There was an uptick in real estate showings and inquiries this week at SanibelSusan Realty. Many neighborhoods and complexes have annual maintenance and summer repair projects underway, yet the islands are expected to have more visitors over the three-day holiday weekend.

Following a couple of news items below are the week’s postings in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service.

City of Sanibel

On Tuesday, Sanibel Mayor Ruane issued City Proclamation 20-061, extending the declared state of emergency due to COVID-19.

Per the Florida Department of Health, Sanibel’s total accumulative number of COVID-19 cases since March 26, as of August 31, is 42. That is the total number of positive cases reported during that 5+month period, not current cases.

Proclamation 20-061:

• Extends temporary prohibitions of alcohol on beaches. (Possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages are prohibited from 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. seven days a week at all City-operated beaches & associated parks or picnic areas with public parking (including Bowman’s Beach, Blind Pass, Gulfside City Park (Algiers), Lighthouse Beach & fishing pier, Trost lot (Tarpon Rd beach), Bailey Rd north beach, & picnic areas at Sanibel boat ramp).
• Extends temporary parking fines. (Until November 30, 2020, parking fines remain $200 to prevent overcrowding at beach parking lots & around beach access points.)
• Extends until November 30, 2020, the temporary allowance for certain outdoor displays of merchandise.

The state of emergency extension is until September 8, 2020, unless further extended. (Per State Statute the maximum time for a Mayoral Declaration of Emergency is seven days, so it must be updated weekly while there are emergency conditions.)

Shoreline Stabilization Project at Turner Beach

On Monday, the City posted that Turner Beach Park will be closed September 8 through November 6 for a construction project.

The project includes the removal and replacement of the rip-rap revetment along the south side of the park, drainage improvements throughout the entire park, ADA accessibility improvements, and dune restoration.

Lee County Tourist Development Council is providing the funding.

SCCF Documents Most Loggerhead Nests Ever

2020 is a record-breaking nesting season on both islands for loggerhead sea turtles. As of September 2, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) sea turtle team has documented 679 nests on Sanibel breaking the previous record of 649 in 2017. On Captiva, 265 nests have been recorded, beyond the previous record of 194 in 2016.

Sea turtles have complex life cycles – females lay more than one nest per year but do not typically reproduce every year, so even when the population is stable, it is natural to see fluctuations from year to year.

After the red tide during the 2018 nesting season stranded more than 100 loggerheads, there was concern that the number of adults lost would have a negative impact on the nesting season this year. SCCF has a research project underway to better understand how these algae blooms affect the health of surviving turtles.

Sanibel School Back in Session

The Sanibel School is back in session this week, with students adjusting to some changes due to the pandemic. The school has been shut down since Spring Break in March, when lockdown orders were issued, and the Lee County School District transitioned into a remote learning program.

This week, school leaders expected about two-thirds of its enrollment – or about 180 students – to be back in class for face-to-face learning. New safety protocols are in place aimed at keeping students and faculty safe. The remaining students opted for one of three home study options offered by the school district.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity August 28 – September 4, 2020

Sanibel

CONDOS

4 new listings: Ibis at The Sanctuary #202 2/2 $487.5K, Loggerhead Cay #373 2/2 $669,555; Seawind #A103 2/2.5 $579K, Sunset South #10C 2/2 $725K.

1 price change: Sanibel Arms #D7 1/1 now $339K.

2 new sales Sunset South #14B 2/2 listed at $950K, Yacht Haven #2 3/2 listed at $999K.

6 closed sales: Blind Pass #E202 2/2 $392.5K; Sand Pointe #227 2/2 $715K; Seawind II #2 2/2.5 $763,225; Sand Pointe #116 2/2 $870K; Somerset #C302 3/2 $1.5M; High Tide #A301 3/2 $1.845M.

HOMES

4 new listings: 555 Rabbit Rd 3/2 $629K; 1410 Sand Castle Rd 2/2 $645,750; 2343 Wulfert Rd 3/3.5 $1.42M; 4067 West Gulf Dr 5/4.5 $5.9M.

3 price changes: 734 Anchor Dr 3/2 now $850K, 1717 Jewel Box Dr 3/3.5 now $2.348M, 1069 Bird Ln 4/3.5 now $4.595M.

7 new sales: 915 Main St 2/1 listed at $439K, 1752 Serenity Ln 3/2 $450K, 4455 Gulf Pines Dr 3/2 listed at $738K, 756 Windlass Way 4/3 listed at $869K, 3351 Barra Cir 3/2.5 listed at $1.199M, 2739 Wulfert Rd 4/5.5 listed at $1.25M, 790 Beach Rd 4/3.5 listed at $1.295M.

8 closed sales: 968 Greenwood Ct S 3/2.5 half-duplex $377K (our listing), 1890 Farm Trl 3/2 $524K, 1559 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $640K, 3117 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 $788K, 1358 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 $925K, 3850 Coquina Dr 3/3 $1.04M, 912 Kings Crown Dr 3/3.5 $1.175M, 5089 Joewood Dr 6/5 $2.85M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 2501 Tropical Way $695K.

2 price changes: 355 Cowry Ct now $295K, 1048 Fish Crow Rd now $340K.

2 new sales: 2307 Wulfert Rd listed at $199K, 2319 Wulfert Rd listed at $199K.

2 closed sales: 2462 Wulfert Rd $207K, 1219 Par View Dr $275K.

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Captiva Hide-A-Way #1C 2/2 now $879K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 16447 Captiva Dr 7/6/2 now $2.89M.

1 new sale: 53 Sandpiper Ct 2/2.5 listed at $889K.

No closed sales.

LOTS

No new listings, price changes, new or closed sales.

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.

Below is our ad from today’s “Island Sun”.

Enjoy your weekend! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan