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.

Found just off the 'Miracle Mile' – one of the most famous stretches of roads for shopping and dining in the city – and not far from the Intracoastal Waterway, Royal Park is part of the original growth of downtown Vero Beach, Florida. With the construction of the Vero Beach Country Club in the early 20th century came Mediterranean and Spanish Revival-style homes that still stand and are selling today, and the demand to own one is part of the appeal. "Vero Beach is, sadly, no longer our secret," says Eric Attio, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of VB. He's lived and sold homes in Vero Beach for 20 years. "When people live in central Vero Beach, they don't want to live anywhere else; it's a desirable zip code. The market is moving crazy fast, especially for these more retro areas." Housing in Royal Park is highly varied, with most homes dating from 1940 to 1980, and some even built as far back as 1920. Ranch homes and Spanish Revival-inspired architectural styles are common, painted in pastels and earthy tones. When Vero Beach began its peak construction in the mid-20th century, the areas closest to it followed the trend. "When Vero Beach was really getting established between the 50s and 70s, it got all built up," says Chris Junker, a Realtor with Re/Max Crown Realty. He currently lives in nearby Sebastian and has a decade of experience selling in the area. "What's happened lately is that they've renovated the old houses because there's just not room near downtown for new construction; that's all on the outskirts." Two-bedroom condos are priced between $130,000 and $200,000, while midcentury single-family homes sell between $250,000 and $400,000; ones with higher price points have been extensively renovated. The closer to the Vero Beach Country Club, the more the price climbs. Custom and unique Spanish Revival homes often cost between $600,000 and $850,000. At the southern portion of Royal Park is a large commercial and business area shared with downtown Vero Beach. Residents can find big-name errand stops such as Publix, Fresh Market and Ulta, alongside important necessities such as banking locations and Urgent Care. While the plazas that run along 21st Street, which is locally known as the Miracle Mile, have plenty of chain stores and restaurants, they're also where residents can find dozens of locally owned businesses. From the salon services at La Beaute' Market to the wall of instruments at Melody Music, personal flare from the community is a large part of what makes 21st Street unique. There are also plenty of local eats to try, whether it be the seasonal flavors at Sweet Kiss Ice Cream or the fresh sushi at Mai Thai Bistro. Since Royal Park is located at the heart of Vero Beach, residents have immediate access to the many annual and weekly events downtown. Vero Beach has several well-attended events, with 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. In February, great eats, fine reds and live performances come together at the Vero Beach Food, Wine and Music Festival, with all proceeds going to local charities. At the center of Royal Park is the Vero Beach Country Club, founded in 1924 and with an 18-hole golf course spanning 100 acres. They host both casual and tournament golf and have several dining venues, clubhouses with weekly events and a resort-style pool. Bordering the neighborhood to the west is Pocahontas Park, where residents can take their kids to the playground or meet up with friends for games of pickleball and shuffleboard. Crossing over the Intracoastal Waterway via Merrill Barber Bridge, the shores of the Atlantic are just 3 miles away for prime beach lounging and swimming. Royal Park falls under the Indian River County School District, which receives an A-minus grade from Niche as a district. Many local kids will be sent to Beachland Elementary for kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is graded with a B-plus and makes it into the top 10 of the best elementary schools in the county. Students can move on to Gifford Middle, graded with 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. Royal Park, just like the rest of Vero Beach, heavily relies on Route 1 as a major thoroughfare that runs directly up the East Coast. Ramps to Interstate 95 are just a few miles away via 20th Street, and while many residents have cars, the area is considered quite walkable and bikeable. To catch flights, Orlando Melbourne International Airport is 33 miles north. For health needs and emergencies, the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital – the largest medical center in Vero Beach – is less than a mile away.

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.

