Secretary Byrd Designates Allapattah Main Street as Florida Main Street Program of the Month

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. –

Today, Secretary of State Cord Byrd announced that Allapattah Main Street, located in Miami-Dade County, has been designated the August 2025 Florida Main Street Program of the Month.

“Allapattah continues to make progress locally and nationally since being designated a Florida Main Street Community in 2021,” said Secretary of State Cord Byrd. “Community collaborations remain critical as this award-winning program expands to service new audiences and takes on additional projects.”

William P. Wagner originally settled Allapattah in 1856 on ancestral lands of the Seminole and Miccosukee peoples. The name "Allapattah" comes from the Native language word for “alligator.” Starting in the early 1900s, the area transformed from farmland and pine flatwoods along the Miami Rock Ridge into a distinct neighborhood, especially after Miami annexed the area in 1925 and the Florida East Coast Railroad commenced operations. Construction of the Seaboard Air Line railroad station in 1930, along with urbanization throughout the late 1930s and 1940s, shaped its unique character.

Photos provided by Kram Kran Photo

Following World War II, Allapattah gained significant civic infrastructure, including Jackson Memorial Hospital and Miami Stadium, which began hosting Major League Baseball spring training in 1950. The early 1960s saw the emergence of neighborhood landmarks such as Donn Gardens, a senior housing complex, and the Abe Aronovitz Villas, which laid the foundation for a vibrant working-class community. Between the 1960s and 1980s, a wave of Cuban, Dominican, Nicaraguan, Haitian, and other Caribbean and Central American communities established Allapattah and NW 17th Avenue (later nicknamed “Little Santo Domingo”) as one of Miami’s most dynamic cultural hubs. The area thrived with tailors, barbershops, various retail shops, restaurants, and professional offices, fostering economic strength and a close-knit community.

By the late 20th century, Allapattah began to encounter modern challenges. In response, local leaders and stakeholders launched the Allapattah Collaborative Community Development Corporation (CDC) in 2019, followed by the creation of Allapattah Main Street as a designated Florida Main Street program in 2021. This non-profit coalition brings together businesses, residents, and community advocates to offer technical assistance, “Thrive in Place” funding, and capacity-building resources focused on retaining small businesses along the historic commercial corridor. Allapattah Main Street’s initiatives have bolstered micro-economic resilience, safeguarded affordable commercial spaces, and supported continuity in Little Santo Domingo, creating a hopeful and thriving future for Allapattah.

For more information on Allapattah Main Street, visit AllapattahCDC.org. 

To learn more about the Florida Main Street program, visit or follow on Florida Main Street - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State,  Florida Main Street | Facebook and Florida Main Street (@floridamainstreet) • Instagram photos and videos.

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 About Florida Main Street

Florida Main Street is a program administered by the Division of Historical Resources under the Florida Department of State, which currently oversees 53 communities throughout the state. By implementing the National Main Street Center’s Four-Point Approach, Florida Main Street encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation through the revitalization of Florida’s downtowns – the community’s heart and soul.