Vero Beach

Located just north of Vero Beach, Gifford is a historically Black community with a rich artistic history. It was home to several members of the Florida Highwaymen, a group of Black artists whose sold their landscape art door-to-door or out of the trunks of cars from the 1950s to the 1980s. Though a long-standing community, Gifford saw development stall while the rest of Sebastian and Vero Beach grew. Only since 2010 has the community seen new advancements and resources. "I've been here for 20 years, and Gifford has gone through a lot of transformation in the last decade," says Eric Attio, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of VB. "From US 1 to around 43rd Street, it tends to still be what it was and is under works for improvements. Going west is all revitalization, with new construction." On the east side of Gifford, open lots, small bungalows and ranch-style homes are mostly what is on the market, while the west side has undergone significant development. Prices for lots and older homes range between $55,000 and $200,000. "If someone wants to buy now and fix up the property, it'll probably be worth a lot of money in a few years," Attio says. "The market is moving crazy fast. Most buyers are first-time owners, and I notice a lot of doctors moving in because they're so close to the [Cleveland Clinic Indian River] Hospital." Many original homes in Gifford were built between 1970 and 1985, while new construction began around 2005. Contemporary homes follow Spanish eclectic and Mediterranean architectural styles, with stucco exteriors and domed archways. Price tags for new, modern properties are between $350,000 and $550,000. "All the gated communities tend to make a halo around the center of these areas where there was originally less development," says Chris Junker, a Realtor with Re/Max Crown Realty with a decade of experience selling in the area. Gifford relies heavily on Route 1, a major thoroughfare that runs directly up the East Coast. Ramps to Interstate 95 are just a few miles away, and residents mainly depend on cars for transportation. Most residents will catch flights at Vero Beach Regional Airport from Orlando Melbourne International Airport, 33 miles north. For health needs and emergencies, Gifford is next door to the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital, the largest medical center in Vero Beach. Gifford is zoned to the Indian River County School District, which receives an A-minus grade from Niche as a district. Dodgertown Elementary gets a C-plus from Niche and is located within the community. Students can move on to Gifford Middle, which receives a B, before heading to A-minus-rated Vero Beach High. The high school offers dual enrollment with Indian River State College so students can take college-level classes at the college, online, or during the summer. Vero Beach High is also well-known for its extracurriculars, with its band having performed overseas in Europe and the VBHS Girls Lacrosse team winning each state championship for nearly 10 years straight. At the northside off Route 1 is the Harbor Point Shopping Center, anchored by a Publix and surrounded by stops such as Orange Theory Fitness and Walgreens. The Indian River Mall and several big-box stores, such as Walmart and Sam's Club, are 5 miles from the neighborhood. Gifford has several locally owned eateries, from the small front patio of Sir B Restaurant, known for traditional Jamaican food, to the bright, flavorful dishes at Janejira Thai. One of the neighborhood's highlights – both for outdoor recreation and a slice of history – is the Victor Hart Sr. Community Enhancement Complex. Victor Hart Sr. played a critical role in supporting his community, opening the first NAACP chapter in Indian River County, as well as the Progressive Civic League of Gifford. The park has a playground for local children, tennis and basketball courts, and baseball fields where the Gifford Youth Little Leagues plays. It connects to the Gifford Aquatic Center and Youth Achievement Center, which focuses on providing free youth and senior programs, from art classes to sports leagues. At The Gifford Community Cultural & Resource Center, Gifford’s rich history of art from the Florida Highwaymen and the efforts of Black pioneers are preserved, and volunteers brings free art and education programs to the area.