Vero Beach South, known simply to locals as South Vero, encompasses a vast portion of the city's mainland. Found just south of downtown, what was once only cow pastures was transformed into pockets of residential communities and shopping areas. South Vero also has one of the most visited sites in Vero Beach – the McKee Botanical Gardens. "Vero is special in many ways—it's like a little jewel box. The mainland might not be as luxurious, but it's so clean, and the residents take pride in their homes," says Livia Sorger, a Realtor with One Sotheby's International Realty. She moved to Vero Beach from Hungary 10 years ago and has sold homes for 20 years. "If you put the homes we have on the mainland onto the beach, they'd be double the price." Mainly residential, South Vero contains some of the oldest properties in Vero Beach, many built between 1950 and 1980. Ranch homes and simple minimal traditional styles are typical for this era, and many sell between $250,000 and $350,000. "South Vero, I think of as anywhere from 14th Street to South Oslo, but there's a bunch of communities within it," says Eric Attio, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty of VB. He's lived and sold homes in Vero Beach for 20 years. "There might be smaller homes and dirt roads, but you can find gorgeous properties. South Vero has an old reputation for not being the nicest part of town, which isn't true. You just need to know where to look." South Vero still has plenty of open land, and new homes have steadily been popping up since the early 21st century. Newer houses, often inspired by Mediterranean or Spanish design, typically sell for $400,000 to $600,000. They usually sit on at least a quarter to half an acre and feature pools and two-car garages. South Vero falls under the Indian River County School District, and there are several elementary schools within the area that kids might attend. Most attended are Citrus Elementary and Vero Beach Elementary, which have a B and B-minus on Niche, respectively. Many kids will move on to B-minus-rated Oslo Middle, then to A-minus-rated Vero Beach High. The Indian River District provides the Champions List, an extensive breakdown of all clubs and extracurriculars they offer in each public school. Schools across all grade levels have unique offerings, from youth sailing, environmental conservation clubs and aviation programs. The car-dependent community of South Vero mainly relies on Route 1 to get around the city, with the 17th Street Bridge crossing over the Intracoastal Waterway, the beach only a few miles away. 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 Vero is 4 miles from the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. Nearby is South County Park – also known as Dick Bird Park – which has a large playground, basketball and tennis courts, and four multi-purpose ball fields. Found off Route 1 is the McKee Botanical Gardens, originally opened in 1932 and a trendy destination for those driving by from other cities. Once air travel became more common, its popularity decreased, and the gardens fell into disarray – until Indian River County poured nearly 2 million dollars into this historic site. Today, it's 18 acres of natural Floridian greenery, with wild palms, Spanish moss-draped oaks, and neon-petaled flowers blooming in the humid air. Art structures from local artisans are scattered throughout the walking trails, and there's a huge children's area, with a pirate ship built as a playground and outdoor musical instruments. McKee hosts free children's play events alongside art programs weekly. Most of the mainland's shopping and dining areas are concentrated in South Vero, with the most prominent sections concentrated off Oslo Road and 8th Avenue. Majestic Plaza and the surrounding blocks are some of the most popular commercial strips for residents, providing a Publix and big-name stops like Tractor Supply and AutoZone. Locals also head here to catch movies at The Majestic 11 movie theater and head into the local salons and shops peppered around the chain stores. Wilke's 14 Bones BBQ has been serving smoked brisket and burgers to Vero Beach for over 30 years, while the Green Marlin Restaurant & Raw Bar is a local favorite for seafood on the mainland. In February, at Riverside Park, many in South Vero will head over the 17th Street Bridge to attend the annual Vero Beach Food, Wine & Music Festival. The entertainment is in the name – tons of local vendors come out to serve wine and spirits to the community while live music plays, with proceeds going to local charities. Every week, Riverside Theatre hosts outdoor musical shows and productions, and social clubs around the community throw events for members. "This is a very community-oriented area," Sorger says. "When I got here 10 years ago, this town welcomed me with open arms." Due to South Vero bordering the Intracoastal Waterway and being only a few miles from the Atlantic, it's prone to weather such as flooding and hurricanes. For many neighborhoods, flood insurance is not only encouraged but required. Many homeowners will pay additional money to have hurricane-proofed garage doors and windows installed if the house is not already equipped.