Most of the land in Miami-Dade is artificially dried out swampland and man-made barrier islands. So it seems like its Dade's destiny to one day be home to the first community of floating mansions in America.
According to the Biscayne Times, Dutch Docklands USA has submitted plans to create Amillarah Private Islands - North Miami Beach, a group of 30 individual artificial private floating islands in Maule Lake. Twenty-nine of those would be home to private luxury residences, the other would be for community amenities.
See also: A Floating City in Biscayne Bay? Dutch Company Hopes to Make It a Reality
Similar floating communities exist elsewhere in the world, and talk of bringing one to Miami dates back for years. In 2011, British billionaire Ben Way floated the idea of "Arc Island," a Manhattan-sized floating island that would initially be based in Miami, but then float around the world. It would feature a spinning skyscraper and a ski slope. Needless to say, that hasn't happened yet.
Back in 2013, Dutch Docklands presented a more low-key (well, low-key as far as floating mansions are concerned) idea and have now submitted their plans.
Maule Lake is a former limestone quarry located towards the north of Biscayne Bay in North Miami Beach. It's deep, can accommodate big yachts, and has direct access to the Intracoastal.
According to the Times, the private islands would each contain "a two-story, four-bedroom villa, a patio, garden, sandy beach, swimming pool, rooftop terraces, al fresco dining areas, and two boat slips." The islands would be 500 feet from shore, and 80 feet from each other. Boats would be needed for transportation to the mainland. The homes would also be self-sustaining -- meaning they wouldn't need to be connected to the existing power, water, and sewer grids. (Though, residents would still need to pay property taxes.)
Granted, there's still a long way to go before the project becomes a reality. Portions of the lake would need to be rezoned, and Dutch Docklands would need to buy the lake, which is privately owned, from a trust run by the descendants of E.L. Maule, founder of the mining company that turned the lack from a quarry into a lake in the first place.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, just like almost every other luxury development in Miami, the islands would primarily be marketed to rich foreigners who would likely only use the properties part time.
[H/T: Curbed Miami]
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