Brian Bandell
Nov 15, 2023
Lennar Corp. has the site of the historic Walker’s Coral Castle in the Redlands area west of Homestead under contract, with plans for a residential community.
The Miami-based homebuilder (NYSE: LEN) filed a pre-application with Miami-Dade County officials concerning the 21.3-acre site at 31500 S.W. 187th Ave. and 1630 N.W. Eighth St. Lennar has the property under contract from Miami-based Rancho Grande LLC.
The developer wants to rezone the property to build 150 single-family homes, plus preserve Walker’s Coral Castle and incorporate it into the community’s amenity space.
Miami-based attorney Alberto J. Torres, who represents Lennar in the application, couldn’t be reached for comment. Doral-based Pascual, Perez, Kiliddjian, Starr Architects and Planner designed the site plan, which includes 561 parking spaces and a playground. According to Torres’ letter, Lennar is working with the county’s Historic Preservation staff to incorporate the pool and cabana area into the Coral Castle.
Walker’s Coral Castle is one of two historic coral limestone rock castles in southern Miami-Dade. The more well-known Coral Castle Museum by Edward Leedskalnin is located on U.S. 1 just north of Homestead. Walker’s Coral Castle, which was also designated as historic by the county, was constructed in 1929 by Pearse Walker using oolitic limestone. It was previously surrounded by a fruit tree farm managed by Margaret Cloninger, who welcomed tourists there. However, it has been closed to the public for many years.
Lennar is the large builder of home communities in Miami-Dade, and many of its projects are in the southern end of the county, where there’s more room to build single-family homes.