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<br />" Pp.ysical Description of Si (attach I or 2 photos):
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<br />~ere are three bridges on Atlantic Island, all of them part of the original public
<br />unprovenents of the developtrent. 1be bridges are all similar in appearance and
<br />construction. They are of single lowarched span, htmq>back type, with a low rise. They
<br />are built of reinforced concrete, faced in oolitic liIrestone on the outside, with stuccoed
<br />low walls on the inside, The two entrance bridges leading into Atlantic Island have four
<br />square comer piers, topped by stucco caps which carry short towers. 1bese towers are
<br />pierced by small arches, one on each side, and topped by hip roofs. The third bridge,
<br />built on a lagoon in the middle of the island had the four coiner towers rermved. A
<br />gazebo originally located on the park surrounding the lagoon, similar in design to the
<br />pergola at the end of the island, has since been demolished,
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<br />FilE
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<br />Significance - Brief sumnary including doc1JlleI1tary evidence that indicates the historical,
<br />architectural or archeological significance of the site.
<br />
<br />The bridges of Atlantic Island were constructed in the mid-1920s for this subdivision
<br />being developed by the Sunny Isles Ocean Beach Coriq>any, 1be bridges, which are three in
<br />number, are made of concrete faced with oolitic liIrestone. They are one of several of the
<br />beautifying features of this developtreI1t.
<br />
<br />Harvey B. Graves was president. of the Sunny Isles Ocean Beach Company, Graves, who was
<br />from Rochester, New York, began spending his winters in Florida around 1916. While
<br />vacationing here, he started investigating invest:m:mt opport:\mities in the real estate
<br />market. By 1922, Graves had purchased, from the Tatum Brother's fudel Land Conq>any, one
<br />half mile of ocean and bayfront property east of fulford, He also purchased from them
<br />2,000 acres of land on the west side of the bay that would be later knCMn as the Interama
<br />Tract.
<br />
<br />Graves' waterfront property east of Fulford was naned Sunny Isles. Graves envisioned the
<br />developtreI1t of this area as a tropical Venic~and proceeded to make the necessary
<br />improvements, widening and deepening the waterways and beautifully landscaping the
<br />property, Graves platted his acreage into the following subdivisions: Ocean View, Bella
<br />Vista, Fairyland Island, Atlantic Island, Venetian View Island, Royal Palm and Bay View.
<br />
<br />In these subdivisions, Graves imagined the construction of luxury hares, On Atlantic
<br />Island he erected a gazebo and a pergola as additional amenities of the developrrent.
<br />Atlantic Island's single street which circled the subdivision was lined with palms. The
<br />entrance to Atlantic Island was graced by two consecutive arched bridges. Another bridge,
<br />constructed in the same style, crossed over a waterway, the Lake of the Isles, located
<br />towards the middle of the island.
<br />
<br />1be financial bust of the late 1920s prevented Graves' plan from coming into full
<br />fruition. In 1936, the Sunny Isles Ocean Beach Company sold its oceanfront property to
<br />James Leonard Lee, a real estate broker. The total purchase price of this large real
<br />estate transaction was one million dollars. Within a few nonths, James Leonard Lee turned
<br />over the Sunny Isles sale contract to the North Miami Beach Corporation. Kurtis R.
<br />Froedtert, President of the corporation, :imrediately published a brochure pramting the
<br />area, now advertised as "the aristocrat of developtreI1ts in the American Riviera," In this
<br />pamphlet, Froedtert vows to complete Graves' vision, Froedtert states: "Sunny Isles will
<br />move forward to the canplete realization of its destiny as the true city beautiful and a
<br />true city for comfortable living. "1 The brochure contains photographs of Sunny Isles as
<br />it appeared at the tiIre of purchase by the North Miami Beach Corporation.
<br />
<br />Froedtert's brochure takes full advantage of the embellishments created by Graves in order
<br />to carry out the promotion of the developl1Elt by the North Miami Beach Corporation. In
<br />beautiful vistas the brochure shows srnre of the luxury hrnres on Atlantic Island as well as
<br />the gazebo and the oolitic limestone bridges,
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<br />Atlantic Island's bridges are historically significant as the remaining examples of the
<br />beautifying features of Graves' and Froedtert' s developtrental schare. The bridges are
<br />architecturally significant for their design and use of native oolitic liIrestone.
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<br />Foarnarn:
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<br />lKurtis R. Froedtert. "Captivating Srnny Isles, 1be Venice of America," promotional
<br />brochure, ca. 1936.
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