside-down house.

Today, you won’t find any whacky architectural gimmicks in Welleby. Rather, the neighborhood holds a variety of well-built homes and virtually every amenity you could ask for. And despite being off the beaten path (now that the famous upside-down house is gone), Welleby affords easy highway access, enabling residents to get virtually anywhere along Florida’s East Coast with ease. “It’s a very centrally-located community that is a relatively quiet place to live,” says Realtor Courtney Maxwell of All Broward Realty.

With a median real estate price of $450,000, Sunrise is significantly more affordable than Fort Lauderdale, even though the two cities are separated by only 10 miles. “The area has a lot of price points that cover a lot of budgets,” says Maxwell. “You can get into a condo for less than a lot of places in the area, and then you’ve got big houses, too.” Potential buyers have the option of choosing between single-family homes and condos in Sunrise, with houses tending to skew more toward the upper end of prices. A typical three-bedroom/two-bathroom contemporary-style home lists for around $395,000, while a sprawling four-bedroom/three-bathroom Craftsman-inspired home can sell for up to $685,000. Alternatively, a typical two-bedroom/two-bathroom condominium can sell for $157,000, and a larger three-bedroom/two-bathroom can go for up to $410,000.

Students in Welleby can attend Welleby Elementary, Westpine Middle and Piper High School. Welleby Elementary earns a B rating on Niche.com, Westpine Middle earns a B- and Piper High School earns a C+.

In the northwestern corner of the neighborhood sits Welleby Park, a 29-acre area that is teeming with recreational opportunities. The park features 11 covered picnic shelters, a walking path that covers slightly more than a mile, a lakeside boardwalk with benches and a children’s playground and splash pad. Welleby Park is an ideal place to burn off some extra energy, have a family get-together or take the dog for a leisurely stroll. In the southern section of the neighborhood you’ll find the Sunrise Tennis Club, a public tennis facility with 15 courts, a pro shop and locker rooms. The Welleby Pool is next door, and offers visitors access to both a 25-meter recreational pool and a children’s wading pool. If your interests are more geared towards spending time on the beach, you’re in luck. Sunrise is 10 miles from Earl Lifshey Ocean Park, and just a few minutes further from the beaches of both Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. “The neighborhood is close to pretty much everything,” says Maxwell. “You’ve got good restaurants, grocery stores, the park, you name it, all right there.”

With Publix conveniently located in the Welleby Plaza shopping center, grocery shopping is a breeze for neighborhood residents. And for those times you don’t feel like cooking at home, there are plenty of dining options in the neighborhood, too. Legends Tavern and Grille offers a wide selection of craft beer and specialty sandwiches served up in a casual setting, and Golden Krust brings Jamaican flavors to Florida, with specialties like jerk chicken, braised oxtail and brown chicken stew. If you find yourself in need of a little retail therapy, head down to Sawgrass Mills Shopping Center, where you’ll find Target, Sephora, Lululemon and a wide variety of other stores to satisfy your shopping cravings.

There was a time when Sunrise needed a marketing gimmick to encourage people to come, but that time has long passed. As the Welleby neighborhood demonstrates, the city is now home to abundant amenities and real estate options that fit a wide range of budgets. So if you’ve been spending the winter months dreaming about a Florida home – or you already live in Florida and want a neighborhood that fits both your budget and your lifestyle – check out Welleby in Sunrise.

Written By

Andrew Spencer

Photography Contributed By

Gabor Kovacs

Video By

Austin Lewis