I Don’t Get Edgewater

[elchevere]

I was in Wynwood on a weekend the other month and it was SUPER crowded and was very hard to catch an Uber ride home (had to wait about 15 minutes for my driver to work his way through traffic)....will have to go on Monday-Thursday when it is less crowded.

I am familiar with Alter, Wynwood Kitchen, and R House as well as Wood Tavern (brings back memories of college bars....was a line wrapped around the corner trying to get in on the Saturday night I was there).....I need to give Beaker & Gray, J Wakefield, and Veza Sur a shot.

But, yeah, I'm usually more into the clean cut professional crowd most of the time when I go out....having lived in San Diego with the too laid back "hipsters" now makes me appreciate enforced dress codes more and those who make some effort with personal grooming....for a casual ambiance, I prefer The Wharf on the river...easier to get to and get out of.

Originally Posted by AnnRyan

El Chevre, you seem to prefer higher end places. There are now a ton of those in Wynwood. I've gone to GKB Peruvian which was quite tasty and to No. 3 Social (Norman Van Aken's rooftop bar) which was fabulous. And there's always Wynwood kitchen and R House.

My personal favorites in Wynwood are: 1800 Lucky (Asian food market), Butcher Shop, and the Salty Donut. All of those are more affordable, and cater to a variety of age groups.

I actually think the crowds are smaller these days in Wynwood. Tons of tourists, but the locals seem to have wandered elsewhere.

[jr8999]

It's been over three years since the original post. Any updates or changes of opinion on Edgewater? I'm mostly interested to see if the walkability to neighborhood amenities has improved.

Thanks!

[elchevere]

I know those who live there and love Margaret Pace Park (not new), Strong Gym, and I just read that Tao will be opening a multistory restaurant there (at Miami Woman’s Club building). I’ll let others fill in any new or additional plans / developments for the area. Good central location to other neighborhoods but still more car / Uber dependent than I prefer.

[jr8999]

Originally Posted by elchevere

Good central location to other neighborhoods but still more car / Uber dependent than I prefer.

Thanks. I was looking to see if the density/walkability has changed in the last few years. Apparently not.

[MiamiLIFE]

Originally Posted by jr8999

Thanks. I was looking to see if the density/walkability has changed in the last few years. Apparently not.

I was recently in Miami looking at a potential relocation. I work in NYC. I read a lot about Edgewater before I went down and had a broker show me some units. I honestly couldn't figure Edgewater out. It's walkable I suppose, but to where? There's nothing nearby in terms of food, drink, boutiques. I am not knocking Edgewater. I get the long term prospects, but right now it felt very sleepy to me. Main thing is if you want new construction to purchase with water views, Edgewater is one of the last spots. It's also closer to Wynwood, Design District and Upper Eastside. But, I wouldn't describe it as walkable and if you live down one of the Terraces by the Bay there's nothing food/drink wise on those streets.

Brickell and Midtown were the most walkable to me of the areas I visited. I really liked Upper East side. Good places to eat and a good mixed crowd, but mostly houses up there.

I also like Downtown as that location seems more advanced towards having restaurants and shopping nearby. Plus, the Metro station is located there.

[TirantMartorell]

Edgewager is still a work in progress. It will get better with time. I think one of the main issues affecting walkability is the grid pattern there. There's no "north/south" street east of Biscayne, just east/west streets from the bay to Biscayne. The buildings have that been built there are more like vertical gated communities than city buildings fully integrated into the street level - few restaurants/shops/etc on the ground floor. You basically have to get to Biscayne for all of that. Unless they figure out a way to enhance the street level feel of those east/west arteries between Biscayne and the bay, the problem will continue.

[gahando]

Originally Posted by TirantMartorell

Edgewager is still a work in progress. It will get better with time. I think one of the main issues affecting walkability is the grid pattern there. There's no "north/south" street east of Biscayne, just east/west streets from the bay to Biscayne. The buildings have that been built there are more like vertical gated communities than city buildings fully integrated into the street level - few restaurants/shops/etc on the ground floor. You basically have to get to Biscayne for all of that. Unless they figure out a way to enhance the street level feel of those east/west arteries between Biscayne and the bay, the problem will continue.

This is the absolute truth. I just did some street view on google maps, and it's kind of infuriating seeing how you have such disjointed N/S avenues. For example, note that between NE 22nd St and NE 24th St, east of Biscayne Blvd, you have tiny snippets of NE 4th Ave, NE 5th Ave, and NE 6th Ave. On NE 26th St, you suddenly have again a NE 5th Ave??? The area would be so much more walkable, and lend itself so much more to ground level shops, if it was a grid system.

[logybogy]

It's not my scene or my first second or third choice. I remember when the area was filled with nothing but crackheads and hookers. So hard pass for me on Edgewater.

But a lot of real estate sells on view and you can buy direct bayfront units at a discount compared to Brickell and Miami Beach. As an investment, I get it. You are buying water views at a discount with the possibility that in 10 years the neighborhood amenities and safety will grow and your property values will rise.