Miami suburb is a diverse city that is transforming through development
The South Florida city of Miami Gardens was not incorporated until 2003 but has already grown to become the third-largest municipality in Miami-Dade County, with many of its residents migrating over from the neighboring city of Hialeah. This diverse community of 110,000 benefits from the presence of Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and South Florida’s premier sporting and entertainment venue. “You see all the development around the new stadium,” says Todd Sims, an investor and real state agent who has been working in the market for almost 20 years. “The city is changing. The more money that comes in, the more people move there. More money circulating is never a bad thing. It’s positive growth."
Sunday's Eatery is a popular soul food stop among a diverse dining scene
Soul food and Caribbean restaurants are highlights of the city’s diverse dining scene, but none are more famous than Sunday’s Eatery, a soul food restaurant owned by rapper Trick Daddy, a Miami native. Dining and retail options are concentrated along the Palmetto Expressway and U.S. Highway 441 commercial corridors. Gardens Promenade is a centrally located mall along Miami Gardens Drive.
Coming soon is Miami Gardens City Center, a multi-use project that will be the newest addition to the entertainment district near Hard Rock Stadium. It will include 35 acres of retail, dining and housing. The city broke ground on the project in July of 2024.
Retail is the top industry in the city, but its commercial corridors also serve as centralized locations for the furniture and automobile trades. The city’s potential for growth is based on easy access to major transportation routes and large entertainment venues. Officials are focused on upgrading infrastructure and addressing socioeconomic disparity to attract more business, diversify the economy, and spur development.
Ferguson Recreational Complex, Hard Rock Stadium offer a variety of activities, entertainment
Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex is the largest of the amenities-filled parks and recreational facilities found throughout the city. Many of the parks feature organized youth sports, which are central to the community’s identity. Afterschool and summer programs are funded by the county’s Children’s Trust, which provides money for family resources. The city also features a Senior Family Center.
Hard Rock Stadium is a convenient venue for fans of professional sports and big events. In addition to hosting Miami Dolphins and Miami Hurricanes games, the grounds of the multi-purpose facility also are home to Formula 1 racing and the Miami Open tennis tournament. The stadium is scheduled to host multiple matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Big-name musical acts also fill the stands for regular concerts, and the two-day Jazz in the Gardens event is held there each March. The Miami-area festival has been a city staple since 2006. For those who prefer to try their luck at games of chance, Calder Casino is just blocks from Hard Rock Stadium.
Major roadways and the Metrorail converge at the Golden Glades Interchange
Free public transportation is provided by the Miami Gardens Express, a bus and trolley service that runs Monday through Friday between local points of interest. Metrobus routes are also available throughout the city. The Golden Glades Interchange is a nexus of transportation options in the southeast corner of the city. This junction of the Palmetto Expressway, Florida’s Turnpike, Interstate 95, U.S. Route 441 and the Metrorail tracks offers quick commutes to the employment sectors of the Brickell financial district and downtown Miami and provides convenient access to regional destinations. Jackson North Medical Center is adjacent to the interchange. Miami International Airport is about a 15-mile drive from the city.
Most of the homes were built between the 1950s and 1970s
Housing is anchored by a large collection of single-family homes in neighborhood settings. Most of the city’s homes were built between the 1950s and 1970s, but newer houses can be found in gated communities. Renovated ranch-style homes stand out among the older options. “In 2008, we were buying homes to remodel for $25,000,” Sims says. “Those same homes are going for $400,000 today.” Contemporary homes are typically two stories and often feature the Spanish Mediterranean motif. Prices range from mid-$300,000s to the low $900,000s. Older condos and townhouses range from about $100,000 to the low $400,000s. Multi-level modern townhouses, which offer driveways and attached garages, range from the mid-$500,000s to the low $600,000s.
There are maintained front yards for the traditional single-family homes in Scott Lake Manor.
Miami Gardens is made up of some traditional southern architecture homes.
Newer gorgeous Spanish style homes can be found in Norwood.
Positano Townhomes are near the Andover neighborhood.
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Florida Memorial University is South Florida’s only historically Black college
Students are served by Miami-Dade Public Schools, a district that Niche gives an A-minus. The district offers school choice, and eligible students can attend schools outside their designated geographic zones. The city’s higher education options include Florida Memorial University, South Florida’s only historically Black college. The private, Baptist-affiliated school offers aviation accreditation and partners with the nearby Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport for flight training.
The Florida Memorial University is in Miami Gardens.
Crestview Elementary School serves students in Carol City from preschool through fifth grade.
Miami Carol City Senior High School serves students from ninth to tenth grade in Carol City.
Lake Stevens Middle School is a public school serving grades 6-8.
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Crime
The city has worked to lower its crime rate and rehabilitate its image in recent years. However, public safety was a focus of the recent mayoral election following a spike in gun violence. In a recent address following one of the incidents, Police Chief Delma Noel Pratt said residents should not live in fear because the violence was targeted and gang-related. In March of 2024, the city council approved $2.25 million in spending to purchase 200 Tasers and new body cameras. Efforts aimed at youth diversion include Golf Instead of Guns and Teen Court. “It’s gotten a lot better,” Sims says. “I’ve sold about 400 homes in the city, and maybe three times I’ve had to answer questions about crime. The whole dynamic has changed.”
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
