North Miami Beach? (Kendall, Country Club, Hallandale: city hall, high crime, houses)

[FLBoy123]

Ok so I have been talkin about Kendall for a while and a friend of mine in North Miami Beach wants me to stay with her for a month to get adjusted. What is North Miami Beach like?? She likes it but I am just wondering what to expect maybe? What are the people like? Crime? I know there is crime everywhere I am only saying when I was in Kendall for a week I heard North Miami alot with murders and what not. I am 23 Jewish Male. Thanks guys

[compelled to reply]

Originally Posted by FLBoy123

What are the people like? Crime?

Rude people. High crime. There, I gave you the city-data answer.

Now I'm going to give you the real answer. It's a very working class area that's not renowned for it's safety, although isn't a warzone. You will see things like burglar bars/etc and the main streets like 163rd street aren't very pretty although Miami Gardens Dr isn't bad and Ives Dairy Rd is nice. There are a few upper middle class areas like Sky Lake and Presidential Country Club that are quite nice. The people will make you feel like you are in Queens, it's a relatively segregated area that is predominately Haitian, although there are quite a few Hispanics from various countries, still a lot of US born whites (mostly Jewish or Italian), and a growing and unusually visible for this area Chinese and Asian Indian population. All and all it's like a worn out working class inner ring suburb that you might find in a NE city. It has a different feel from other parts of Dade County, it really feels like Queens. Heck I have even seen a few Cape Cod houses there, not a common sight in Florida. To the north of it is Hallandale Beach in Broward County, to the south is North Miami, to the west is Opa Locka and to the east is Aventura.

Anyway, there is a difference between North Miami and North Miami Beach even though they are so close to each other, so keep that in mind. They have a different feel.

[Meerteekah]

My husband was born and raised in NMB when it was much more peaceful, secure, clean, neat mostly Jewish and Italian neighborhood. I used to walk in the evenings out there with him in the earlyh 80's without a qualm, and it was even quieter in his youth.

Now, yeah, crime is way up. Gangs. A more run-down appearance to large areas of it. As the poster above said, pockets of it are still nice. Saying it's like Queens is not actually a bady way to put it. Our part of it (near City Hall not too far from Aventura) has started to look a bit faded. Owners not keeping up lawns/shrubbery, putting off painting and roof repairs. It's a bit sad. We're pretty "multicultural" with various minorities (Asian, Hispanic, Caribbean) and religions (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu).

The parts closer to Aventura and Ives are nicer. Down 163rd street, where back in the 80's the mall was THE hang-out, is now one where you keep hearing about crime--store hold-ups, car break-ins, etc.

It all depends where you stay, what part.

I'm thinking if your choice is between NMB and Kendall, Kendall might be a better idea if you worry a lot about crime. If you want to be closer to the beaches and to a Jewish area (Aventura and parts of NMB have a strong Jewish presence and kosher restaurants, including Kosher Chinese and terrific Kosher pizza at Jerusalem Pizza on 163rd and, um, around 8th avenue, I forget exactly.)

Best of luck wherever you hang your hat...

M.

[heydade]

very high crime....North Miami Beach has a huge gang problem that has yet to be brought under control. Avoid NMB

[Lost in Translation]

Originally Posted by FLBoy123

Ok so I have been talkin about Kendall for a while and a friend of mine in North Miami Beach wants me to stay with her for a month to get adjusted. What is North Miami Beach like?? She likes it but I am just wondering what to expect maybe? What are the people like? Crime? I know there is crime everywhere I am only saying when I was in Kendall for a week I heard North Miami alot with murders and what not. I am 23 Jewish Male. Thanks guys

Do you mean North Miami Beach, or North Beach? They are completely different worlds. North Beach (actually a part of Miami Beach) is just south of Surfside and is about 60 blocks north of SoBe. It actually has a rather decent-sized Jewish Population with some Kosher bakeries along Collins and 75th. North Miami Beach, as described above, is quite run down in most places and I don't think you would enjoy it to be honest.

North Beach is nice, relatively safe, close to the beaches and South Beach without all the tourism in your face. I would rather suck the runs out of a cat's butt than live in North Miami Beach. No offense to those who live there....