Bal Harbour Property Appraisals and Home Appraisers
Bal Harbour is a village in Miami-Dade County,
Florida, United States. The population was
3,305 at the 2000 census.

Bal Harbour is located at 25°53′35″N, 80°7′33″
W (25.893005, -80.125729)GR1.

According to the United States Census
Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.5 km²
(0.6 mi²). 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.6
km² (0.2 mi²) of it (42.37%) is water.

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.
Toll Free:  866-775-3395
Palm Beach:  561-674-0498
Cell Line:  954-415-1630
Fax Line:  561-892-0913
McLean & Associates, Inc
appraisal and real estate consulting
www.FastFloridaAppraisals.com - Michael W. Bode - McLean & Associates, Inc.
www.FastFloridaAppraisals.com - Michael W. Bode - McLean & Associates, Inc. - Links  - Sitemap

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.

The Council established a volunteer fire department.

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.

For more information visit:

www.balharbourflorida.com/
Are you interested in a real estate appraiser that specializes in the Bal Harbour, Florida area?  Our
appraisers have extensive knowledge as commercial property appraisers, residential home appraisers
and overall property appraisals.  If you need an appraiser in Bal Harbour one of our Certified Appraisers
will gladly help with all of your commercial and residential home appraisal services.