Coral Gables Section

Encircling the rolling greens of a historic golf course are beautiful suburbs lined with tropical verdure and historic Spanish Revival homes. Welcome to Coral Gables Section.

As a part of the "City Beautiful" or "Garden City," it makes sense that the neighborhood's properties, streets and sidewalks are enveloped by lush flora, providing each block with ample shade and picturesque scenery. While no singular HOA manages the community — contrarily, the area is largely HOA-free — properties are meticulously maintained, turning casual walks around the neighborhood into exhibitions of curbside appeals. You'll mostly see stunning Spanish-revival architecture, characterized by stucco walls, barrel roof tiles, arches, patios and rustic detailing. These traits are either displayed in ranch-style homes or stretched across multilevel estates. That said, some Midcentury modern and Minimal Traditional charmers bring a bit of diversity to the neighborhood's aesthetic. "Many of these houses are from the 1920s," says Trent Alvarado, a local Realtor with Keller Williams Elite. "They're beautiful, and they have character. You drive by these houses, and can't help but dream of living in one." Prices for a single-family home in Coral Gables Section range from $1.5 million to over $6 million. For $2.3 million, you can land a five-bedroom, four-bathroom, bi-level Spanish Revival built in 2004 on a 6,900 square-foot lot. "The closer you live to the golf course, the more expensive it will be," Alvarado says. Multifamily homes, such as low- and mid-rise condos as well as town houses and duplexes, can be found on the east side of the community, closer to Miami. Prices for these kinds of homes range from $250,000 to just over $1 million.

There's a lot to do on the north side of Coral Gables. There's shopping at the Shoppes at Merrick Park, with luxury retailers, such as Nordstrom, trendy eateries just a mile away in downtown Coral Gables, including Seasons 52. You could even grab a drink at a swanky spot like the Biltmore Hotel, located less than a mile south of the neighborhood. However, Coral Gables Section truly stands out as a suburb with everything in the community proper. "People are out walking and biking all the time," Alvarado says. "You can go and jump into any activity; jump into golf, into tennis, into basketball, the gym, the pool." First, there's the Granada Golf Course. This par 36, nine-hole course dates back to 1923. It sits across from the Coral Gables Golf and Country Club, which offers its members golf, tennis, a pool, an athletic club and other amenities. It's also home to Le Parc, a French café with delectable espresso and light breakfast and lunch options. The Venetian Pool is another local landmark built in 1923; its crystalline waters and cave-like grottos are right at home in Coral Gables Section. Lastly, George Merrick's home, now a museum, comprises key traits of Mediterranean and Spanish architecture on the south side of the community.

As with landmarks, parks are also aplenty in Coral Gables Section. Small green spaces are sprinkled throughout the area, encouraging regular exploration. However, if you're just looking for somewhere to spread out a blanket for a picnic in the shade of an ancient oak, Lamar Louise Curry Park is the perfect place. And if you're feeling up for a game of tennis, sidle over to Salvadore Park and Tennis Center to utilize one of its 13 lighted clay courts.

Students in Coral Gables Section may start school at Coral Gables Preparatory Academy, a mandatory uniform school rated with an A-minus on Niche. While Coral Gables Prep is a K-8 school, students may also attend Ponce de Leon Middle, rated with a B on Niche, for grades six through eight before moving on to Coral Gables Senior High, which received a B-plus rating from Niche. This high school boasts two magnet programs and five academies, including the academy of finance and the academy of communication arts, film and digital media.

"This is a neighborhood people aspire to live in," Alvarado says. "It's a great place to raise a family; it's just a great place to be." Close to Route 1 and Interstate 95, the Coral Gables Section neighborhood is as beautiful and rich with history as it is convenient for daily life. There's nothing not to love in this leafy pocket of sunny South Florida.

Written By

Micaela Willoughby

Photography Contributed By

Daniele Giuseppe Del Gaudio

Video By

Adam Barkley