The news this week is “the islands are busy” and the weather is fabulous. Better than fabulous! Local reporters said yesterday that Southwest Florida was the warmest spot in the nation at 84 degrees. It is down to a mere 80 degrees today, with cooler days expected over the weekend, but it’s still pretty easy to take and picture perfect for all of those outside activities that islander enjoy.

As usual on February 1, we changed our daily patterns to accommodate the increased traffic on Periwinkle Way and the bike paths, and the additional visitors at shops and restaurants. Most of the al fresco dining spots were busy again today. We saw most of the outside tables full with diners enjoying the weather.

Our phones have been ringing with calls from those enduring snowy conditions, while several of our condo listings got good showing activity this week (also typical for this time of the year when more seasonal renters are in town).

At our Realtor Caravan meeting yesterday, more sales were announced that in many weeks and we are happy to report that SanibelSusan had two of the sales. We also had a home closing and got a couple of nice new condo listings this week too. One has a terrific view of this active osprey nest. Look closely, you will see the bird guarding it.

Here is some island news, followed by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands MLS activity for the last seven days.

New Sanibel Cell Tower

Those using cell phones on Sanibel’s east end know that at times the service is challenging. It is good news that the City has finally approved a site for a 149′ Verizon tower near Donax Street. Reports are that Verizon has agreed to residents’ and the City’s request for the tower design to look like a flagpole. The tower also has room for two more carriers. Design and engineering come next.

Corner Grill Grand Opening & Art Auction to Benefit “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society (DDWS)

George & Wendy’s Corner Grill on Sanibel is celebrating its grand opening with a fine-art auction to benefit “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society – Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) on Friday, February 11. The event, called Art Privé, features the critically acclaimed art of Stacie Krupa, an Islamorada, FL-based, expressionistic artist whose flamboyant island-inspired work decorates the restaurants walls. Krupa is a featured favorite in HGTV’s Islamorada Dream Home episode.

The grand opening begins at 5 p.m. Admission is free. A silent auction of 18 pieces will be conducted throughout the reception and a live auction for 10 select pieces begins at 8 p.m. Artist Krupa will be on hand to meet and greet guests. In addition to this auction, George & Wendy donate five percent of all art sales throughout the year to DDWS. As a non-profit, DDWS works to support J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s mission of conservation, wildlife and habitat protection, research, and public education through charitable donations. To join DDWS and support the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org.

Mother Nature Has Done Us In Again – Blind Pass Closure Could Be Soon

After more than $3M was spent in 2009 to dredge the pass that separates Sanibel from Captiva, a sandbar is now reaching across the opening and may soon close the pass to navigation. Even more important than navigation, is the healthy tidal flushing of the pass that comes to a halt whenever the pass is closed, possibly damaging the fragile ecosystem of the back bay. The Captiva Erosion Protection District re-nourishes Captiva beaches at a cost of ~$10M every eight to 10 years. Due to the contour of the islands and weather, much of that sand ends up in Blind Pass often closing it. Dredging or re-nourishment is a controversial topic that sometimes pits conservationists against those who say the beaches drive our economy. That economy means changes in property values when the pass is closed too, so many west-end Sanibel owners are concerned.

Activity from the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service from January 28 to February 4

Sanibel

CONDOS

7 new listings: Captains Walk #E8 2/2 $259K, Mariner Pointe #733 2/2 $299K (our listing), Seashells #37 2/2 $274K (our listing), Loggerhead Cay #333 2/2 $439K, Gulf Beach #102 2/2 $699K, Moonshadows #1B 3/3 $765K, Janthina #1B 3/2 $935K.

12 price changes: Sanibel Arms #D6 1/1 now $225K, Captains Walk #A1 2/1.5 now $229K, Sundial #F307 1/1 now $329K, Sundial #D207 1/1 now $339K, Coquina Beach #5A 2/2 now $359K, Lake Palms #9 2/2.5 now $370K, Sanibel Siesta #803 2/2 now $399.9K, Sanibel Arms West #B4 2/2 now $419K, Sundial #D305 1/1 now $445K, Sunset South #9D 2/2 now $499K, Loggerhead Cay #174 2/2 now $659K, Sandpiper Beach #302 2/2 now $664K.

