West Kendall

As west as west goes, welcome to West Kendall, a wide array of suburban subdivisions wedged between the Everglades and main thoroughfare Lindgren Road.

There are a few chief reasons folks move this far west in sunny South Florida. For one, you're still in the Miami area, less than an hour's drive from iconic places like South Beach and Brickell. Two, the farther west you go in South Florida, the newer the homes get. The oldest houses that you'll find in West Kendall were built in 1985. That said, most properties were initially constructed between the early 1990s and early 2000s. Lastly, and most importantly to many who live here, Kendall, West Kendall and Kendale Lakes are known for having fantastic schools, making these slices of suburbia ideal for families with young children or anyone looking to hunker down somewhere stable.

Homes in West Kendall come in many shapes, sizes and designs, so other than most of them being newer construction, there's no uniform style. Some streets are filled with ranch-style and bi-level Spanish Revivals, while others are lined by Minimal Traditional or custom contemporary styles. Though most properties are part of HOA-managed communities, there are quite a few HOA-free homes in West Kendall as well. Most single-family homes here range in price from $600,000 to $1.7 million. You can land a four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,100-square-foot, bilevel Spanish Revival for $689,000 in an HOA-free community. While there are fewer of them, multifamily homes are in the area, too, with condos and townhouses ranging in price from just under $250,000 to the high $500,000s.

As for general conveniences and the ins and outs of life in West Kendall, commuting is a breeze for many residents with the nearby proximity of the Ronald Reagan Turnpike. Daily errands and shopping are quick trips as well. Several shopping plazas are sprinkled throughout the area with supermarkets like Sedano's and Publix, and big-box stores like Target, Kmart and BJ's. There's also no shortage of spots for dining out around West Kendall. From national chains to trendy local brewpubs like Strange Beast, there are plenty of places to turn into your neighborhood haunt. For a cold and creamy treat, visit Sweet Melody to try their comically titled ice cream of the month "Hey, It's Cheaper Than Therapy!" which blends vanilla ice cream with peanut butter swirls and bits of house-made marshmallow-pecan brownies.

Students living on the north and east sides of the neighborhood can start school at Jane S. Roberts K-8 Center, rated with a B-plus on Niche. This K-8 school features a law and biomedical academy that students may apply for as rising sixth graders, boosting their academic profiles with many prerequisites helpful for applications to senior high schools that offer biomedical, forensic, legal and criminal justice academies. Students living on the west and south sides of West Kendall can dive into their academic journeys at Dr. Manuel C. Barreiro Elementary, rated with an A-minus on Niche. From there, regardless of what side of the neighborhood they live on, students can attend Lamar Louise Curry Middle School, rated with a B-plus on Niche, before going to John A. Ferguson Senior High, rated with an A-minus on Niche. Home to several magnet academies, or small learning communities, there are many educational and career paths students here can explore alongside their regular curriculum. These academies are split into different focuses, referred to as "majors." For example, within the iTech, or Information Technology, Academy students can major in Game/Simulation/Information Programming, Digital Design, Technology Support Services or Robotics.

Green space galore; there are pocket parks all around West Kendall. Many gated communities feature their own green and recreational hubs as well. However, if you're looking for a mecca of opportunities for outdoor fun, Westwind Lakes Park is a great place to start, especially if you're a bit of a daredevil. This park has a 10,000-square-foot lighted skate park that was a stop on Tony Hawk's 2011 tour. Other park amenities include a splash pad, playground, recreation center, volleyball court, walkways, soccer fields and Wi-Fi.

Boasting excellent schools, fun parks and communities ideally situated for easing day-to-day routines, West Kendal is a fantastic choice when looking into suburban neighborhoods in the Miami area.

Written By

Micaela Willoughby

Photography Contributed By

Yanan Sun

Video By

Victoria York