Miramar Parkway runs 14 miles from US 441 to NW 184th Avenue. It’s the spine of the city. If you drive it from east to west, you pass through every era of Miramar’s housing stock — from the 56 original flat-roof concrete homes built in 1953 to the guard-gated luxury communities that didn’t exist until the 2000s. The locks on the doors tell the story of when each neighborhood was built.
Mile 0 — The Original 56 Homes (1953)
A.L. Mailman, a developer, bought a 1,200-acre dairy farm from Henry D. Perry, Sr. in 1953. He built 56 inexpensive concrete homes with flat roofs on the land. They sold fast — the homes were cheap, the land was cheap, and Miami and Fort Lauderdale were close enough to commute. Miramar was incorporated on May 26, 1955, with fewer than 200 residents and 2.9 square miles. Mailman named the city after the Miramar district of Havana, Cuba. “Miramar” means “look at the sea” in Spanish.
The original boundaries ran from SW 64th Avenue on the east to University Drive on the west, Pembroke Road on the north, and the Dade County line on the south. Those 56 homes are 70+ years old now. The flat-roof concrete construction has held up better than the locks that came with it.
Locks we see: The original 1950s homes in eastern Miramar typically had cylindrical locksets — Schlage A-series knobsets or Kwikset residential locks — installed in standard 2-1/8″ cross bore door prep. Many had only a knob lock with no deadbolt originally. Deadbolts were added later as security upgrades, sometimes by homeowners, sometimes by landlords between tenants. The hardware on these doors has been replaced, rekeyed, and patched for decades. If you’re buying one of these homes, assume the locks have stories — rekey everything the day you close.
Mile 1-3 — Eastern Miramar (1950s-1970s)
The neighborhoods east of University Drive — the original city — contain the oldest housing stock in Miramar. The 56 concrete homes started it, but the area filled out through the 1960s and 1970s with ranch-style single-family homes on small lots. Flamingo Estates, Miramar Isles, Welwyn Manor — established neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and affordable housing.
When the city was developed, the only major roads were US 441 (a two-lane road then), Hallandale Beach Boulevard, and Pembroke Road (a dirt road to University Drive). Miramar was isolated — a bedroom community in the truest sense.
Locks we see: Schlage and Kwikset cylindrical locksets — pin-tumbler mechanisms, standard residential keyways. By the 1970s, single-cylinder deadbolts had become standard on exterior doors. Flush slab doors (no panels) were typical of 1950s-1980s construction. The Schlage B160-series deadbolt was the predominant model from the mid-1970s to late 1990s. Many of these homes have had their locks replaced at least once in 50 years, but the door prep remains standard, which makes upgrades straightforward.
Mile 3-6 — Central Miramar (1970s-1990s)
West of University Drive, the housing stock shifts. The lots are larger, the homes are newer, and the street grid is more planned. Miramar adopted a Comprehensive Land Use Plan in 1972 — before cities and counties were required to have one — which guided the orderly development of this central section.
The housing here was built primarily from the 1970s through the 1990s. Single-family homes, some townhouses, some condos. The 1970-1999 era accounts for about 39% of Miramar’s total housing stock.
Locks we see: Same Schlage and Kwikset standard, but with an evolution. By the 1980s, prehung door units with round-cornered hinge plates became standard — a sign of mass-production techniques. The deadbolts got better: 1″ throws became the norm, and double-cylinder deadbolts appeared on doors with glass panels. These homes are 30-50 years old now. If the locks haven’t been replaced in the last 10 years, they’re due.
Mile 6-10 — The Master-Planned Boom (1990s-2000s)
West of Flamingo Road, Miramar transforms. The street grid gives way to curved roads, cul-de-sacs, lakes, and gates. This is where the master-planned communities begin.
Silver Lakes is the largest. 5,626 homes across 39 gated and non-gated subdivisions, built on 2,400 acres in the early 1990s through the 2000s. Mediterranean and Spanish-style architecture, 3-5 bedrooms, 2,000+ square feet, two-car garages.
Monarch Lakes sits west of Silver Lakes, near I-75. Gated enclaves built around lakes.
Sunset Lakes is a large master-planned, guard-gated community with a resort-style clubhouse.
Silver Shores is guard-gated and family-oriented.
This is the largest housing cohort in Miramar — roughly 42% of the city’s housing was built since 2000, and the western communities account for most of it.
Locks we see: Builder-grade cylindrical locksets — almost always Kwikset or Schlage, almost always ANSI Grade 3 (the minimum acceptable rating). Builders install the cheapest lock that meets code. These locks work fine for a few years, but Grade 3 hardware is rated for only 200,000 cycles — that sounds like a lot, but a family of four can hit that in 5-7 years of normal use.
