In the early 1970s, architect Gail Baldwin expanded a 1920s fishing shack into a home he now owns with friends, located 20 minutes from Miami. Gail uses it mainly as a getaway spot. The views from the house are all of water: to the east the Gulf Stream, to the south the ragged Keys and Alamirada, to the west Homestead, South Dade, and beautiful sunsets. The house belongs to a neighborhood of homes called Stiltsville, located 9 miles from Coconut Grove. The house's exterior is wood, board and batten plywood, painted yellow and surrounded by a wood deck. It sits atop concrete columns driven 20 feet into solid coral rock beneath the water on the bay floor. At the front of the house, the water reaches six feet deep, and only one or two feet at the back, depending upon the tide. The only way to reach Stiltsville is by boat. Only seven houses remain after Hurricane Andrew destroyed many others. This house lost its docks and guest house roof in the last storm. They use salt water for the toilet, swabbing the deck and general cleaning. A 12-kilowatt diesel generator gives the place electricity. They bring drinking water from the mainland; sewage goes into a 500-gallon holding tank that has to be pumped out, carried to shore and delivered to a waste pump station. The modern kitchen features a refrigerator that runs on generator power. Although they can air condition 1,500 square feet of living space, generally the air is naturally temperate. The only time they use the A/C is to discourage mosquitoes, who rarely pester them. The main part of the house contains a bedroom, a living room with sleeper couches and a bathroom. The separate guest house sleeps four and features a sleeping loft used generally by kids. The National Park Service has been putting pressure on Stiltsville residents to destroy the homes and return the bay to its pristine state.
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