Help finding area near FIU North Campus (Miami, Hollywood: apartment, for rent)

[acgrisha]

Hi there!

My husband is taking a faculty position at the FIU’s North Campus on Biscayne Bay in North Miami. So we will be moving from our much hated tent in the bush in South Africa to Miami this summer. We need some help navigating Miami neighborhoods.

Get ready we have a long wish list.

We’d like to be within a 30 minute commute south of FIU’s North Campus. We want to be in a community that feels like a small town, one where you can walk around to shop, go to the farmer’s market, art galleries, theater, and community events. Suburbs are out. We are quiet homebodies but do enjoy going to a local bar, neat restaurants, and the occassional opera, ballet, or theater, so we want to be near these events but don't have to be in the same neighborhood.

I’m an artist and would love to be in an artsy neighborhood or within a short drive of one.

We are in our early 30’s and don’t have kids yet but plan to in a few years, so we would like to be in a neighborhood that does have some young families.

We’d also like for our neighborhood to be diverse since we have lived or worked all over the world (Panama, Africa, Indonesia, Honduras) and enjoy being with people of different cultures. We’re also pretty progressive thinkers politically and with regards to lifestyle (green), so it would be nice if we lived in a community that supported our choices.

It would be really nice if we lived in a low crime area, but after living in the middle of Atlanta for six years we understand that is not really a possiblity.

Also, we don’t want to be in a high rise or a condo or an apartment. We really want to rent a cottage or a 2 bedroom house. We lived in a condo in Atlanta for six years. We just can’t do it again. Congrats to all of y’all who do. After being in the middle of the bush for 2 years, we need our space.

Also we love to be outdoors and so having a park or nature reserve nearby would be great!

To sum up: 30 minute commute from FIU North, small town feel, walking community, low crime, diversity of culture, artsy flair or near an artsy part of town, some young families, progressive thinkers, near a beach/nature reserve/park, some cottages/houses for rent.

So here are the areas that we think might suit us. Please tell us if we are right or wrong.
On Miami Beach: Bay Harbor Islands, Surfside, North Beach and Mid Beach.
In Miami: El Portal, Upper Eastside, Belle Meade, Morningside, and the Design District. Is the crime too high in these areas?

Do any of these neighborhoods jump out as “yes, that’s the one for you” or “no, don’t live there, it’s all wrong”?

I've also gotten the impression that Miami is not a walking urban community and that we are not going to get everything on our wishlist. So we are willing to trade some things for others. I think we need to stay within 30 minutes for our commute, be in a lowish crime area or at least an area where you can park your car and know it will still be there when you come back and where you can walk around at night, diverse area, and near shops/entertainment and an art scene.

Thanks a lot for your help!

[heydade]

aventura, FL

[lauralei2]

I like the Bay Harbor Islands. It's close in proximity to FIU North Campus. The homes there are expensive, but are within walking distance to shops. The beach is nearby, as well. Official Website of the Town of Bay Harbor Islands In North Miami Beach, Uleta State Park is a great oasis in the middle of an urban area. Also, Greynolds Park is quite nice, its in North Miami Beach as well. NMB has lower income housing to upper income. Mainly, a middle class area. I would have no problems living there, but not sure of the schools. You will see that there is major traffic everywhere, especially in Aventura (Biscayne Blvd) There is a major mall in Aventura. Lots of condos there, too, if you are looking for that type of residence. The only city I would send my kids to school in is Aventura.
I would not move to the design district. Some residences there are not very happy with the regentrification happening in their area. It is increasing rents, and making it unaffordable to people who have lived there a while. Regarding Upper East Side, I believe Belle Meade, Morningside and El Portal are all within that area.

Bay Harbor Islands (mid century modern)
Aventura
Surfside
North Beach
Belle Meade (beautiful homes/midcentury and older)
Morningside (beautiful home/midcentury and older...getting unsafe)
El Portal (beautiful homes in an unsafer area)
Design District....unsafest

[kevinkagy]

Okay, definitely take what lauralei2 said seriously, she's recommended the same neighborhoods I was going to recommend to you. If you're okay with grungy, I'd say Design District is really nice for the artsy type, or if you continue north on Biscayne Blvd, that whole area has many art festivals and farmer's markets. But if you really want to be close to FIU BBC, I'd say somewhere around Aventura, or North Miami around Biscayne Blvd.

Ideally, I'd suggest you also look into Downtown Miami, but that's too far for you coming from FIU BBC. Regardless, welcome to FIU, and GO PANTHERS!!

[fauve]

Check out Hollywood Beach. It has everything you want including a cute downtown and a farmer's market. It's also the only "arty" one. Even the elementary school is downtown. Good luck!

[acgrisha]

Hi everyone!

Thank you so much for all of your help. My apologies for taking so long to get back to you. Our internet and power is a bit spotty in the tent. But I have had a chance to research all of your suggestions, and I must say, man, oh, man, I think Hollywood might be just the place for us. Thanks, Fauve, for the great suggestion. I was really impressed by the city's website and other websites about the town. It seems to fit all of our criteria in a community. So we will visit in June. We'll also visit Bay Harbor Islands as Lauralei2 suggested.

Thanks for all of your advice. We are looking forward to being back in civilization! And thanks for the warm welcome!

Peace!