Photo tour: Aventura, Florida

[Aessotariq]

Aventura is a city located in northeastern Miami-Dade County, about 12 miles northeast of downtown Miami. Slightly more than 3 square miles in area, this waterfront community of 20,000 residents live primarily in residential high rise buildings. The city is located on the mainland, fronting the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

The City of Aventura, incorporated in 1995, was named after the Aventura Mall, the largest regional mall in Florida (and one of the nation's most profitable malls per square foot), built by Turnberry Associates in 1983. Florida's first Macy's was built there. Today the mall's tenants include JCPenney, Sears, Macy's, Bloomingdales, AMC 24 Theaters, Nordstrom (coming soon), and 200+ other specialty stores ans restaurants spread across two floors.

Initially a place dominated by retirees, the demographics of Aventura have been changing dramatically of late, as younger families have been moving in. Already a strong focal point of Miami's Jewish community (South Florida has the second-largest Jewish population in the United States, second only to New York), many Jews from Argentina, Venezuela, and other parts of Latin America have settled here as well. A wide diversity of populations are represented, including Brazilians, Russians, and many more.

Aventura helps form a major portion of part of a continuous 90-mile linear skyline of high-rises that extends from West Palm Beach, 60 miles to the north, to the Miami suburb of Kendall, 30 miles south.

And now, without further ado, the photos:

Welcome to Aventura. The lighting on this sign operates in three phases: red, white, blue, and tri-color:

An Aventura sunrise. (in the center is the Hidden Bay condos, Mystic Pointe complex on the far left, and the Bay Club center-left):

Sunrise, Aventura Government Center:

Looking northeast:

Sunrise over Sunny Isles Beach, across the bay:

Looking southeast:

Mystic Pointe condominiums, on the Intracoastal Waterway:

Hidden Bay:

The Point at Aventura:

Porto Vita, Tower 1 (only 2 condos per floor, with private elevator; the cheapest unit is over $4 million! The penthouse occupies the entire floor):

Loehmann's Fashion Island, an open-air mall; the southeastern portion of this property is being reconstructed with condos and a "town center":

Venture Condos, being built on the Loehmann's property:

Arthur Snyder Memorial Park and Recreation Center:

Cool-looking office building, Aventura Corporate Center:

Aventura Hospital, recently expanded and remodeled:

Aventura's zoning laws require monument signage at ground level, no poles:

Lush landscaping everywhere!

I hope to have more photos up soon...

[bobliocatt]

Aventura is an impressive looking communtiy. I took the pleasure of driving up AIA from South Beach up to Aventura when I was down. I was shocked to see that US 1 had been competely raised and redone near the mall. The last time I was done it was as flat as can be.

[Aessotariq]

I think you're referring to the Ives Dairy Road interchange/overpass.

At that intersection, two north-south roads, West Dixie Highway and Biscayne Blvd (US 1) run very close to each other, with nnly the FEC railroad tracks dividing them. Eastbound traffic on Ives Dairy Road (NE 203rd St) trying to get to US 1 used to back up all the way to I-95 (sometimes onto I-95 itself) during rush hour when the freight trains were using the tracks.

FDOT raised Biscayne Blvd and eastbound Ives Dairy Rd above grade, and left the westbound lanes at grade (less traffic movement). It's a "modified echelon" interchange.

[PghUSA]

Condo Canyon . . . I like that nice pics too, I want to visit already!

[alslex1]

Beautiful pictures and city! Looks awesome, I've been to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami but never Aventura... I want to go now! B)

[Southernyank]

Lush landscaping everywhere!

Gotta love those palms!

[ZachariahDaMan]

Nice pictures and thanks for all the information. Sure seems like a nice town.