Bal Harbour Village
County
Miami-Dade
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Boundaries
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Community Type
Municipality
History
The Village of Bal Harbour is 0.34 miles of land north of Surfside, on the island of Miami Beach. The village originated as land owned by Miami Heights Cooperation, (comprised of Robert Graham, Walter Briggs, and C.T Fisher). Planning for Bal Harbour began in the 1930s by Harland Bartholomew & Associates, but the city was not incorporated until August 14, 1946. The original name was Bay Harbour; Bal Harbour was later created to describe a city that ran from the bay to the Atlantic Ocean. The “B” was taken from the word bay and “al” were taken from the word Atlantic. Bal Harbour village was the first planned community in Florida to have its utilities placed underground. The village was re-incorporated by an act of The Florida Legislature in 1947 and its own charter was issued on June 16, 1947. During World War II the village was rented out to the United States Air Corps for one dollar per year. The ocean front served as a rifle range and the barracks were located on the west of Collins Avenue. The prisoners of war camp were retained where the Bal Harbour shops are presently located. In 1959 the Bal Harbour beach was renovated due to severe erosion and underwent a re-nourishment initiative in 1971. In 1968 the Council passed a resort tax initiative. This successful venture established critical resources for the Village's multi-million dollar beach restoration efforts. It provided funds for maintenance and enhancement of the Village through the taxation of tourists.
Community Dynamics
The Bal Harbour community and its government are dedicated to preserving their reputation as one of Florida’s finest and most complete resort areas while remaining a residential community of distinction. Although Bal Harbour is one of Miami-Dade’s smallest municipalities in both size and population, it boasts one of Florida’s most affluent populations with a mean family income of over $49,000 annually. The community embraces the saying, “good things come in small packages” and its slogan is "Florida's Paradise". Bal Harbour is made up of mostly high-rise apartments and extravagant single family homes. The median house value in Bal Harbour Village is $523,000. Bal Harbour’s population is largely Caucasian totaling 94.5 % of the community’s population, making it one of the least diverse of all the Gold Coast communities.
As of 2010, there were 2,780 households out of which 52.6% were vacant. Population in 2013 is 2,613 and there is a population change of -20.9% since 2000, according to city-data.com.
Business Landscape
The Bal Harbour Shops were added in 1965. This famous shopping center ranks highly on an international scale with Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, Rodeo Drive, Bond Street, and Champs Elyses. The Bal Harbour Shops are located near the intersection of two Florida state roads: SR-922/96th Street and SR-A1A/Collins Avenue. The Shops are a large traffic generator within Bal Harbour Village, with approximately 450,000 square feet of retail space and approximately 95 luxury retailers and restaurants.
The new Regent Bal Harbour opens in 2007, becoming the northern gateway to the Village. This is the first new hotel to be built in the Village in fifty years. As the Sheraton Bal Harbour celebrates its 50th anniversary, this landmark has been transformed into a new St. Regis hotel.
Transportation Characteristics
Thanks to the $1.5 million Beach Master Plan of 2002, extensive landscaping and irrigation were completed to create a brand new jogging path (exclusively using only native plants on the dunes), from the northern end all the way to the Village's southern tip. The northern part of Surfside Beach is very popular among local visitors and tourists. The roads in Bal Harbour are among the most beautifully landscaped ones in America.
The two major roadways are SR-A1A/Collins Avenue going north and south through the village, and the SR-922/96th Street that connects the village with the mainland. Although they are operating at the acceptable FDOT defined Level of Service (LOS D), they are the most congested ones, particularly during peak hours and peak seasons. The popularity of Bal Harbour Shops contributes to the traffic congestions.
