“South Florida by the numbers” is a web feature that catalogs the most notable, quirky and surprising real estate statistics.
For more than 30 years, the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana has hosted the massive Calle Ocho street festival, one of Miami’s signature events. Originally conceived as “The World’s Largest Block Party” and as a way to bring the community closer together, it has since evolved into a sprawling, day-long celebration with multiple entertainment venues, drawing many thousands of people along Southwest 8th Street. Over that time frame, Little Havana has experienced some ups and downs. While its colorful and lively atmosphere is regularly used to promote Miami, the neighborhood has been largely immune to the city’s broader real estate success. With this year’s Calle Ocho taking place on Sunday, let’s play some dominos, drain a cafecito, and enjoy this Little Havana edition of South Florida by the numbers.
38: Total number of Calle Ocho celebrations hosted by the Kiwanis Club, including this year’s event. Originally organized by club members Leslie Pantín, Jr. and Willy Bermello, the goal was to create a street party that would showcase Miami’s Hispanic lifestyle for its non-Spanish speakers. Calle Ocho now extends nearly twenty blocks along Southwest 8th Street. [Calle Ocho Festival]
$226,867 : Average Little Havana home price, with an average sold price of $200,201. [Realtor.com]
140: Acreage of an East Little Havana area which was recently approved for “upzoning,” with the intent of encouraging redevelopment. The approval has drawn media attention due to the significantly increased property values which would result from the new zoning and the politically-connected owners who would benefit. [WLRN]
2: Number of city blocks located within the area approved for upzoning that Miami’s planning department is also considering for historic designation in the hopes of protecting the neighborhood from gentrification. The Riverview Historic District is a collection of bungalows, Art Deco buildings and mission-style homes built between 1920 and 1960. Local activists believe the historic designation should be expanded further, to protect more architecturally-significant structures. [Miami Herald]
$110.9 million: According to the Miami Marlins, the amount that should be counted toward their share of the Little Havana-based Marlins Stadium’s total construction cost. The arrangement to finance the stadium was made between the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County and the Miami Marlins, and county auditors are disputing 3.8 percent, or $4.2 million, of the team’s claim. [Miami Today]
This column is produced by the Master Brokers Forum, a network of South Florida’s elite real estate professionals where membership is by invitation only and based on outstanding production, as well as ethical and professional behavior.