Grove Isle is a 20-acre island lying off the north-east coast of Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood. Three waterfront hi-rise residences have been built on the island which are complemented by a resort hotel, restaurants, marina, club amenities and services.
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Origins
First known as Fair Isle, its land was dredged out from Biscayne Bay in 1924 and subsequently subdivided in 1925. Fair Isle was then sold to investors at the height of the Florida Land Boom in less than four hours and for over $1.5 million. A combination of real estate crash, freight blockades and hurricane damage during 1925-6 stalled further development of the island.
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Development
The island remained largely untouched--a large sand bar covered with Australian Pines--until large scale development came to Coconut Grove in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The island was purchased for $6 million and restrictions on the island's development were finally agreed after protracted litigation was settled in July 1977. Cabot, Cabot and Forbes were one of the principal sellers of the island. Martin Margulies and Sun Bank of Miami subsequently invested $100 million to develop the island. Once completed in 1982, the development consisted of three residential towers, a hotel and club, deep-water marina, pools, professional tennis club, original art and sculpture gardens. The Grove Isle development set the standard for high-end Miami property.
Character
Grove Isle provides one of the most secluded spots to live in Miami and is highly prized "by residents for its tranquility and panoramic bay views". Its residents have included past Heads of State, Senators, judges, lawyers, doctors, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropists.
The Palmeiras Beach Club and Hotel, Spa, Grove Isle Marina and Cliff Drysdale Grove Isle Tennis Club are located on the island. The world class, Grove Isle Sculpture Garden, once made part of its landscaped design.
Controversy
Competing visions for Grove Isle's future have at times embroiled the island in controversy. Its 1980 development was only permitted under a landmark settlement after the project was significantly scaled back over a decade of litigation and protest. A further proposal to develop the island's yacht club also ended up in court due to concerns about its environmental impact. Issues regarding membership rights and the quality of amenities on Grove Isle subsequently involved legal action. Grove Isle residents were also involved in protecting the neighbourhood's rights regarding a proposed high-rise project on an adjacent Mercy Hospital site. More recently, attempts to close the island's club were halted by court order in August 2015. This was linked to a developer's efforts, first started in 2013, to build further high-density residential units on the island. Residents efforts to retain the island's hotel, which plans suggested would be lost, was being litigated in 2017.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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