Grove Isle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grove Isle
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Grove Isle in Biscayne Bay in Miami
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Grove Isle lies off Coconut Grove's coast in Miami
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Miami-Dade County |
| City | Miami |
| Neighborhood | Coconut Grove |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.03125 sq mi (0.0809 km2) |
| Highest elevation | 6 ft (2 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-05 (EST) |
| ZIP Code |
33133
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| Area code(s) | 305, 786 |
Grove Isle is a small island, about 20-acre (81,000 m2) big, located just off the coast of Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood. It's home to three tall apartment buildings right on the water. The island was carefully planned to also have a fancy hotel, places to eat, a boat dock (marina), and other fun things for people to enjoy.
How Grove Isle Was Made
Grove Isle was first called Fair Isle. Its land was created in 1924 by the Corps of Engineers. They used a process called dredging, which means digging up sand and dirt from the bottom of Biscayne Bay.
Many islands like Fair Isle were made this way back then. They were formed when new waterways were cut into the coastline. In 1925, the island was divided into smaller pieces. It was sold to investors very quickly during a time when land in Florida was very popular.
However, a big real estate crash and a strong hurricane in 1925–1926 stopped any building plans. This meant the island stayed undeveloped for a long time.
Building on the Island
For many years, Grove Isle was mostly empty. It was like a big sand bar covered with Australian Pines. Then, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a lot of building started happening in Coconut Grove.
The island was bought for $6 million. There were some disagreements about how big the island could be. After a long legal process, rules for building on the island were finally agreed upon in 1977.
Two main buyers, Martin Margulies and Sun Bank of Miami, eventually bought the island. They spent a lot of money, about $100 million, to develop the property.
A person named Burton Goldberg had planned to build a very large club and homes project there. But his plans stopped because of legal issues. The design was changed, and Martin Margulies' smaller project was finished in 1982.
The new plan included three apartment towers, a hotel, a club, a deep-water marina for boats, swimming pools, and a professional tennis club. There were also 55 unique sculptures in the gardens. This project became a great example for other high-end properties in Miami.
Grove Isle is only about three feet above sea level in some places. Its water drainage system was checked as part of a regular safety review for the buildings.
What Grove Isle is Like
Grove Isle is known as a very quiet and private place to live in Miami. People who live there love its peaceful atmosphere and the amazing views of the bay. Many important people have lived on Grove Isle, including leaders, judges, doctors, and business owners. It is considered one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the United States.
The island used to have a beach club and hotel called Palmeiras, a spa, the Grove Isle Marina, and the Cliff Drysdale Grove Isle Tennis Club. There was also a famous Sculpture Garden with many artworks. The inside of the three apartment towers had unique designs with Asian themes. The island's club restaurants, called Baleen and later Gibraltar, were also very popular.
The residents really value the island's wide open spaces and its many mature trees. After Hurricane Irma hit in September 2017, the gardens and decks were replanted. Big renovations were also done to make the three towers, their decks, and gardens stronger and more beautiful. Keeping the island's many trees is very important to the people of Grove Isle and Coconut Grove.
In 2013, there was a proposal to build more homes where the island's hotel and club used to be.
Images for kids
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Grove Isle Condominium, Hotel & Club
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Grove Isle gardens with its bay views
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Grove Isle (then Fair Isle) lying off Miami's Coconut Grove in 1940
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Original Grove Isle Sculpture Decks and Gardens (now moved)
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View of Grove Isle & Biscayne Bay from Coconut Grove
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Image of Martin Margulies taken on the Sculpture Deck on Grove Isle
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Grove Isle gardens along Biscayne Bay
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Coconut Grove coast before Fair (Grove) Isle was dredged out of the bay in 1923
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Hurricane Irma hits Grove Isle in September 2017
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Rowing Team off Grove Isle Beach
