Real Estate Darwinism

This week's Miami Luxury Real Estate Pick is located in Historic lake Belmar just South of Miami Shores in Miami's Upper East Side. Lake Belmar is a neighborhood on Biscayne Bay that people confuse with Davis Harbor and Miami Shores, but it is unincorporated Dade-County and has fabulous waterfront homes, historic properties and Luxury real estate. It is a hidden treasure that is centrally located and full of great architecture.

One of Lake Belmar's interesting landmarks is the "Historic Lake Belmar Canal". From this map you can see that there are no homes directly on the canal but have to cross the street to reach their waterfront properties. These canal front properties are literally "waterfront" - their water frontage is located on the front of their property rather than the back. The canal has open access to Biscayne Bay and the Ocean.

1036 NE 89th Street - Miami, Florida 33138

Listing Price $2,299,000

This is what the MLS description reads:

One of a kind home in South Florida. This was the famous Phillips Home in Miami and is registered as a historic Dade Landmark! This beautiful property boasts many of the original features that have been masterfully restored such as wood flooring and hand blown glass. Updated kitchen featuring granite. Four bedroom, 3 bathroom house with pool and dock with no fixed bridges. Home includes gorgeous Florida room, large dining room, large bedrooms. Truly a must see!

Features include:

• 4 bedrooms / 3 bathrooms
• 3,410 square feet of living space
• 19,125 sq. ft. lot (125 X 146)
• canal front with dock
• barrel tile roof
• pool
• Dade-County Landmark
• Mediterranean Revival Architecture

Because Miami Historic Homes are my specialty, I will add that this Mediterranean Revival home with Moorish influence is definitely one of a kind. From the window details in the front to the meticulously restored casement windows, you can tell that this residence has been someone's pride and joy. Notice the exposed wood beams in the family and living rooms, the woodwork, interior and exterior stucco and gorgeous hardwood floors. In addition, to be located across from the Historic Belmar Canal says enough about the historic relevance of this property and although I was not able to find out about the "Phillips Family" that first owned the property, I can't wait to find out more about it.

**property information courtesy of South East Florida Multiple Listing Service and The Keyes Company **