More communities exhibit cultural mix

 BY AMY DRISCOLL

 In Colin Veater's small pocket of a neighborhood tucked off Brickell Avenue behind Miami's financial district, Nicaraguans and Argentines live on tree-lined streets,
 side-by-side with Peruvians, Cubans and Colombians.

 And Veater fits right into the Hispanic melting pot: He was born and raised in Nicaragua, while his wife, Denisse, is of Argentine heritage.

 ``Our little neighborhood embodies a good slice of Miami,'' Veater said. ``You get quite a mixture here. It's a real blend of all these cultures.''

 Recently released census numbers bear him out. Diversity among Hispanics in South Florida is reaching new levels, with areas like Brickell leading the way. Although Cubans remain by far the largest group -- with 650,000 in Miami-Dade alone -- they are increasingly living alongside other Latin Americans, the census numbers show.

 A formula devised by demographers to measure diversity shows that Hispanics in the Brickell area tend to be from a wide variety of groups, according to a Herald analysis. Brickell rated an 86 out of 100, with 100 being most diverse. That makes Brickell significantly more diverse than the county's Hispanic population as a whole, which rates a 73 on the scale.

 Broward County, while much lower in total number of Hispanics -- 271,652 to Miami-Dade's 1.3 million -- is nonetheless more diverse than any other county in the state, with a 90 rating.

 In comparison, the Bronx, one of New York City's most heavily Hispanic boroughs, rated a 71 on the diversity index.

 In Broward, one of the broadest cross-sections of Hispanics can be found in Weston, where 30 percent of the population identify themselves as Hispanic. Sometimes nicknamed ``Weston-zuela'' for its heavy population of Venezuelans -- about 14 percent of its Hispanics -- the city is actually home to greater numbers of Colombians, more than 21 percent. About 13 percent are Cuban and 11 percent are Puerto Rican.

 ``There's been a tremendous exodus of wealthy business and professional people from Colombia,'' said Fabio A. Andrade, founder of the Colombian American Political Action Committee and a Weston resident. ``And they often come here knowing about Weston already.''

 POWER OF MARKETING

 Weston is being marketed directly to Colombians and other Latin Americans as a stable investment at a time when many are worried about the economy in their home countries.

 For example, Bancasa Realty, a Weston-based company, runs ads in newspapers and on TV stations in Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina, highlighting the attributes of home ownership in Weston.

 ``People from Venezuela and other Latin American countries are moving here because of the economic situation at home and also because of crime,'' said Eduardo Sanabria, president of the Venezuelan-American Chamber of Commerce. ``So they move to Weston for the same reasons as other people: Because they have families, and they want a place for them to live that is safe and makes them feel at home.''

 MIX OF CULTURES

 Sometimes, Weston's mix of cultures is the draw. ``When I was looking for a place to live, I wanted something multicultural for my kids. I'm married to an American, and we wanted a place where it wasn't solely one culture,'' Andrade said. ``Weston fulfilled all our requirements. There are all different kinds of people living there.''

 Often, the link between Broward County and Latin America is personal. ``My sister bought in Weston because I talked her into it,'' Andrade added. ``I showed her my house, told her what a good investment it would be. And that's how it happens for a lot of people in Colombia, they know someone here already. It's become something of a status symbol to own a house in Weston.''

 Demographers, who study changes in the population, say diversity among Hispanics is an indication that South Florida has matured as a place for Latin American immigrants to land. Instead of each group seeking its own, this newer wave of immigrants is setting down roots in places such as Weston, where they are mixed together.

 ``When a migration flow starts, the group tends to locate in a very specific set of locales and stick together,'' said June Nogle, a demographer at the University of Florida. ``But over time, the spreading-out phenomenon is indicative of a mature migration destination.''

 In other words, previous waves of Cubans overcame many of the language and cultural hurdles for those who would come later.

 ``Groups that follow have more information, more contacts, more ability to travel there, perhaps on business, so they can get an idea of what the place is like before
 moving there,'' Nogle said. ``Successive waves really open up a wider array of geography.''

 Key Biscayne, with an 86 on the diversity index, seems to fit that pattern with high-end housing and a multi-ethnic flavor. Overall, its Hispanic population is 31 percent Cuban and 14 percent Colombian, with a variety of other groups, including 5 percent each of Peruvians and Venezuelans.

 Monica Defortuna, vice president of Fortune International Realty, which specializes in Key Biscayne and Brickell, says at least 50 percent of her company's clientele is Latin American.

 ``The environment is like Latin America,'' she said, explaining the appeal of the area. ``They feel very at home.''

 She understands, she says, because she is an immigrant herself who chose Key Biscayne for her home. An Argentine, she moved to Miami 11 years ago to join the
 family real estate business. Since then, she said, home buyers have become increasingly Colombian, Mexican and Venezuelan.

 REGION IN FLUX

 ``My English is good, but my mother doesn't [speak] much English -- and she doesn't need it in Key Biscayne,'' Defortuna said. ``There are a lot of Latin Americans there. We want to go to the supermarket and be able to talk to each other. There's a familiar feel to Key Biscayne, a comfortable and cozy environment.''

 The census captured a region in flux, with Latin Americans gradually gaining status, some observers say.

 ``The Hispanic culture in Miami and much of South Florida has traditionally moved to a Cuban beat,'' said Michael Bander, a Miami immigration attorney whose clients are primarily from Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina.

 ``Now that's changing to one that includes all of Latin America,'' he said.

 ``We are moving toward an international Hispanic culture.''

                                    © 2001