Number of 2023 Sanibel Home Sales Already Exceed Last Year

It seems when we are busier the Fridays arrive quicker. Now that it is late July, temperatures and humidity are keeping the days toasty, while vegetation is growing like crazy, particularly after the quick showers which are more often. The East End had three humdingers this week, accompanied by plenty of lightning. As summer progresses, big clouds make it across the causeway, usually resulting in fabulous colorful sunsets.

I took a quick spin this morning to several of the public beach parking areas to see how busy they are. Only one spot available at Gulfside City Park, a couple free at Lighthouse Beach gulf-side, but no one parked then at the bayside parking areas.

Lighthouse beach this morning 7/21/23.

Sanibel lighthouse 7/21/23

Lighthouse bayside parking beach access 7/21/23.

Working from home much of yesterday, it was astounding to see a crew of workers on the 3^rd story roof of the home across the street from me. They were at it from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. installing a metal roof in temperatures that knocked me over just walking from air-conditioned home to air-conditioned car. They were back again today also. Those roofers and the many workers helping with recovery sure deserve gratitude.

The SanibelSusan Team is also thankful for the two condo listings that went under contract this week. When checking out the islands’ Multiple Listing Service (MLS) statistics, after a couple of news items below, be sure and note that with this week’s home closings, the number of Sanibel home sales in 2023 surpassed the total number sold in all of 2022. The average sale price may be down because many of the sold properties had damage, but unit volume for homes is up. Now that condo complexes are showing improvement, maybe condo sales will pick up.

Bailey’s General Store

Bailey’s Center demo with Wink news interview 7/21/23

It was posted last night that demolition of Bailey’s Shopping Center began this morning and will take about a week. The historic service station is excluded but will be redeveloped along with the rest of the property. The Bailey family is excited for their future resilient plans to begin, but sad so see the buildings go that have served the islands well for over 60 years. Including earlier locations, Bailey’s has been on the island for over 100 years. (Viewing is only available from the shared-use path. The entire Center is a construction zone and not available for public access. Be cautious as large trucks and equipment will be moving in and out.)

Causeway Update

FL DOT photo of bridge damage post-Ian

More construction news was provided at the July Sanibel City Council Meeting during a presentation by Jennifer Dorning who is the Sanibel Causeway Community Liaison with Florida Dept of Transportation. She opened her talk with some background on the 12’ surge that topped with 8’ waves during the peak of Hurricane Ian. As she shared photos of damage, she highlighted that by Day 7 (Oct 11, 2022) the first convoy crossed and by Day 15 (Oct 19) the temporary roadway was open to traffic.

Today, the temporary roadway continues, and the speed limit remains 20 mph. Delays should be expected until construction is complete, but their goal is for 2-way traffic to continue during daytime hours.

Accomplishments to date include adding armor stone to stabilize sheet piles with 80% of the galvanized steel sheeting in.

An unexpected hiccup was the rare least tern nesting noticed a few weeks ago. DOT is working with SCCF to keep these nesting areas undisturbed.

What is happening now:

·        Armor stone is being delivered and could be as many as 30 trucks a day for the next year. These are the huge stones. They are being barged from Punta Rassa over the water to where they will be installed.

·        Installing buried island sheet piles.

·        Removing traffic railing.

·        Delivery of prep material.

·        Begin new road construction. (This has been delayed awaiting a permit from Army Corps for work that needs to be done in the water.) The new road will be raised 2’.  Hurricane Ian was defined by coastal engineers as a 300-year storm. The new construction will be built to withstand that.

·        Much of the work that is being done now, won’t be seen when the roadway is complete.

What’s next?

·        Continue installing sheet piles. Once Army Corps permit is received, installing piles in water begins.

·        Raise road 2’.

·        Protect sides with mattresses.

·        Bury toe protection.

County advises that the new causeway islands will have free parking and the same amenities as were there before, though some may be in different locations.

Total cost estimated at $285 million with Federal government hopefully to reimburse much of that (though it could take years).

Coming up phases of construction may require more night work and limit causeway traffic to one lane during some of those hours. Expect to see those areas well lit and with flagmen.

