Bay Harbor Islands Condos: Buildings & Neighborhood Guide

The Town of Bay Harbor Islands grew out of the vision of Shepard Broad, who in 1945 acquired two undeveloped mangrove islands in Biscayne Bay off 96th Street and filled them in to create building land. He was joined by businessman Benjamin N. Kane, whose name the town's main thoroughfare carries. The town was incorporated in 1947, and Broad served as its first mayor.

The town's layout is simple and deliberate. According to the town, the West Island remains reserved for single-family homes, while the East Island holds multi-family buildings along with the business district, the Police Department, Town Hall, the Ruth K. Broad Bay Harbor K-8 Center and the Morris N. Broad Community Center and library. The East Island once had one of the largest concentrations of mid-century Miami Modern architecture in the region, and newer boutique condominiums now stand among the remaining garden-style buildings.

Daily life is compact and walkable. Kane Concourse is lined with cafés, restaurants and shops, small town parks include Officer Scott A. Winters Park and the dog run at 92nd Street Park, and the Bal Harbour Shops and the beach are just across the water to the east. The Broad Causeway, opened in 1951, links the town to the mainland in North Miami.

For a condo buyer, Bay Harbor Islands offers a quiet, small-town setting next to well-known shopping and beaches, with many buildings on or near the water. Much of the condo stock on the East Island is older, so review milestone-inspection reports, reserve studies and any planned assessments. As with any bay island, check each building's flood zone, seawall condition and insurance costs.