Surfside CONDOMINIUMS

With some of its city streets named after famous writers such as Byron, Carlyle, Dickens, Emerson, Hawthorne and Isaac Bashevis Singer, the Jewish writer who lived there until his death, Surfside has been a quiet, residential enclave since its inception in 1935. Only nine blocks long and 10 blocks wide at its largest point, Surfside is nestled between the city of Miami Beach on the south and the Village of Bal Harbour on the north. The oceanfront town has a population of about 4,500, and has maintained a sense of exclusivity, which echoes the founding of the town by 35 people, all members of the Surf Club, a private club in the town.

Surfside has completed several public projects in recent years, including renovation of the shopping and business district, renovation of parks, tot lot, and pubic areas, the rejuvenation of properties along A1A, roadway, drainage and landscaping improvements, commuter traffic control measures, infrastructure repairs, and the remodeling of Town Hall. The city, a mix of old and new homes, adheres to a building policy that prevents Condominiums and hotels along the oceanfront on A1A from exceeding 12 stories.

A community center located on the ocean and 93rd Street offers a variety of activities for residents and visitors. It houses the Surf-Bal-Bay Library, the Tourist Board, the Recreation Department, and meeting rooms for special events and receptions. The center also has a huge pool, snack bar, and easy access to the beach.

Surfside’s Two-block long business district runs along Harding Avenue with a variety of businesses, professional offices and restaurants. Although the ritzy Bal HARBOUR Shops is located in neighboring Bal Harbour, upscale boutiques and eateries are thriving on Harding Avenue.

Surfside children attend Ruth K. Broad/Bay Harbor Elementary School. Graduating sixth-graders go on to Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach and Miami Beach Senior High. The town also has its own program called the Surf-Bal-Bay After- School Sports and Recreation Program, which provides students with after-school activities.

Surfside officials say they strive to maintain a high quality of life for its residents. Emergency police response is approximately one minute; garbage pickup is six days a week. Some other amenities enjoyed by residents and visitors are Haulover Park, a Tennis Center, Surfside Park and Hawthorne Park Tot Lot.

Paul Novack, the town’s mayor for 11 years, has heralded the necessity of controlled growth for Surfside and has resisted the over development efforts in some neighboring municipalities. He also has led the town’s opposition to Miami-Dade County’s efforts to bring commercial development to Haulover Park.

BY CHRISTINA FITCH U/Miami News Service
Town of Surfside