Sweetwater

University Park owes its name to Florida International University, home of the Panthers. This college community is not only a hub for student activity but a self-contained suburb, complete with side-walk-lined streets, parks, schools, shopping and dining. “It’s a really friendly, welcoming, family-oriented area,” says Cesar Villarreal, a local Realtor with Keller Williams Capital Realty. “Home values are increasing rapidly there. Miami’s got two main universities. FIU is the newer, public one. A lot of it was built out in the 2000s, and it’s still developing. So, you have this modern campus to explore and all these businesses popping up around it. Everything is only a few minutes away. It’s super central.” Single-family homes in University Park range from around $500,000 for ranch-style homes and bungalows to $1.9 million for estate-style residences. While some properties date back to the 1950s, most homes in the community were built between the 1960s and ‘90s. Most are also free of HOAs. “Believe it or not, a house built in the ‘70s is pretty new compared to, like, Coral Gables, where most homes are from the ‘20s and ‘50s,” Villarreal says. “So, these houses have features that weren’t really in style in earlier decades, like garages and master bedrooms with en suite bathrooms.” Spanish eclectic architecture — characterized by barrel roof tiles, stucco siding and arches — is the neighborhood’s predominant style. Two-story homes are available, but most of the housing stock is ranch-style. Remodels and renovations blend Spanish eclectic and contemporary styles in some properties, while others are wholly transformed by streamlined, modern architecture. Lot sizes are typically small, less than a quarter acre. Driveways are standard; garages are common. Multifamily properties, such as townhouses and condos, are in the neighborhood, too, ranging in price from $240,000 to the low $400,000s. University Park is served by Miami-Dade Public Schools. The neighborhood’s primary schools, Coral Park Elementary and Royal Palm Elementary are rated B-plus on Niche. The middle schools, Rockaway Middle and Riviera Middle, are rated B. Miami Coral Park Senior High, rated B, and Southwest Miami Senior High, rated B-plus, are the last stops on this K-12 line. Both schools feature magnet programs students can apply for to focus on their areas of interest, from Southwest Miami’s Programming Academy to Miami Coral Park’s Architecture Magnet. There’s plenty of room for recreation in University Park, whether participating or spectating. Panthers fans can follow their favorites from the stands of Riccardo Silva Stadium and the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. The neighborhood's biggest green space is Tamiami Park, right by the university. It has sand volleyball, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, as well as soccer, baseball and softball fields. There’s also a community pool to cool off from the hot South Florida sun. Concord Park is smaller and less crowded on the weekends. Residents utilize its ballfield, outdoor fitness zones, walkways, and basketball courts. FIU opened in 1972 and grew to define University Park. Its beautifully landscaped public campus is University Park’s centerpiece, featuring libraries and green spaces that residents are free to enjoy. The grounds around the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum are particularly scenic, home to an outdoor sculpture garden titled the “Avenue of the Arts.” Paved walkways lead visitors past avant-garde sculptures made of stainless steel, bronze, marble and more. Inside the Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum are its fixed collections, including Haitian and Cuban paintings, multi-media installations by self-taught Miami artists, 1960s and ‘70s American printmaking and pre-Columbian artifacts. Resident foodies enjoy the array of local, chain and university-run eateries around University Park. Dos Croquetas is a family-owned business established in 2016 to bring delicious, handcrafted croquettes to Miami. It was a hit, largely thanks to the buzz generated by the Food Network and other outlets. Añejo Restaurant & Bar is popular for its elegantly plated Cuban cuisine and calendar of live performances. Night Owl Cookies is a late-night favorite with a menu of warm, homemade, ooey-gooey goodies. For running errands, University Park has two Publix supermarkets, a Winn-Dixie and multiple pharmacies. Local doctors’ practices are also in the neighborhood. University Park residents have immediate access to the Tamiami Trail, which can lead them 15 miles east to Downtown Miami and connect them to the nearby Palmetto Expressway. Miami International Airport is also close by, only 10 miles from the heart of the community. Dade County Metrobus stops can be found along major roads like Coral Way, making carless commutes convenient.

In 1939, a group of Russian circus performers who called themselves the Royal Russian Midgets were coming to the end of their world tour, and they spent the winter in South Florida. One day while out driving, they happened upon an area that seemed like an ideal place to settle down and retire. Two years later, the group established the town of Sweetwater, electing their manager Joe Sanderlin as the town’s first mayor. The name of Sweetwater was chosen because of the area’s proximity to Miami, a city whose name is taken from the Seminole word for “sweet water.” Today, the neighborhood of Sweetwater Groves is a bustling and diverse community composed of students from nearby Florida International University, as well as young adults and families. And while people are drawn to the neighborhood for different reasons – it’s close to campus, convenient to Miami, loaded with amenities – the common thread is that they love where they live. “It’s a very good location that is very quiet and very family-friendly,” says Realtor Lina Nasser. “It’s a good mix of younger and older people, too.”<br><br>The median home price in Sweetwater Groves is $350,000, and potential buyers should expect to pay slightly more than $300 per square foot. “The price points are very good, and a lot of the single-family homes have small attached studios that owners can use to rent to university students if they want,” says Nasser. Options for homes in the neighborhood range from manufactured homes to single-family residences to duplexes, and architectural styles vary, too, with Mediterranean-themed and ranch-style houses predominating. A three-bedroom/two-bathroom manufactured home can start at around $152,000, a three-bedroom/two-bathroom in one-half of a duplex sells for around $350,000, and a five-bedroom/two-bathroom single-family ranch-style home can go for up to $650,000. <br><br>Students in the neighborhood can attend Sweetwater Elementary, Paul W. Bell Middle and Miami Coral Park Senior High School. Sweetwater Elementary earns an A- rating on Niche.com, Paul W. Bell Middle earns a B- and Miami Coral Park Senior High earns a B. Parents can also send children to any of the highly-rated private schools in the area, including Ransom Everglades and Miami Country Day, ranked as the 4th and 9th best private schools in the state respectively.<br><br>Sweetwater Groves is also conveniently located to many nearby amenities. The Women’s Park is just a few minutes east down Flagler, where you’ll find 15 acres of open space to play or relax, a playground and a lake populated with abundant wildlife, all encircled by a paved walking path. Additionally, The Women’s Park is home to a butterfly garden, where you will see an abundance of those beautiful winged creatures, and a gallery featuring installations about women’s history. Just a few more miles east and you’ll cross the MacArthur Causeway into Miami Beach, where you can soak up the sun virtually year-round. “The location is great,” says Nasser. “It’s accessible to so many things that are so close to the neighborhood.”<br><br>For your shopping needs, head to Laguna Plaza, where you’ll find Food Star Supermarket and CVS Pharmacy. Target is less than 5 minutes away by car for any household necessities, and you’ll find Ross, T.J. Maxx, Ulta Beauty and several other retail stores in the same area. And for those times when you just want to dine out, the world comes to you in Sweetwater Groves. Whether it’s sushi from Sokai Sushi Bar, Cuban cuisine at Rinconcito Cubano, Nicaraguan food from Quesillos Guiliguiste or Cajun specialties from Cajun Boil, you’re sure to find something that tickles your culinary fancy nearby.<br><br>A convenient location, a variety of housing options and plentiful nearby amenities combine into one neighborhood in Sweetwater Groves. The area really does have something for just about everyone, so check it out if you’re in the market for a home in South Florida.