Tell Me About E Lake !
Welcome to "E Lake" Miami, Florida! We are located 2 blocks west of The Falls Shopping Center, on the west side of US 1. The lake sits between SW 136th St. and SW 144th St. (on the north and south side) and SW 92nd Ave and SW 97th Ave (on the east and west side). It covers a total of 76 acres, which are surounded by 116 lakeside homes. The proper name of the lake is actually Lake Lennar. This was named by the well known home builder: Lennar Homes. An overhead view of the lake clearly shows its "E" like shape, thereby A.K.A. and referred to as E Lake. The lake is privately owned by the 116 residents collectively and indivisibly. Lennar still owns the mineral rights below the water, but the water is managed, owned and used by the residents themselves. The Lake Lennar Homeowners Assoc., is a group of volunteers consisting of homeowners living on the lake. The LLHA is not an incorporated HOA by design. It remains as a simple group of volunteers who maintain the lake and collect the dues of $150.00 per year. The history of E Lake is fascinating. The following narrative may not be completely accurate, due to very little being previously documented. There are however, those whom had grandparents and family living nearby and word of mouth has been passed down. Let's go back to the early 1900's.
Miami, Florida wasn't much in the beginning, but it's future seemed bright. Henry Flagler had a grand dream of creating a railroad which was to run it's way from Miami down to Key West. A family named Hodgins (whose relatives still remain in the area today), decided to homestead this area that included E Lake. Henry Flagler needed concrete and rock to construct his railway along US 1. The land covering E Lake was sold off to be excavated for Henry's endeavor. By the early 1920's, 3 rock pits had been dug for use in construction of the railway bed beneath the track and for concrete to build bridges over water. The trains would load up with the limestone or oolite, which had formed millions of years ago, from coral and seashells. The train would then proceed southward to the latest construction point towards the keys. The project was known as the 3 Bays Improvement Project. In fact, the rock crusher was located in the protected pineland area at SW 144th St. and SW 92nd Ave. These 3 rock pits kept filling up with water due to springs and the water table down below. E Lake was originally 2 pits and the other was Lake Charo located just to the east side of SW 92nd Ave. E Lake was really an "L Lake". Later, in the 1940's, the E Lake pits were joined together for further excavation of the limestone. There were 3 fingers left. The north finger (where the large body of water remains) was then excavated. Finally, the weight of the water became too much for the digging machines and excavation ceased. The rock pit was left as it is today. A large body of water on the north side and 2 fingers on the south part of the lake, which looks like an "E". The depth of the lake ranges from over 60' on the west side, to 35' on the east side. The obvious next step, was to develop the land around the lake. Two home builders in the 1960's began to construct homes surrounding the lake. They were F & R Builders and Jennings Homes. In fact, some of these original homes still remain on the lake today. A Jennings home has a signature scalloped front edge, to all their shelves in the closets. Lots were offered at $15K - $20K. Today in contrast, these lots are worth well over a million dollars, not including the house. In fact, most homes bought these days, are simply plowed and new multi storied mansions with pools and landscaping are constructed in its place.
E Lake is an all sports lake. Ski boats, wave runners, sailboats as well as human powered craft, are all utilized. The water quality is absolutely fantasic. Click on the water quality header in this website to learn more. Visibility consistently runs 50' plus. The water is so clear, one can see fish swimming right off your dock. The lake is tested and treated for hydrilla weeds every month and the results over the past 30 years have been absolutely stellar for water quality. There are a few rules on the lake, but residents pride on NOT having a myriad of constraints. By and large, the concept of just being safe and a good neighbor on and off the lake, has proven very successful. Many times residents will drive around the lake in their boat picking up other homeowners for a cocktail cruise at sunset. Kids abound ! Wake boarding is "king". For the smaller kids, it's tubing with multiple rafts that provides the excitement. Just before Christmas, Santa Claus arrives in a pontoon boat, delivering small gifts for all the kids. Many residents have gone on vacation together to Trinidad and Tobago, Las Vegas, and the Bahamas. It's really quite remarkable how much fun living here, truly is. The adults have just as much fun as the kids. Recently, kids have been riding their waverunners in the early morning in pajamas, to go have breakfast over at a friends house. Babysitters, drive home after work by boat as well. Many "lake days" which are days spent "limeing by the lake" down in your chickee by the beach, have turned into full fledged beach parties with BBQ's with, lots of food and fun. This is an outside style of living and there is nothing better than laying in your hammock, feeling the cool lake breeze, while reading your book.
This is E Lake. Welcome.