Our Neighborhoods: Lake Patricia

History

Lake Patricia is the first neighborhood of single family homes built by The Graham Companies in 1962.
It has 234 single-family properties, and some were built around a man-made, roughly L-shaped lake.
The community is bordered by Northwest 67th Avenue and to the east, an office and light industrial park.
It’s north and south byways are Miami Lakeway South and Northwest 138th Street.
Like many lakes in town, it is named for a woman in the Graham family, and in this case it was Patricia Graham, the wife of town developer William A. Graham.
Lake Patricia Shopping Center at 13908 NW 67th Ave. is home to one of the longest running businesses in town, the Miami Lakes Barbershop.
The shop was one of the Graham Companies’ first tenant in 1966. Owner Richard Ruiz, 49, said the business has been in his family for 53 years.

Amenities

Streets such as Lake Como Terrace and Lake Saranac Avenue are named for other lakes in the country, according to a town marker.
The neighborhood has curved streets, beautiful tree canopy, cul-de-sacs and multiple tot lots.
About 72 homeowners have water views.
Residents who don’t have a waterfront house can use a beach on a lake bank.
Shopping center tenants include The Nail Garden, Domenico’s Italian Deli, Vicky Bakery and Miami Lakes A+ Daycare.

Who lives there

Lake Patricia attracts young families, professionals and retirees.
Jan Perez, who works for the town building department, moved from Hialeah to the neighborhood in 2001 because it reminded him of The City Beautiful to the south.
“This calm and quiet neighborhood looks like a small version of Coral Gables,” Perez said. “That’s the reason I moved here from Hialeah.”
Town Councilman Jeffrey Rodriguez is also a resident.

What it costs

Former resident Angel Alvarez is a real estate agent with The Keyes Company.
He estimated the average cost of a house is $475,239.
“There are currently two active listings, from $509,000 to $545,000, with three active pending [sales] in the last six months,” Alvarez said.
Of five closings in the past six months, the highest sale was for $550,000, he said.
Crime was rare in Lake Patricia when he lived there and remains so, according to Alvarez.
“It’s a safe neighborhood,” he said. “I never ever locked my back door.”

Special Taxing District

Lake Patricia is one of six special taxing districts in town. Seventy-two lakefront owners each paid $232 in 2018-2019 for the town to maintain the lake and stock it with tilapia, bass and golden shiners.