1/09/2010

MORNINGSIDE WAS MIAMI’S FIRST HISTORIC DISTRICT 25 YEARS AGO





 

Developed between 1922 and 1941, the Morningside Historic District, originally called Bayshore,  is significant to the history of architecture, landscape architecture, and community development in northeast Miami. This section is one of Miami’s most intact historic neighborhoods, an example of a boom-era suburb.


Architectural housing styles include Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, Tudor Revival, Moorish and Mission, and the vernacular  masonry style houses reflecting the 1920’s and 1930’s diversity and direction of architectural design.  1950’s ranch houses are also in the area. Local materials used included keystone and oolitic limestone, decorative tropical motifs, wrought iron screen doors and precast concrete vents displaying palm trees, flamingos, and pelicans. Tree-lined boulevards are featured, creating a park-like effect, and the location on Biscayne Bay offers beautiful panoramic water views. 


This neighborhood was envisioned as an exclusive, residential community and attracted many influential and prominent local residents.  Deed restrictions kept the area exclusive, and duplexes, apartments and hotels were prohibited.


The Miami Morningside Historic District is bounded by N.E. 60 Street on the north, Biscayne Bay and Morningside Park to the east, the rear lot line between N.E. 55 Street and N.E. 53Street on the south, and Biscayne Boulevard on the west.  It encompasses about 100 acres and includes 218 single family detached houses.

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