The beginning of Key Biscayne’s high-rise era
In 1986, the Islander published a series of s on The Urbanization of Key Biscayne. The s focused on the island's urbanization, beginning with the completion of the Rickenbacker Causeway in 1947. What follows is the fifth and final in the series.
The Island House on Ocean Lane Drive was the first high rise on Key Biscayne and the 14-story building, which is built on the highest point of the Island, soon became a landmark. Completed on Dec. 15, 1964, it was, apart from the Texaco gas station, the only building situated on the 35-acre land between Crandon Park and the Key Colony golf course, the present site of Key Colony condos.
A co-op apartment house, it contained 117 apartment units and 12 efficiency rooms. It was developed by Joseph Mullray and constructed by Morris Burk of Burk Construction company.
Several residents on the west side of Crandon Boulevard regarded the new high-rise with skepticism, doubting that it would withstand a hurricane. It did not take long before the Island House was put to the test and in 1965 it withstood Hurricane Betsy without damages. One of the tenants, Mrs. Joseph Mullray, reported that although it was a fierce hurricane, everyone felt safe inside the building. In fact, it was turned into a temporary hurricane shelter, where other Key Biscayners came to seek shelter.
After the completion of the Island House, construction of additional apartment houses soon followed. Sunrise Manors, a 14-unit project, was completed in 1965. North Sunrise Apartments, a 21-unit project was completed in 1967, followed one year later by another 21-unit building, Ocean Drive Manors.
The Sands on Ocean Drive was to become the second major high-rise on Key Biscayne. The 120-unit building was constructed in 1968-69 with occupancy in September 1968.
In 1971, the 27-story Casa del Mar was completed. Housing 232 units, it stands on a 61/4-acre parcel. Several other condominiums were completed this year, including the 12-story Commodore Club,
Several other condominiums were completed this year, including the 12-story Commodore Club, the 10-story Island Breakers and The Towers.
The profile of Key Biscayne was drastically changing and in 1971, several Key Biscayners demanded a moratorium on building permits until an environmental plan was passed to help them preserve the small-town atmosphere. A preliminary study issued by Metro-Dade Planning Department in January of 1971, supported the residents' claim. The report suggested creating a new land-use plan that would require lower density buildings on the east side of Crandon Boulevard.
The Key Biscayne Property Taxpayers Association hired Miami Beach lawyer Harvey Ruvin now a Metro commissioner, to organize a drive for establishing the ban. On March 29, 1972, Dade County Manager Ray Goode placed a building moratorium countywide. The RU-4 zoning (apartments, 50 units/net acre) was to remain, but it reduced the building density.
The temporary ban was extended and on Sept. 15, Metro Commissioners approved a compromise ban to reduce the zoned density on the east side of Crandon Boulevard, thus ending a long battle. The three largest landowners, the Mackle brothers, the Mathesons and the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT), agreed to the new plan, which divided the east area into two zoning districts with 50 units per acre from the ocean west to Ocean Drive and 23 units on the rest to Crandon Boulevard.
In April of 1974, construction was halted once more when Dade County health officials decided that the pumping facilities of General Waterworks were not capable of pumping enough water to service further developments on Key Biscayne. A moratorium against new water hookups was established, which lasted for three years. The moratorium also applied to improvements of residences if they involved more water usage.
The moratorium delayed development of the Key Colony condominium complex. In 1974, Greater York Florida Group and Fininvest Ltd., a Canadian company, bought the former Key Colony nine-hole golf course for $12.7 million. Two years later, Fininvest acquired a 100 percent interest in the property. It would take another two years before they were allowed to start construction.
In 1976, Metro commissioners approved the project of a new 24-inch water main to Key Biscayne, valued at $3.3 million. The three-party construction agreement would involve Metro, Fininvest and Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority, At a later date, the other major developers, the Mackle brothers and ITT, date, the other major players, Mackle brothers and ITT, also reached an agreement with the water company. The project was completed in 1978 and the moratorium was lifted.
In the 1980s, several condominium projects were completed, including Bahia Mar, Ocean Lane Village, Ocean Lane Plaza, Commodore Club West and Solimar. The latest condominium project, Le Phare on Cran-don Boulevard, is targeted for completion at the end of this year.
Forty years ago, when the Rickenbacker Causeway first linked Key Biscayne with the mainland, there were only a few buildings scattered on the coconut plantation. Today, there are 1,324 single family housing units, 3,435 condo units and 850 units in four hotel/motel structures. The population has grown from 29 people in 1950, to 9,500 in 1980, a figure that continues to grow. Although the profile of Key Biscayne has changed dramatically over the years, it has remained an Island paradise for its many residents and visitors.