4 new sales: Tennisplace #A31 2/1 listed for $235K, Blind Pass #D205 2/2 listed for $289K (short sale), Loggerhead Cay #373 2/2 listed for $399K (our listing), Atrium #205 3/2 listed for $1.27M.

4 closed sales: Heron at The Sanctuary #1A 3/2.5 $475K, Lighthouse Point #325 2/2 $640K, Pointe Santo #E36 2/2 $830K, Seascape #305 3/3 $840K.

HOMES

13 new listings: 984 Sand Castle Rd 2/2.5 half-duplex $385K, 1212 Middle Gulf Dr 2/2 $398K, 978 Greenwood Ct 3/2.5 half-duplex $399K, 1841 Ibis Ln 2/1 $479.9K, 1400 Albatross Rd 3/3 $597K, 3017 Turtle Gait Ln 3/2 $599K, 4797 Rue Helene 3/2 $624.9K, 5313 Punta Caloosa Ct 4/3 $849K, 2228 Starfish Ln 3/2.5 $1.25M, 927 Kings Crown Ln 3/3.5 $1.795M, 6440 Pine Ave 3/3 $2.225M, 4501 Waters Edge Ln 4/5/2 $2.795M, 3401 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5 $5.699M.

17 price changes: 2991 Singing Wind 3/2 now $419.9K, 9417 Sage Ct 2/2 now $450K, 683 Emeril Ct 2/2 $495K, 1043 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $549K, 237 Daniel Dr 3/2 now $599K, 5297 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/3 now $599K, 317 Palm Lake Dr 3/3 now $715K, 1035 South Yachtsman Dr 5/4.5 now $825K, 1172 Kittiwake Cir 5/3 now $1.05M, 1277 Par View Dr 3/2.5 now $1.099.5M, 5709 Baltusrol Ct 3/3.5 now $1.35M, 791 Penn Shell Dr 4/3 now $1.399M, 2332 Troon Ct 4/5 now $1.42M (short sale), 2367 Wulfert Rd 4/3.5 now $1.449M, 1751 Jewel Box Rd 4/4 now $1.65M, 1212 Isabel Dr 3/3 now $1.995M, 4949 Joewood Dr 5/5 now $3.55M.

5 new sales: 754 Vinca Way 4/3 listed for $310K (short sale), 1562 Serenity Ln 5/3 listed for $439K, 4640 Rue Belle Mer 4/4 listed for $985K, 1995 My Tern Ct 3/2 listed for $1.095M, 2596 Wulfert Rd 5/4.5 listed for $2.495M.

8 closed sales: 749 Martha’s Ln 2/2 $360K, (our listing), 540 East Rocks Dr 3/2 $520K, 9127 Mockingbird 4/2.5 $530K, 678 East Rocks Dr 3/2 $543.75K, 668 Anchor Dr 3/2 $635K, 1581 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $710K, 5116 Joewood Dr 4/3 $1.232.5M, 4697 Rue Belle Mer 5/5.5 $2.8M (short sale).

LOTS

No new listings.

6 price changes: 2453 Los Colony Rd now $250K, 2441 Los Colony Rd now $250K, 1032 Sand Castle Rd now $399.9K, 1242 Anhinga Ln now $499.9K, Lot 7 West Gulf Dr now $1.15M, 4333 West Gulf Dr now $2.95M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 978 Main St $100K.

Captiva

CONDOS

2 new listings: Beach Villas #108 2/2 $675K, Beach Homes #3 3/2 $1.675M.

3 price changes: Bayside Villas #4216 1/2 now $299K, Bayside Villas #5308 3/3 now $668K, Bayside Villas #5344 3/3 now $710K.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: Beach Homes #15 3/2 $1.6M.

HOMES

No new listings.

5 price changes: 16185 Captiva Dr 4/4 now $1.499M, 11523 Wightman Ln 4/4 now $1.699.9M, 1073 South Seas Plantation Rd 3/3.5 now $2M, 15351 Captiva Dr 5/4 now $3.195M, 11530 Paige Ct 5/4.5 now $4.395M.

No new or closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors or its Multiple Listing Service.  Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.  Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.  The information provided represents the general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.  If your property currently is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.