Featured Apartment:
Bal Harbour - 3 bedroom and 3 baths, family kitchen with eating area and large entertainment room. The kitchen has loads of dark maple cabinetry for storage, walk in pantry, five burner gas stove, island with veggie sink and loads of granite. The master suite has large walk in closet and bath has a large soaking tub, over-sized shower and 2 vanity sinks. View More Listings -->
Renting an Apartment in Bal Harbour
Since the 1920's, the Detroit-based Miami Beach Heights Corporation (headed
by industrialists Robert C. Graham, Walter O. Briggs, and C.T. Fisher) owned 245
acres of undeveloped, partially swampy land that stretched from the bay to the
Atlantic. Mr. Graham assumed the duties as the developer for Bal Harbour. In the
1930's, city planners Harland Bartholomew & Associates were called in to design
the Village. The company made several plans and they were submitted for review
to Miami Beach Heights.
In 1940, World War II began and the plans were put on hold. As a goodwill
gesture to the government, Robert C. Graham rented the land to the United States
Air Corps for $1 per year. The Air Corps used this land to train their soldiers
and established a Prisoner of War camp. The ocean front area was used as a rifle
range and the barracks were set up on the west side of Collins Avenue. The camp
for prisoners was located where the Bal Harbour Shops are presently.
In 1945, the war was over in both Germany and Japan. The Air Corps left the
barracks buildings as a thank you to the owners of the property. These barracks
were converted into apartment homes by Mr. Graham in 1946.
In order to incorporate a city in 1946, there had to be at least 25 male
registered voters residing in the area. Mr. Graham had twenty five families move
into the apartment homes that he had converted in order to qualify the Village
for incorporation. He then hired Willard Webb, a Miami Beach tax assessor, to
draft a charter for the Village. After the charter was completed, the Village of
Bal Harbour was incorporated on August 14, 1946, by Mr. Graham and 25 male
registered voters. The Village was operated under the city manager form of
government.
Swampland was filled, sea walls were constructed and the yacht basin was
created. Contracts were signed for the sewer systems, water pumping stations and
utilities. Bal Harbour was the first planned community in Florida to have its
utilities placed underground. Developers set guidelines for the development of
the beachfront and the residential areas. Collins Avenue was paved into four
lanes with a landscaped median and later widened to the present day six lanes.
Village plans indicated that ocean front property was to be 200 feet deep and
lots approached $100,000. Lots in the residential area were about 1,800 square
feet and cost from $6,500 to $20,000.
The first hotel was built and was named "The Kenilworth By-the-Sea." It was
built by Tom Raffington and made famous by Arthur Godfrey. It has since been
demolished and is now the Kenilworth Condominium. The first home was built at
160 Bal Cross Drive. It was built by Mr. Robert C. Graham Jr., who was the son
of Bal Harbour Developer Robert C. Graham. Construction for the Sea View Hotel
was started.
Bal Harbour Village was re-incorporated by a special act of the 1947 Florida
Legislature and its own charter was issued June 16th. This new charter
supplemented the original incorporation under the General Laws of Florida. In
accordance with the new charter, an election to select five to serve on the
Council was held June 30th. The Council elected were: Edward L. Bonneau, Robert
C. Graham, Jr., Glenn E. Massnick, George Whittaker, and Judge Julien
Southerland. Judge Southerland was chosen as mayor. Willard Webb, who had been
acting manager since the first organization, was appointed as Village Manager.
Mary Wetterer was named Village Clerk and Herold Dickey was appointed Chief of
Police.
The original name chosen for Bal Harbour was Bay Harbour. However, the planning
committee didn't think that was appropriate for a city that was on the beach.
A name was invented to encompass a city that ran from the bay to the Atlantic
Ocean. The "b" was taken from the word bay and the "a" and "l" were taken from
the word Atlantic.