The most common upgrade we do in these neighborhoods is replacing builder-grade deadbolts with ANSI Grade 2 locks (rated for 400,000 cycles) — tighter tolerances, stronger materials, better pick and bump resistance.
One thing to check: if you live in a gated community with an HOA, read the CC&Rs before changing your locks. Some associations require architectural review committee approval before changing exterior hardware, and some require compatibility with a master key system for maintenance access.
Mile 10-14 — The Luxury Frontier (2000s-Present)
West of I-75, Miramar reaches its newest and most expensive development. These communities didn’t exist 25 years ago.
Riviera Isles is guard-gated, with 1,300+ homes built after 2000, organized around Lake Riviera and Lake Sunset Falls. Mostly single-family detached homes with 3-4 bedroom layouts. 24/7 gatehouses, security patrols, camera coverage at entries.
Nautica was built in 2001. Gated community with Mediterranean architecture inspired by southern Spain. Condos, townhomes, and single-family homes organized around two lakes.
Vizcaya is master-planned and guard-gated.
Country Club Ranches sits in the southwest — a different world entirely. Equestrian-friendly estates on 1+ acre lots. Semi-rural.
Locks we see: Same builder-grade starting point as the 1990s communities — Kwikset or Schlage, ANSI Grade 3. But the homeowners in these neighborhoods are more likely to upgrade. Smart locks are common retrofits. Some homes have been upgraded to Grade 2 or Grade 1 deadbolts. High-security lock systems with restricted keyways — where keys can only be duplicated by an authorized locksmith — appear in some of the higher-end homes.
The guard gates and security patrols in these communities are real. They reduce crime. But they don’t replace your door locks. The gate controls who drives in. Your deadbolt controls who walks through your front door. A delivery driver, a contractor, a guest who was let in by a resident — none of them passed through a guard gate to reach your front door. Your lock is still your last line of defense.
Quick Reference: What Locks Are on Your Door?
| Neighborhood | Built | Typical Locks | Common Service Needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Miramar (east of University Dr) | 1950s-70s | Schlage/Kwikset cylindrical, retrofitted deadbolts | Rekey on sale, deadbolt upgrade, lock change |
| Central Miramar (University to Flamingo) | 1970s-90s | Schlage/Kwikset, B160-series deadbolts | Rekey, deadbolt replacement, lock change |
| Silver Lakes | 1990s-2000s | Builder-grade Kwikset/Schlage | Upgrade from Grade 3 to Grade 2, rekey |
| Monarch Lakes | 1990s-2000s | Builder-grade, gated enclaves | Rekey, smart lock installation |
| Sunset Lakes | 1990s-2000s | Builder-grade, guard-gated | Rekey, deadbolt upgrade |
| Silver Shores | 1990s-2000s | Builder-grade, guard-gated | Rekey, lock change |
| Riviera Isles | 2000s+ | Builder-grade, upgrades common | Smart lock installation, rekey on sale |
| Nautica | 2001 | Builder-grade, gated | Rekey, electronic lock service |
| Vizcaya | 2000s | Builder-grade, guard-gated | Rekey, smart lock installation |
| Country Club Ranches | Various | Varies — estate homes | Full lock assessment, high-security upgrades |
Miramar Locksmith FAQ
I’m buying a home in Silver Lakes. Do I need to rekey?
Yes. The builder, the real estate agent, the previous owner, their relatives, and possibly neighbors all may have keys. Silver Lakes has 39 subdivisions — some gated, some not — and the turnover is constant. Rekey the day you close.
My HOA says I can’t change my locks without approval. Is that legal?
Read your CC&Rs carefully. Some associations require that any new lockset be compatible with a master key system for maintenance or emergency access. Others restrict exterior hardware finishes for uniform appearance. We can work within your HOA’s requirements — but we won’t bypass them.
I live in a guard-gated community. Do I really need better locks?
Yes. Guard gates control vehicle access. They don’t stop delivery drivers, contractors, guests of residents, or anyone who walks or bikes in. Your front door lock is your personal security layer. The gate is the community’s.
My home has builder-grade locks. Should I upgrade?
If your deadbolt is ANSI Grade 3 (builder standard), it’s rated for 200,000 cycles. A family of four can hit that in 5-7 years. A Grade 2 deadbolt is rated for 400,000 cycles and costs less than you’d think. The upgrade is worth it — stronger materials, tighter tolerances, better pick and bump resistance.
Need a Locksmith in Miramar?
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Call (954) 888-8800 or fill out the form below. We serve all Miramar ZIP codes: 33023, 33025, 33027, 33029.
Whether you’re in an original 1950s concrete home near US 441 or a guard-gated estate in Riviera Isles, we know what locks are on your door and what they need.
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