About Miami Lakes
The development was constructed by Sengra (now the Graham Company) beginning in 1962 on land that was formerly owned by Florida State Senator Ernest 'Cap' Graham. The Grahams stated for many years that it would be a 30-year development but they are still developing to this day. The original Miami Lakes development, east of the Palmetto Expressway, was master planned by Lester Collins with curving tree-shaded roadways and numerous curving lakes which are unusual compared to most surrounding areas with treeless streets on a square grid and rectangular lakes. This original development, which is on the east side of the more recently designated Town of Miami Lakes, has neighborhood shopping centers, tot-lot parks, and a town center named Main Street. A significant portion of Miami Lakes is still owned by the Grahams, mostly apartment buildings, shopping centers, office buildings and still undeveloped land. The Town is an early model of the New Urbanism movement with shopping and services located in walking distance of residences as well as narrow walkable streets and plenty of neighborhood parks. Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham, younger stepbrother of family patriarch William "Bill" Graham, is one of the owners, and the late publisher of the Washington Post, Katharine Graham, had a share by marriage.
