Island lovers, it has been a funny week. More gorgeous summer-like weather until today. A few sprinkles are interrupting the afternoon sunshine.
Road and bike path traffic are down this week, but we had an uptick in listing showing requests/inquiries and SanibelSusan was out showing both homes and condos on multiple days to several different prospective buyers. Teammate Dave has held Open Houses at several listings, with good turnout at those too.
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®
There also was good turnout yesterday at our local Realtor® Association’s last weekly Caravan Meeting of the season. Beginning May 6, these meetings followed by 3-hour Caravan (9 a.m. until noon) of new listings will be held every two weeks. Caravans remain limited to 15 properties, but properties on either island are permitted during the off-season. A property may be on Caravan once every six months.
During the meeting’s general announcements, VIP’s Broker Jim Hall and I were congratulated for again making Florida Realtors® Honor Society. Florida Realtors® recognizes members for their participation at local and national levels of the Realtor organization; for activity in their Institutes, Societies and Councils; for designations earned, educational activities, and political involvement. Jim and I are old timers at this. I received my 20-year state honor society pin. It’s still nice to be recognized.
For those looking to earn their Sanibel & Captiva Islands Specialist Designation, the 12-part program will be offered this year from May 21 through June 7. Each module has a different instructor and takes several hours. Students must complete all 12 parts over a two-year period to earn the designation. After that, recertification is required periodically, by attending three more classes. I again will be teaching the Resort & 2nd Home Module. Time for me to update that curriculum.
As season winds down, there were just a handful of new listings, price reductions, and sale announcements. The week’s action in the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service is posted after a couple of news items below.
Causeway Inspections Beginning
Beginning Monday, May 6, the Sanibel causeway’s three bridges will be inspected. The causeway, the bridges, and the toll facility are owned by the County and operated by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners who advise that this is a routine inspection. Workers are expected to be on bridges’ shoulders from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through the summer. No lane closures are expected, but there will be lane shifts with minor traffic disruptions during the daily set up and breakdown of equipment.
Congratulations to Bailey’s General Store
Senator Marco Rubio visited Bailey’s this week to present them with the Congressional Record as Small Business of the Week. In his words, “They not only run a great business, they go above and beyond to serve the community.”
Summer Construction Projects Already Underway
- Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum – Construction also has begun on the expansion project at the Shell Museum. This project includes adding an aquarium to house all types of mollusks, plus octopus, cuttlefish, and squid. This project also is expected to be complete in early 2020. Because this is an expansion, the Museum is only expected to be closed for a couple of weeks during construction.
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Rendering of ticket lobby side of new building
BIG ARTS – for those surprised to see Schein Performance Hall and Phillips Gallery torn down in just days earlier this month, you might also be surprised to see that the new buildings already are underway. BIG ARTS employees are squeezed into Sanibel Square in the building behind SanibelSusan Realty. Surely, they are looking forward to their new digs which are expected to be completed in early 2020. The project, projected at $14M, will include a bigger stage, elevator, easy and safer access, comfy seating, dynamic sound, room for more social gatherings, an outdoor performance space, and better classrooms. The new building will be in keeping with Sanibel-Captiva architectural style and cover the same footprint. You can be sure that the BIG ARTS Chorus is excited that we will be able to perform with the entire chorus on the stage in the future!
Restaurant Scoop
Kiwanis Diners Delight Books – When seasonal visitors leave, island restaurants rely on local customers to fill the gap. For years, island Kiwanians have sold 2-for-1 coupon books which this year include 31 restaurants with a potential savings of over $500. They may be used beginning next week, May 1 and purchased for a donation of $40. The proceeds are used by the Kiwanis Club to underwrite education and recreation activities as well as scholarships for island youth. Booklets are available from any Kiwanian or at Bank of the Islands, Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank, Island Winds, Sanibel Beach Club 2, Tortuga Beach Club, Shell Island Beach Club, Periwinkle Park, and Big Red Q Printing.- Sanibel Fish House – This week, Sanibel Planning Commission approved a development permit with waivers for the restaurant to install a new outdoor patio area with 26 seats. As part of the change, the restaurant is decreasing the same number of indoor seats.
Why The Beaches Are A Photographer’s Paradise
Posted on-line this week (April 24, 2019) at Smithsonian.com is an article about the son of clients who moved here shortly after his parents bought their first home through us. Congratulations, Britt.
Britt’s photo of Sanibel’s Lighthouse Beach
“As often as he can, Britt Maxwell likes to head out two hours before sunset to walk the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. One day, the tide might leave ribbons of shells and seaweed on the beach; the next, glistening tidal pools surrounding a sandbar fifty feet out. Roseate spoonbills and other wading birds might swoop in for end-of-day feeding, plucking silver minnows from the shallows, as golfers play their final, seaside rounds. “You just never really know what you’re going to find,” he says.
