West Gate Estates

What you'll find in the West Gate Estates neighborhood are modest, 1,000 to 1,500-square-foot homes, some renovated, with big backyards and lots of charm. “For less than a half-million dollars, you're just a hop, skip and a jump from the beach,” says Josh Glasser, owner and managing broker of The Meta Group Florida LLC. Glasser recently worked with an investor to buy and renovate a home in West Gate Estates. “It’s hard to find single-family homes so close to the beach in the $400,000 range,” Glasser says. “That’s a lot of home for your buck, and the beach is only 5 miles away.”

With regular perpendicular streets, minimal landscaping and simple Ranch-style homes, West Gate Estates is a neighborhood that came of age in the 1950s. “Not too many properties go on the market there,” Glasser says. “When they do, they sell slowly. I think buyers take their time in older neighborhoods. They need to find their niche, but for some, West Gate Estates is the perfect fit.”

Families with children will appreciate the neighborhood schools. West Gate Elementary on Oswego Avenue, with a Niche ranking of C-plus, has a dual language program and subscribes to the challenging, British-designed Cambridge International K-12 program. Jeaga Middle School, which has a C ranking by Niche, offers a pre-culinary arts and a pre-law program. Last but not least, Palm Beach Lakes High School, which also has a C ranking by Niche, offers students the opportunity to learn through six dynamic academies, such as the Early Childhood/Teacher Education Academy or Medical Sciences Academy.

Two popular green spaces that provide escape and respite to residents are Westgate Park and Mounts Botanical Garden. The 9-acre Westgate Park is the only park in the neighborhood. It features outdoor basketball courts, athletic fields, a picnic pavilion, a playground and a children’s splash pad. Adults can enjoy pickleball, volleyball, basketball and badminton at the park's indoor Recreation Center. Just a few miles south on North Military Highway, Mounts Botanical Garden has dozens of themed gardens, such as the Garden of Tranquility, which uses simple elements and clean landscaping to inspire peace. Enjoy the day at this 20-acre green oasis, and be sure to watch for bring-your-dog-to-the-garden days and special plant festivals and sales.

For everyday needs, West Gate Estates is well-equipped. La Tapatía Supermarket is right on Westgate Avenue, which runs east-west through the neighborhood. If you’re willing to travel a few miles south (before you hit the botanical garden), you’ll find a Walmart Supercenter. Just take a drive on Okeechobee Boulevard, the main business corridor that runs along the top of the neighborhood, and you’ll run across car dealerships, pharmacies, clothing and furniture stores, and many restaurants.

A standout is Okeechobee Steak House, named one of the 15 best steak restaurants in the world by Condé Nast Traveler. This neighborhood landmark has been in business for more than 75 years, and the establishment knows how to please. Try a mouth-watering filet mignon — according to reviews, it's aged and cooked to perfection. And pair it with a sweet cold-water lobster tail. For a drink afterward, stop in at 215 Speakeasy down the road. This funky cocktail bar has a charming Manhattan feel, and its mixologists are always ready to dazzle your tastebuds with an Old Fashioned, Mojito or flavored Martini.

While West Gate Estates is small — only a half square mile in size — it’s big on possibilities. Living between Florida’s Turnpike and I-95, residents are not only within a day's drive of most Florida attractions, they're also happy not to share the same cost of living.

Written By

Christopher Kopczynski

Photography Contributed By

David Dunn

Video By

Brian Bernhard