Downtown Homestead FL: A Guide From Aria Park
In this article
"Downtown Homestead FL is the historic center of the city, built around Krome Avenue. It has a restored theater, a public park with a stage, a history museum in the original 1917 town hall and a modern entertainment and transit center called Homestead Station. The city's redevelopment agency also says the area has locally owned shops, cafés and restaurants. If you are looking at Aria Park, a Lennar townhome community on Palm Drive in Homestead, downtown is one of the places that makes the city feel like a real town. This guide shows what is there and how to plan a visit.
What downtown Homestead is
Downtown Homestead is the old heart of the city. The official downtown website, run by the Homestead Community Redevelopment Agency, says the agency was created to revitalize the urban core after Hurricane Andrew. It describes the area as walkable, with locally owned shops, cafés and restaurants.
The site also talks about the town's roots. It names the pioneering days of William J. Krome and H.L. Mowry, the railroad and the farm boom that fed the region. The past is part of what you see when you walk around.
You can read the agency's own overview on the Downtown Homestead visit page.
The main street is Krome Avenue
You will hear Krome Avenue over and over. It is the main street through downtown. The addresses of the big landmarks all sit on it: Homestead Station at 4 South Krome Avenue, the Historic Town Hall Museum at 41 North Krome Avenue and Losner Park at 104 North Krome Avenue.
Palm Drive, the road where Aria Park sits, crosses Krome Avenue. Palm Drive is also known as SW 344th Street. We do not give drive times, because traffic changes them. Instead, test the trip yourself at the hour you would really drive it.
Losner Park
Losner Park is a City of Homestead park in the historic downtown. The city's page says it is a great place for concerts, performances and other events. The listed features include a playground, a stage, restrooms, picnic areas, walking and jogging paths, benches and a veterans memorial. The page also says the park is pet friendly and ADA accessible.
Because the park hosts events, what is happening on a given day changes. Check the city's Losner Park page for the address, features and contact details before you go.
The Seminole Theatre
The downtown website calls the Historic Seminole Theatre the premier performing arts center of Homestead. It says the theater is a creative hub of theater, music, dance and education in south Miami-Dade County and the Upper Keys.
It sells tickets for its own shows. The shows change all the time, so look at the Seminole Theatre website for what is on.
Homestead Station
Homestead Station is the modern part of downtown. Its own website says it opened in October 2019 at 4 South Krome Avenue. It lists an entertainment center with an IMAX screen, retail space and a technology-driven public library called the Cybrarium. It also has a parking garage.
It is a transit hub too. Miami-Dade County runs a bus rapid transit service called Metro Express along the South Dade TransitWay. We cover that in Homestead to Miami: The Roads and Transit From Aria Park.
The Historic Town Hall Museum
The downtown website says the Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum is at 41 North Krome Avenue, in the original 1917 City of Homestead Town Hall. It sits across the street from Losner Park and a short distance from the restored Seminole Theatre. It is a small stop that is worth a visit if you like local history.
Other places the downtown site lists
The same visit page lists the Coral Castle Museum among its featured attractions. It describes Coral Castle as a sculpture garden made of massive coral rock. We cover places like it in our guide to Cauley Square, a historic village in the Goulds area north of Homestead.
A short history
The downtown website tells the story in a few lines. The railroad brought growth to Homestead. The years after the war brought more homes and more people. Then Hurricane Andrew damaged the city, and the site says the community came together to rebuild. The redevelopment agency was created after that storm to help bring the urban core back.
You can feel that history when you walk around. Some buildings are old, and some are new. The mix is part of the charm.
What the city says about the future
The downtown website says the area is working on a long-term vision, guided by community input through something it calls the Downtown Charrette. A charrette is a public planning meeting where neighbors share ideas. The site also links to a Downtown Master Plan and a page of projects.
Plans like these change over time, so we do not describe any project as finished or promised. If you want to know what is happening now, read the Downtown Homestead website for the latest.
How to plan a downtown afternoon
You do not need a big plan. Try this:
Start at Losner Park. Walk the paths and see if there is an event.
Walk Krome Avenue. Look in the shops. If you want food, pick a café or restaurant that looks good. Restaurants change owners and hours, so call or check before you go.
Check the Seminole Theatre. See if a show fits your night.
End at Homestead Station. Take in a movie or just look around.
Hours and events change, so check each place's own website first.
How downtown fits a home search
Many buyers want a home that is close to a real downtown. A town center gives you a place to eat out, see a show or take guests. It can also tell you what the city is like for a Saturday, which a spec sheet cannot.
To see how Aria Park's plans work for your life, start with our guide to Aria Park floor plans. If you like to be outside, read about parks in Homestead. You can also see the Aria Park community page for more.
Common Questions
What is downtown Homestead known for?
Downtown Homestead is the historic center of the city. It has the Seminole Theatre, Losner Park, the Historic Town Hall Museum and Homestead Station. The city's redevelopment agency says it has locally owned shops, cafés and restaurants.
What is the main street in downtown Homestead?
Krome Avenue. Homestead Station, the Historic Town Hall Museum and Losner Park all have Krome Avenue addresses. Palm Drive, the road where Aria Park sits, crosses Krome Avenue.
Is there a park in downtown Homestead?
Yes. Losner Park is at 104 North Krome Avenue. The city lists a playground, a stage, restrooms, picnic areas, walking paths and a veterans memorial. It is pet friendly and ADA accessible. Check the city's page for current details.
What is Homestead Station?
It is a mixed-use center at 4 South Krome Avenue. Its website lists an entertainment center with IMAX, retail space, a public library called the Cybrarium and a parking garage. It is also a stop for Miami-Dade's bus rapid transit service.
Are restaurants and events in downtown Homestead always the same?
No. Restaurants change owners and hours, and shows change all the time. Always check the place's own website or call before you go. Our guide gives you the places that stay put, such as the park, the theater and the museum.
Is Aria Park close to downtown Homestead?
Aria Park is on Palm Drive in Homestead, and Palm Drive crosses Krome Avenue, the main street downtown. We do not give drive times because traffic changes them. Try the trip yourself at the hour you would drive it.
Want to see Aria Park and downtown on the same day? Call 561-704-0091 or Visit Aria Park, Then Downtown — Schedule a Visit. We will plan a short tour with you.
Related reading: Cauley Square: A Visitor's Guide From Aria Park, Homestead to Miami: The Roads and Transit From Aria Park, Parks in Homestead FL: A Guide From Aria Park, Aria Park Floor Plans: All Four Townhomes Compared, and the Aria Park community page."