Historic Shenandoah: Rediscovering Miami's Neighborhoods

Volume 1: Main Report

Miami is best known for its beaches, tropical scenery, skyscrapers, and luxury condominiums. Although Miami is one of the nation's youngest metropolises, it has experienced tremendous growth due to land speculation, government policy, and immigration. Despite Miami's significance as an international city, little has been written about how its neighborhoods have evolved and adapted to these changes, slowly changing and sometimes completely reinventing themselves. This series of books are a testament to Miamians' resilience and adaptability through an in-depth look at the City's neighborhoods, residents that lived in them, and the events that shaped them.

Shenandoah is a neighborhood at the heart of Miami. It is geographically central and importantly, it is high and dry on a ridge. It is a great example of today's inner-city neighborhoods that began as suburbs of Downtown Miami along the famous SW 8th Street, also known as Tamiami Trail or Calle Ocho. It is a neighborhood with a demographically diverse history, home to many religions, ethnicities, languages, and economic statuses, with a mix of apartment buildings, duplexes, houses, and garage apartments, all arranged together in harmonious streetscapes. Shenandoah's architecture is a great example of early climate adaptation with large porches and windows that allow for cross breezes and natural lighting. It is fanciful with arches, elaborate chimneys, clay tiles roofs, and textured coral rock. For many residents, it reminds them of places they grew up, from old Cuba to the Midwest. It is an amalgamation of memories carefully orchestrated to fit harmoniously in a tropical setting.

Shenandoah has recently become more popular as an alternative to high-density living close to the Downtown and Brickell districts, receiving more and more attention and investment. Trees are being planted, pocket parks created, streetscapes are being planned and completed and many homes are being renovated and altered for new families to move in, transforming original bungalows into new homes with modern convenience. This newfound interest and appreciation of all that Shenandoah inherently possesses: walkability, transit access, corner stores, parks, schools, libraries, and churches, is changing the neighborhood once again with new demographics and reinvestment.

This book is a memory of Miami's Shenandoah neighborhood: what it was and what it is. Most importantly, it is a tool for property owners, residents, civic associations, City staff, elected officials, and State agencies to understand Shenandoah's history, its character, and what makes it special. As Shenandoah evolves, it is important that changes improve this unique community through the protection of its character and the celebration of its unique heritage. It is our hope that this book will help Miamians learn and appreciate our unique city, our neighborhoods, and our people.

Prepared for: Dade Heritage Trust, Inc. and the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources

This project was funded in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Dade Heritage Trust, and The Villagers, Inc.