Cutler CAY - considering a home here (Miami, Coral Gables: crime, house)

[tml3]

Hi folks - we are looking at some gorgeous homes in Cutler Cay community. We are moving from New York, will be putting our high schooler in Private school. The prices are hard to beat for what you get here! Does anyone on this forum have any insight? do you live there? Thank you in advance!

[doggiebus]

That is a new community, really pretty. The only down side of that place is location, its close to the ocean (which is nice), meaning it may flood during certain hurricanes. The community next to it flooded during a major hurricane years ago. Do some research on this, before you purchase. One other thing is the lack of major roads, close by. Just south and west of this community is a poorer large community. But you wouldn't have to go South all that much if you didn't want to.
Just north of this community is a couple of great private schools.

[tml3]

Yes it is far away, but we're thinking this would make a very large and comfortable 2nd home in the future. Thanks for the tip about the flooding. Will certainly check into that!

[tml3]

the threat of hurricane and flooding is not any worse like it is on Key Biscayne, right. And KB is much more expensive!

[305guy]

Yeah that area is nice....it's between pinecrest and Cutler Bay, not sure if it is in Cutler Bay. Traffic can get backed up on Old Cutler Road during rush hour, but what road doesn't? Crime is low in the area and the only bad parts are on the other side (west) of Dixie Hwy which you have nothing to worry about.

I'd get a house there (for what it's worth). You're not too far from Coral Gables/Pinecrest/South Miami.

[doggiebus]

Originally Posted by tml3

the threat of hurricane and flooding is not any worse like it is on Key Biscayne, right. And KB is much more expensive!

Not sure, but I can tell you that when Andrew hit, the land they built the Cutler Cay community on, was flooded. Now what the builder has done to help fight flooding during a hurricane, I don't know, you would need to ask the builder. The older homes just west of it, were raised with fill, so when you drive in that area, each home looks like its sitting on a little hill, with the street sitting in the low areas. That was done, because its a low lieing area, which floods during hurricanes. And some of those homes just west of Old Culter Road (west of the community) had flooding after Andrew. Check and see, but my bet would be that, you would have to evacuate for a Cat 1 hurricane because of flooding concerns. If i were you I would buy something a few blocks north and at least two blocks west of Old Culter, so there is no concern of flooding.

[planetsurf]

Originally Posted by tml3

the threat of hurricane and flooding is not any worse like it is on Key Biscayne, right. And KB is much more expensive!

NOT LIKELY. Although KB is an island, it IS possible that it is actually higher above sea level, but not likely. Both probably close to the same. KB being an island also isolates you more. It IS beautiful though. We have friends that have lived there for YEARS and love it.
Doggiebus is right, you will almost certainly be asked to leave in a Cat 1. Obviously not sure exactly where you'll be, but I wouldn't want to be there in anything stronger than a weak 2.

You are pretty far south, but the part of Miami your just below is one of the most beautiful suburban areas in Florida if not the US.
I'm on Old Cutler every morning -- it isn't that bad rush hour-wise. Backed up past the CocoPlum circle, then backed up getting into the Grove or past US1 (on Le Jeune at that point). But it's SO much prettier than US1. But again, that's pretty far south.

Good luck!