Miami Beach, Hollywood, or Fort Lauderdale? (Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach: sales, apartment, for rent)

[JProg305]

Hello all, I am a Miami area native who is thinking of returning home to be closer to family and friends after I finish my dissertation. I have friends and family in both Broward and Miami-Dade. The three places that I have considered relocating to are Fort Lauderdale (near downtown/las olas or on Ft.L beach), Hollywood (downtown or on H. beach) and Miami Beach (North Beach, South Beach). Out of these three, which one offers cheaper accomodations, access to amenities, walkability, a relatively low crime rate, and a diverse and vibrant urban experience. I am quite familiar with all of these areas but I've never lived in any of them. All of my experience is from hanging out at bars, restaurants, the beach, etc., and returning home when the night is over. As such, I'd like some advice from locals who live in any of the three mentioned areas. Thanks in advance.

[Rosanero10]

I spent five years in Downtown Miami / Miami Beach, and three years living on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale.....the fact of the matter is, Hollywood won't compare with either from any standpoint other than perhaps quiet and isolation.

I think Fort Lauderdale is the most walkable city in the country, diverse, vibrant, safe, clean, and is back to being affordable again. Downtown on Las Olas, or the blocks around 5th avenue and NE 2nd street....you can't go wrong.

[The Floridian]

Rosanero10 -

How would u compare Brickell to Ls Olas?

Big heads up about Key Biscayne; almost all lower class minorities on the Beach there.

[JProg305]

Rosanero10, thanks for the feedback. It's interesting that you consider Fort Lauderdale to be one of the most walkable cities in the U.S. when you live in Boston. Surely Boston is more walkable, dense, and vibrant than Fort Lauderdale. Whenever I visit family in south Florida I make a point to walk around downtown Fort Lauderdale. Other than the blistering summer heat, I think that the area is fairly walkable and interesting. Honestly though, I think Miami Beach is more walkable and has many more amenities. I need to do some more research into the downtown Fort Lauderdale scene. How expensive is housing in that area?

[Delgado]

It's funny... I too am looking at exactly the same areas- Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, North Beach. Add to that a job opportunity further south around Pinecrest. Similar desire for walkability, hip neighborhood, low crime, diverse... but add to that the fact we have 2 school aged children and want a place where there's neighborhood kids around for them to play outside with. We have $500 - 600K to work with. Any inclinations?

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by The Floridian

Big heads up about Key Biscayne; almost all lower class minorities on the Beach there.

Who are "minorities" ?

[The Floridian]

Hi Crisp, No, not all are minorities, but it sure seems like most people out on Key Biscyane (on any given weekend) are middle-lower class Latinos. But that's ok. However, it would be nice to see a few Brazilians or home grown all white Anglos speaking some english. All the public beach areas from 1st bridge to Crandon, I saw 100% Latins, and a lot of families.

Where in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale have mixture of white, Brazilian and Latino/no so family oriented/more singles crowd?

Anyone?

[crisp444]

Originally Posted by The Floridian

Hi Crisp, No, not all are minorities, but it sure seems like most people out on Key Biscyane (on any given weekend) are middle-lower class Latinos. But that's ok. However, it would be nice to see a few Brazilians or home grown all white Anglos speaking some english. All the public beach areas from 1st bridge to Crandon, I saw 100% Latins, and a lot of families.

Where in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale have mixture of white, Brazilian and Latino/no so family oriented/more singles crowd?

Anyone?

Do you mean for the beach or in general?

Honestly, the beach with the most mixed crowd is South Beach. Lots of Latins of all colors, white Anglos, Europeans, African-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, even Asians and Indians (most of whom are on vacation). Key Biscayne is white Anglo and Latin, and probably over 90% of the Latins there are white and affluent. I don't go there very often so I am not sure exactly who uses the beach there. Sunny Isles Beach is a good mix of NJ/NY Jews and Italians, white Anglos, Latins, and Europeans.

If you mean nice bars/restaurants, in South Beach and Brickell you will find a good mix of white Anglos, Europeans, Hispanics (of all colors, but still mostly white), and Brazilians (of all colors, but still mostly white). Coral Gables and Coconut Grove will be mostly white Anglo and Hispanic, not many Brazilians and some Europeans. You specifically mention Brazilians, and if you want to meet some Brazilian girls "of color" you should head up to Pompano Beach/Deerfield Beach. There are many affluent, white Brazilians in the Brickell area. One of my good friends is originally from Brazilian and lives there along with many of his friends.

[flyers29]

Originally Posted by The Floridian

Hi Crisp, No, not all are minorities, but it sure seems like most people out on Key Biscyane (on any given weekend) are middle-lower class Latinos. But that's ok. However, it would be nice to see a few Brazilians or home grown all white Anglos speaking some english. All the public beach areas from 1st bridge to Crandon, I saw 100% Latins, and a lot of families.

Where in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale have mixture of white, Brazilian and Latino/no so family oriented/more singles crowd?

Anyone?

God forbid locals have a beach they can use without having to deal with the traffic/sparse parking on South Beach.

[Wild Style]

I am from Brooklyn and have been to Chicago, Jersey, DC and many others. Fort Lauderdale is nowhere near being the most walkable city in the country. For instance, if you live in Downtown Fort Lauderdale and you want to walk to the grocery store you have a bit of a walk ahead of you on that front. NYC I could take literally 100 paces if that and be at the bodega (corner store). Walk up a few blocks from my old apartment and hit the grocery store. Walk 2 blocks and hit the subway. In Chicago from where my wife used to live it was the same deal. You could never find the same level of convenience down here.

Out of Downtown Miami and downtown Fort Lauderdale, Miami is light years ahead on walkability and amenities. As for affordability, they are still asking pretty stupid prices for rent and ownership prices in downtown Fort Lauderdale even though vacancy for rents are up and sales are down. Miami still has a LONG way to go but they are getting there. Plus I feel that Miami is more of a true city than Fort Lauderdale is so its potential long term is far greater than Fort Lauderdale.

My favorite area is the downtown brickell area followed by the Park East (I think that’s the name) area in Miami. Heck you could probably get away with not using a car that much because of the metro rail and tri rail option if you live downtown Miami. Try getting away with that in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Only real beef I have with Downtown Miami is all the homeless and the lack of beat cops. But they are moving the Camillus House to the medical district area so that should cleanup part of that problem. Only other thing I wish they would have done is put the new marlin stadium downtown instead of little Havana, its one of the dumbest decisions they have made to date. One other vote for downtown Miami because of the parks there. I mean its not central park status but at least they have major parks down there. Fort Lauderdale doesn’t. Also they have great plans for expanding these parks and museums.

Given the choice I would choose downtown Miami 1,000 times over. Hollywood would be my absolute last stop. That city si run down and has a LOT of socio-economic problems.