Surfside Homes and Condos

Surfside’s location on the barrier island just north of Miami Beach and across the Broad Causeway from mainland Miami is a big plus. With a range of housing options, Surfside rates as a very pleasant and convenient place to live. Sandwiched between Miami Beach and Bal Harbour, home of the world-famous Bal Harbour Shops, the sleepy town of Surfside has come full circle regarding its glamour factor. One can’t address the town without beginning with its namesake, the private, posh Surf Club founded by Miami Beach pioneers in the early 20th century. The oceanside historic property, which is being renovated and expanded as The Surf Club Four Seasons Hotel and Residences by architect Richard Meier, soon begat the town in 1935. Surfside remained under the radar during the last few decades until luxury developers and brands including Fendi sought to reshape its shores for a new international audience of well-heeled buyers.

The Town of Surfside encompasses the area from 87th Terrace on its southern border with the city of Miami Beach to 96th Street on the north, where it meets Bal Harbour Village. To the east, Collins Avenue (A1A) runs north and parallel to the Atlantic Ocean while Harding Avenue heads south. Bay Drive on Indian Creek marks Surfside’s western boundary. 96th Street runs east to west and leads from the ocean to the bay and across the Intracoastal Waterway to NE 123rd Street in North Miami.

Strategically located street closures along 96th Street prevent through traffic on residential streets. There is ample metered parking in the Business District and in municipal parking lots. Residents can also sign up for a free metered parking program. Surfside lost its outdated community center to the wrecking ball and is moving forward on a new center on the Collins Avenue site.

Surfside occupies a total area of one square mile (2.5 square kilometers). About half of the neighborhood is land, and the other half is water. Surfside’s population is approximately 5,838. Half the population is under the age of 44, and 16.3 percent of residents are under the age of 18. Spanish-speaking residents, especially Colombians and Cubans, make up about half of the Surfside community. As of the 2000 census, the Town had the 20th highest percentage of Brazilian residents in the U.S. More recently, a number of people from France have moved to Surfside.

With a strict height restriction of 12 stories for buildings on Collins Avenue, as well as a population of fewer than 6,000 residents, most of whom live in mid-century modern, single-family residences, Surfside has managed to hold on to its friendly, small-town charm. Its borders, located within one square mile at the northern tip of the island, are the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay to the east and west, respectively, and 87th Terrace to 96th Street. South Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and the Miami Design District are within a 20-minute drive or less. Two international airports, a major hospital, and every good and service under the sun are easily accessible. 

Surfside serves as the gateway to Indian Creek, the city’s most exclusive private island whose eponymous main artery ranks as the most expensive residential street in the U.S. according to Zillow. Mere blocks away from billionaires’ estates, the pending, five-star Fendi Château Residences features 58 flow-through units sized up to 7,000 square feet. These oceanfront homes mark the Italian brand’s full-on foray into condominium design versus solely its Fendi Casa company.

Residents will be able to stroll to dinner at Casa Tua Mare, a seafood concept by South Beach’s beloved Casa Tua Italian restaurant, at The Surf Club Four Seasons Hotel and Residences. Due in 2016, the 8-acre property also features three new towers, four pools and nearly 900 feet of beachfront to put its legendary cabanas to use again. 

ASRR Capital and Suzer Group purchased the $40-million lot adjacent to The Surf Club to import a seven-star European hospitality brand. Their plans include a combination of 80 guest rooms topped by 10 condominiums, a beach club and a parking deck with a rooftop tennis facility. In the meantime, visitors continue to stay at the popular Grand Beach Hotel Surfside, which extends to a boutique hotel annex on the west side of Collins Avenue. Surfside appears to only be getting started in its luxury makeover. 

Places To Go and Things To Do Around Surfside

Besides luxury hotels and condominiums, the big news centers on its state-of-the-art, residents-only Community Center & Aquatic Facility. Families appreciate being able to walk to its plentiful services and amenities including pools and whirlpools for laps, relaxation and children, and a snack bar and grill. Community gatherings to kids’ birthday parties are a breeze at its multipurpose indoor venues and ample green space. Year-round educational activities and programs enrich daily life. Though small in size, the town also boasts a few parks, one of which offers a tot lot, and a tennis center with three lit courts for night play.   

The former Town Hall was completely revamped, too, where municipal departments and services are conveniently located under one roof, while the new Police Station makes residents feel even safer in this highly patrolled section of the beach. 

Surfside Government & Police

The Town of Surfside operates with an elected mayor, a vice mayor and three commissioners from chambers in the renovated Town Hall on Harding Avenue, the center of municipal operations. The adjoining police station houses officers working in a community-oriented style of policing. That means residents are likely to see bicycle-patrol officers circling their neighborhood and providing an increased sense of security.

On the beach patrol, officers can maneuver their four-wheel drive vehicles across the sand or use four-wheel ATVs during high tide. Three officers riding Road King Harley Davidson motorcycles are equipped with state-of-the-art laser and radar hand-held units. They enforce speed laws through the Town. The Surfside Police Department’s K-9 division uses a full-service handler and canine team trained to find people, evidence and narcotics.

Surfside Recreation

While the new community and aquatic center are under construction, the Town’s library and recreational activities are based in modular units behind the Town Hall. The Parks and Recreation Department offers activities such as Pilates, yoga and fitness classes, surfing lessons, seniors’ trips and outings to sports events.

Surfside has a book club and speaker series, while occasional large-scale events bring the whole community together to participate. The younger residents’ program includes arts and crafts, ballet, chess, gymnastics, and fitness and soccer, as well as activities for pre-schoolers. Children play in the renovated Surfside Park and Hawthorne Park Tot Lot, and all ages can enjoy coaching and games at the Tennis Center on 89th Street and Collins Avenue.

Surfside Shopping

With the benefit of regularly scheduled mini-buses circling the area, living in Surfside means easy access to shopping in the Harding Avenue Business District as well as in neighboring communities. The exclusive Bal Harbour Shops are close by.

The Business District is lined with small shops, including clothing stores, florists, gift shops, sporting goods, and drug stores. Here you can also find dry cleaners, shoe repair and beauty salons, seven banks and a choice of specialty food stores and bakeries. A Mediterranean-style Publix supermarket anchors the southern end of the Business District.

Surfside Dining

Restaurants of all kinds abound in Surfside. A selection on Harding Avenue includes Café Ragazzi, a favorite for Italian dishes, Pescecane, old-fashioned Italian fare, Adriana, delicious Peruvian classics, The Food Gang, elegant but unpretentious bistro and tapas bar, and Flanigan's for “macho meals.” Other picks on Harding Avenue include Specchio, Harbour Grill, Sushi Republic, and the upscale kosher Cine Citta.

Surfside History

Although South Florida’s native Tequesta people had built their only known settlement in the area centuries earlier, it wasn’t until 1930 that the private Surf Club put Surfside on the map. Leaders of the new community were drawn from the 35 members of the exclusive Club that organized incorporation of the Town of Surfside in May 1935. Streets of small houses were developed in the following years, and the Town began to grow slowly as construction continued sporadically.

In 1949, following the post-WWII building boom, hundreds of affordable new homes went up, attracting year-round residents. The 9400 and 9500 blocks of Harding Avenue, named for U.S. President Warren G. Harding, evolved as the main Surfside Business District.