“Located off the coast of Southwest Florida, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel’s barrier islands are known around the world for their abundant seashells. With each tide and summer storm, a fresh batch of under-the-sea treasures washes ashore, sand dunes rise and fall and new light dances across the sky. The area is constantly reinventing itself, making it a paradise not only for beachcombers, but photographers as well.
“Though Britt has lived and photographed in Fort Myers and Sanibel for over a decade, it never ceases to amaze him. “There’s just so much diversity to be found. Every location’s a little different, but still a little bit the same, and all easily accessible,” he says.
“Thanks to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel’s Resident Artist Program, in spring 2017 Britt had the opportunity to visit and photograph the many landscapes that comprise the area, from the barrier islands of Captiva and Sanibel to the coastal wetlands of Matlacha and the urban centers of Cape Coral and Fort Myers. Through the experience, he developed a deep appreciation for the destination’s distinct beauty.
““The program was a great opportunity to not only share my photos, but also get to explore the area and get out of my normal spots,” he says.
“Today, when he’s not working at the popular restaurant The Bubble Room on Captiva Island, Britt is chasing end-of-day light. “Nothing can really put a damper on your evening watching the sunset—even getting caught in the rain just feels good—and for a few hours you have no worries,” he says. “I try to share those moments in my photography, to give people a little peace and an escape in their lives.”
“From small strips of sand in the middle of the Gulf to remote state parks, here are four of Britt’s favorite places to witness the everchanging nature of the tropical paradise he calls home….”
Britt’s photo of Sanibel Causeway bridge
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity April 19-26, 2019
Sanibel
CONDOS
4 new listings: Sanibel Arms #D7 1/1 $419K, Sand Pointe #227 2/2 $749K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #5-1 2/2.5 $774K, Kings Crown #210 2/2 $799K.
2 price changes: Sanibel Arms #B1 1/1 now $454K, Sand Pointe #132 2/2 now $714.9K.
4 new sales: Sundial #H108 1/1 listed at $439,999; Coquina Beach #2A 2/2 listed at $619K, Snug Harbor #312 3/2 listed at $658K, Sanibel Siesta #601 2/2 listed at $689K.
2 closed sales: Sanibel Arms West #K1 2/2 $535K, Sanctuary Golf Villages I #3-1 2/2.5 $605K.
HOMES
No new listings.
14 price changes: 1520 Centre St 3/2 now $432.5K; 785 Rabbit Rd 3/2 half-duplex now $449K; 705 Rabbit Rd 3/3 now $569,555; 1585 Bunting Ln 3/2 now $622K; 1677 Sabal Sands Rd 3/2 now $699K; 566 Boulder Dr 3/2 now $699.9K; 405 Tiree Cir 3/2 now $779K; 3284 Twin Lakes Ln 4/4 now $785K; 1056 S Yachtsman Dr 3/2 now $875K; 1244 Par View Dr 4/3 now $989K; 478 Sea Oats Dr 3/3 now $899K; 6047 Sanibel-Captiva Rd 3/2.5 now $1.095M; 228 Violet Dr 4/2/2 now $1.879.5M; 1069 Bird Ln 4/3.5 now $5.389M.
7 new sales: 398 Old Trail Rd 3/3 listed at $495K; 329 Palm Lake Dr 3/2 listed at $599K; 3350 Barra Cir 3/2 listed at $649,946; 458 Casa Ybel Rd 3/2.5 listed at $679K; 1555 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 listed at $695K; 686 East Rocks Dr 3/2 listed at $799K; 641 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 listed at $1.035.5M.
5 closed sales: 9248 Kincaid Ct 2/1 $350K, 6141 Henderson Rd 2/1.5 $414.5K, 5306 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 $572K, 5306 Umbrella Pool Rd 4/3 $710K, 4992 Joewood Dr 3/3.5 $1.285M.
LOTS
2 new listings: 0 Bunting Ln $229,555; 239 Robinwood Cir $299K.
2 price changes: 5170 Sea Bell Rd now $295K, 9345 Dimmick Dr now $360K.
1 new sale: 6217 Starling Way listed at $1.36M.
No closed sales.
Captiva
CONDOS
No new listings or price changes.
1 new sales: Bayside Villas #4124 1/2 listed at $399,999.
No closed sale.
HOMES
No new listings or price changes.
1 new sale: 16814 Captiva Dr 2/2.5 listed at $5.25M.
No closed sales.
LOTS
Nothing to report.
This representation is based in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® 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.
Until next Friday, Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan
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