Buena Vista
The historic district of Buena Vista started as a pineapple plantation that became a town with its own town hall and post office. It once was home to ambassadors, business magnates and doctors, and frequented by novelists and Miami’s elite. In the 1920s, wealthy residents built estates of mosaic tile, coral rock and Dade County pine that featured ornate Mediterranean courtyards surrounded by mango and avocado groves and royal poincianas. Just 10 minutes from downtown and a few blocks from Biscayne Bay, between Northeast 42nd and 49th streets and Northeast Second and Miami avenues, Buena Vista East used to be a busy stop for the Florida East Coast Railway. Most Buena Vista homes were built with care and flair, each with a singular style: Mediterranean Revival, Mission, Pueblo, Bungalow, Masonry Vernacular, Art Deco. Its decline began in the late ’60s, instigated by the building of I-95, white flight and poor immigration. With the help of a small, active group of homeowners and the recent success of surrounding commercial districts, particularly the Design District and Midtown, the area has experienced a resurgence.