In the mornings, boats rev up to head onto the Indian River, cicadas chirp in oaks draped with Spanish moss and waves crash onto the shores of South Beach. Part of the shoreline that makes up the Treasure Coast, South Beach is one of Vero Beach's largest areas – and highly sought after for its waterside lifestyle and stately homes. "People living here are usually just here for the winter months, but we have some locals who stay year-round. Water is really the way of life," says Sherry Goff, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Florida who's lived in the area for over a decade. I walk to the beach every day from my house—just this morning, I watched them launch a rocket from Fort Pierce at sunrise." Expanses of blue water on either side of South Beach are one of the biggest draws for new residents, with the stretching shores of the Atlantic to the east and the islands and inlets of the Indian River to the west. "This whole area is about lifestyle – you can get to the water in minutes, and we're actually gaining sand, not losing it," says Erika Ross, a Realtor with The Moorings Realty Sales Co. who's lived in the area for 20 years. "In my community, people make cocktails and take their dogs down to the beach or at the yacht club taking the boats out." In a community where many neighborhoods have beach and river access, kayaking, boating and fishing are giant pastimes. The shoreline of South Beach avoids interruption by high-rises, as Indian River County forbids anything with more than four stories to be built on the shore. It's a common site to see people out boogieboarding, tossing around a volleyball or bobbing along with the waves in the water. Found near the Port St. Lucie County line, Round Island Riverside Park is a popular destination for nature walks and river views from observation towers, while manatees and dolphins are familiar sights floating through the calm waters. With housing prices that trend nearly a million dollars over the average for Vero Beach, South Beach has some of the most sought-after communities in the city. South Beach is known for its luxury, from the highly varied architecture at The Moorings – which has everything from two-bedroom condos to five-bedroom Spanish Revivals – to the elaborate beachfront homes at what the locals call 'estate row.' "The houses in South Beach are gorgeous, but people are really paying for the area and amenities," Goff says. "Most homes in South Beach have river or beach access, fabulous clubhouses and private docks." While prices in South Beach run a vast range, the lowest ranges are typically between $300,000 and $500,000 for condos built in the 1970s. Once townhomes or single-family homes surpass 2,000 square feet, especially if they have immediate river or beach access, homebuyers can expect price tags between $800,000 and $4 million. Any properties in the million range typically are new-builds or have undergone massive renovation, are 4,000 or more square feet and possess amenities such as pools and three-car garages. Many houses have hurricane-proofed garage doors and windows, and flood insurance is not only encouraged but sometimes required. Vero Beach has several well-attended annual events, one of the biggest being the Under the Oaks Art Show in March, where over 80,000 guests come to see the artisan vendors' creative works. A staple for the community, Riverside Theatre puts on live outdoor music performances and theater performances weekly. "In tourism season, everyone takes up the lawn for the music," Goff says. "Us locals just tailgate in the parking lot. Everyone brings their coolers and snacks and hangs out, it's like a big party." Crossing over the 17th Street Bridge, residents of South Beach are about 3 miles from the shopping pockets along 17th and 21st Street. Walgreens, Walmart Neighborhood Market and Fresh Market can be found in a small radius, alongside the local shops that line 21st Street, also known as 'Miracle Mile,' for its unique boutiques. South Beach has some community favorites that stay busy during both the summer lull and the population increase of winter. While walking on the shore towards Central Beach, the back porches and cabanas of restaurants are lit with string lights, live music playing for anyone passing by. "Dario's is our go-to Italian spot; the food there is fabulous," Goff says. "We don't go out much, but when we do, it's there or up to Bobby's for drinks. South Beach Pizzeria is a cute little spot, too; it's been there for years." Kids living in South Beach can attend schools under the Indian River School District, and most public schools are on the mainland. If attending public school, kids can start at Beachland Elementary, rated a B-plus on Niche and one of the only schools on the coastal side. They can move on to Gifford Middle, graded with a B, before heading to A-minus-rated Vero Beach High. Goff points out that many living in South Beach will send their children to Saint Edward's School, a private school that receives an A-plus grade and teaches kindergarten through twelfth grade. It ranks as one of the top private schools in Florida and maintains an extremely small student-teacher ratio of 7-1. The island side of Vero Beach is extremely car-dependent, and the A1A Highway runs directly down the coast and connects to all bridges that cross the Intracoastal Waterway, namely the 17th Street Bridge, Barber Bridge and Wabasso Causeway. While Vero Beach has the Vero Beach Regional Airport, the only commercial airline it serves is Breeze, which has limited destination stops. Most residents will fly out of the larger hub of Melbourne Orlando International Airport, located 36 miles north. For emergencies and general medical needs, South Beach is 4 miles from the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. Those considering a move to South Beach should also be aware that the CAP Index Crime Score for the community is 1, with the national average being 4.