Public access to the causeway is prohibited during construction. Expect to see the new roadway approximately 3’ higher than before. It was also noted that the Punta Rassa boat ramp needs repair and probably won’t be open to the public until some time in 2024.

Sanibel City Council Post-Ian Update

At the Tuesday monthly City Council Meeting, City Manager Dana Souza announced what he said was the last formal monthly Post-Ian Update. He said finance updates will continue to be provided during the budget process which runs through the end of September. Below are highlights from his presentation:

Both Building & Planning Departments are settled at 2475 Library Way available to help owners and contractors looking for guidance.

All Sanibel public beach parking facilities have reopened with the last being Lighthouse Bayside Park on June 30. For the parking areas requiring a permit, only Access 4 on West Gulf Dr is still closed.

Parking permit revenues are up, while causeway counts are sluggish compared to 2022. Sunday traffic has been exceeding 4,000 vehicles indicating that more day-visitors are coming. The Chamber of Commerce is working with the County in hopes of convincing them to forgive weekend tolls for a period for those visitors coming to support restaurants/businesses. May be in August, stay tuned.

Debris removal total is up to 2,392,390 cubic yards. All removal registrations have ended, though waterway cleanup continues. Expected to finish by the end of the month. If you notice any water areas needing help, contact Public Works. Note: Waste management (weekly trash pickup) will not pick up construction debris.

Building permits – 5,500 have been issued. Code enforcement efforts are for compliance, but 234 stop work orders have been issued or construction stopped.

Huge thanks were offered to Public Works for their efforts in getting public areas and beach parking open.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate

There was no Association of Realtors meeting this week, but our listings sure had action. Below with data from the islands MLS (Multiple Listing Service) are updated summary tables of the residential sales statistics. After that are the activity with our listings this week and that posted in the MLS since last Friday.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity July 14-21

Sanibel

CONDOS

No new listings.

1 price change: Sanibel Siesta #403 2/2 now $734K.

3 new sales: Sunset South #11A 2/2 listed at $599K, Sandpiper Beach #206 2/2 (SanibelSusan listing) listed at $799K, Gulfside Place #318 2/2 (SanibelSusan listing) listed at $1.295M.

3 closed sales: Sundial #I105 1/1 $310,095; Sundial #I104 1/1 $450K, Snug Harbor #122 2/2 $1.575M.

HOMES

6 new listings: 1624 Bunting Ln 3/2 $724K, 5892 San-Cap Rd 3/3 $775K, 1986 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 $859K, 1258 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $879,900; 5685 San-Cap Rd 3/2 $1.265M; 4355 West Gulf Dr 4/4.5.5 $5.75M.

5 price changes: 1284 Par View Dr 2/2 now $599K, 1535 Centre St 2/2 now $649,555; 1835 Farm Tr 3/2 now $845K, 2042 Wild Lime Dr 3/2 now $849K, 2255 Troon Ct 4/5.5.5 now $3.495M.

3 back on market: 969 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 $845K, 4797 Rue Helene 3/2 $1.348M, 1175 Bird Ln 4/3.5 $4.25M.

6 new sales: 1399 Albatross Rd 3/2 listed at $714K, 4052 Coquina Dr 3/2 listed at $725K, 540 East Lake Rd 3/2 listed at $975K, 1171 Seagrape Ln 3/3 listed at $999K, 1297 Par View Dr 3/2 listed at $1.2499M, 1036 Whisperwood Way 3/3 listed at $1.299M.

7 closed sales: 9421 Moonlight Dr 3/2 $625K, 228 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 $850K, 617 East Rocks Dr 3/2 $950K, 3251 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 $1.075M, 950 Cabbage Palm Ct 3/2 $1.225M, 513 Lighthouse Way 3/3 $2.1M, 2963 Wulfert Rd 4/6 $3.3M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Captiva

CONDOS

Nothing to report.

HOMES

1 new listing: 11517 Wightman Ln 4/3 $3.45M.

No price reductions

1 new sale: 11516 Wightman Ln 5/4.5 listed at $3.75M.

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.

Enjoy your weekend! Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan