Richmond Heights

Named for its relative elevation and proximity to the now-defunct Naval Air Station Richmond, the neighborhood of Richmond Heights was developed in the years following WWII by Captain Frank C. Martin, a Pan American pilot and veteran who originally purchased the land to grow papayas but pivoted to real estate after a hurricane destroyed his crop. The neighborhood was built as a community for Black veterans returning from the war, many of whom were not given the same housing opportunities as their white counterparts. Teaming up with community leaders, real estate professionals and Black GIs throughout Miami, Capt. Martin lead the creation of a neighborhood with its own parks, schools, churches and safe suburban streets decades ahead of much of Florida and the rest of the country. While homes are no longer only sold to Black veterans with an honorable service record, this sense of community lives at the heart of Richmond Heights, with some properties still owned by the original families that first called the neighborhood home.

Houses in this area are generally ranch-style homes, some sporting design elements from other architectural styles, like the Spanish-inspired clay roofing common throughout Florida. Three-bedroom homes are priced in the mid-$400,000s, with larger properties or newer construction reaching into the $500,000s.

Richmond Heights was designed with a unique curving street pattern to break up the strict suburban monotony common in many post-WWII housing developments. Some streets are named for U.S. presidents like Lincoln, Jefferson and Monroe while others proudly bear the names of key figures from Black history like Mary McLeod Bethune, Booker T. Washington and Jackie Robinson.

For a day outdoors, head to Sgt. Joseph Delancy Park, fully equipped with football fields, baseball diamonds, and basketball and tennis courts. There’s even a playground and community pool, complete with an aquatic splash zone. Enjoy the wide-open green space of Ferguson Park or stop by the playgrounds and shaded picnic areas at the small neighborhood parks, Richmond Triangle Park and Walter A. White Park

Students in Richmond Heights attend Miami-Dade County public schools like Frank Crawford Martin International Center, a K-8 school named for the area’s founder and boasting an impressive 7/10 in both test scores and student progress from GreatSchools, as well as a B+ overall grade from Niche. Coral Reef High School offers several magnet programs for students to explore future career paths in fields like Agriscience and Engineering, Business and Finance, Health Sciences, Legal and Public Affairs, and Visual and Performing Arts

At Richmond Heights Middle, students can join the Science Zoo Magnet Program, which feeds into Richmond Heights High School and BioTECH, a nationally recognized magnet school with a focus on conservationism and biodiversity. Both schools include access to the research station and science classroom within Zoo Miami, offering a hands-on learning experience in animal sciences and environmentalism.

Sitting only 3 miles from the neighborhood, Richmond Heights residents can easily spend a day exploring nearly 750 acres of enclosures and more than 100 exhibits at Zoo Miami, with wildlife native to Florida and from across the world. During a visit, get an up-close look at hyenas, harpy eagles, Komodo dragons and more. After heading home, check in on your favorite creatures with the zoo’s online live streams. Another nearby attraction is the Coast Railroad Museum, a comprehensive collection of Southern railway history with more than 3 miles of track and 50 railway cars and engines. The museum’s collection even includes the Ferdinand Magellan, a special armored train car used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II.

Residents head to the centrally located Promenade Plaza for neighborhood shopping like the Bravo Supermarket, chain restaurants and local favorites like Mr. Jack's Soul On The Go, which serves comfort food classics like fried catfish, collard greens and sweet potato pie.

Written By

Quinn Lilly

Photography Contributed By

Yanan Sun

Video By

Grace Kim