Keeping Eyes on the Weather

Sanibel Island Beach Resort 10-03-2024

It has been another blue-sky Friday on sunny Sanibel. The islands are back in full-swing recovery mode, and power has returned almost everywhere. Unfortunately, at my home, water intrusion requires installation of a new power box/meter, so I am having a mini-staycation at Loggerhead Cay so Sanibel Electric can do their magic. Huge thanks to Sanibel Electric, LCEC, and VIP Vacation Rentals. (FYI Loggerhead also has wonderful Wi-Fi and now I know why the unit I am in looks familiar. It was my listing when it sold in 2001.)

Progress at home today included installation of new pool pump and trash pick-up including from the new big recycling bins that were delivered just pre-storm. Still awaiting call from flood insurance adjuster to schedule his visit. Funny to be assigned the same Alabama guy that handled my Ian claim. That better not mean I am a regular,

Yesterday, my car was towed and I found out this afternoon that Hartford is totaling it. That’s a surprise, but saltwater is not an electronics friend. Luckily, Dave took me to RSW Sunday to snag a rental. His off-island home had no damage, so he has been on the island daily helping others and checking properties.

The SanibelSusan is full steam ahead with nary a blip in business. We are working with owners of upcoming listings and look forward to a productive winter “season”. Our photographer Jim Anderson with JMA Photography was on the island today filming for us. It is times like this when we are grateful to have special long-time relationships with him and so many local companies that always come through.

Like us, I bet you are sad to see the heart wrenching news about the devastation Helene caused all the way up into the Carolinas. That certainly is no comparison to here and islanders continue to be resilient and strong, assisting each other, and moving forward.

One example is the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District crew that deployed Sunday to Perry FL to assist with disaster relief efforts there. They are part of a strike team with other local first responders and will spend the next two weeks helping that community which suffered great devastation.

Sanibel Beach Accesses Now Open

This morning the City announced that the following parking lots/beach accesses have reopened: Bowmans Beach Park, Gulfside City Park (aka Algiers), Tarpon Bay Road Park, and Trost Parking Lot. Lighthouse Beach Park (both gulf and bay sides), Blind Pass, and Turner Beach lots remain closed. The City will continue to announce when reopening occurs.

Sanibel City Council Meeting Update – Storm Surge

At the Tuesday City Council meeting, officials explained how the Hurricane Helene ~5’ storm surge caused island flooding. Several days before the storm, which passed last Thursday about 150 miles away, in the Gulf, the City had opened the island weirs. There are two – at Tarpon Bay Rd and at Beach Rd. The Tarpon Bay Rd weir is the dividing line between the west and east drainage basins. The Sanibel River runs through these basins. The weirs help the City manage surface water which is required by the Sanibel Plan.

Videos showed how the surge overtopped the weirs with more than 19 hours of backflow of salt water. They explained that it would take days for the surge to drain back through the open weir gates.

SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) Lab provided data that illustrated water levels at the weirs and storm impact. CEO James Evans spoke in support of how the City handled things. He described it as a surge event, not a rainfall event. He said, “The surge from the gulf and bay overwhelmed the system, driving water into the slough and elevating water levels. James also emphasized the challenges posed before Helene’s arrival given the recent record rainfall and super moon tides. He called the City proactive in lowering water levels prior.

Holly Milbrandt, Sanibel Director of Natural Resources, underscored the value of Sanibel’s 1,600 acres of interior wetlands and the Sanibel River (or Slough). She called this island-wide natural drainage system in the interior wetlands, an invaluable resource. “This 3,500-acre depression in the central part of the island…plays an important role in terms of stormwater storage during both high frequency as well as more intense storms,” she said, quoting the Sanibel Plan.

Since Hurricane Ian, two years ago, SCCF has been removing dead and woody vegetation killed by that storm surge, primarily because it can no longer grow in these low-lying areas because of the high salt content of the water there now. That work has created more stormwater capacity in low-lying interior swales.

Incremental sea level rise, estimated at 8” since 1965, also is making it more challenging to drop water levels during these storm events. However, having 70% of the island conservation land helps mitigate that. Click here to watch the meeting on Facebook Live The stormwater discussion begins at 20:30.

Storm Surge on Captiva

Captiva also had significant storm surge with flooding from Helene. Sand pushed over Captiva Dr. Like on Sanibel, many homes and businesses there took in water. The surge of sand made that island’s only evacuation route impassable until it was removed – and it was – quickly.

The island favorite sport for dining and sunsets, The Mucky Duck, which received only minor damage from Ian, got a huge surge of sand from Helene. Reports are that the interior of the restaurant is OK, and after moving sand and repairing a few broken windows they hope to reopen soon.

Sanibel Farmers Market Reopens

Some other good news is that Sanibel Farmers Market will reopen for its 17^th season this Sunday, Oct 6 on the grounds of Sanibel City Hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market runs on this Sunday schedule from now through May. Info about their other markets reopening in the county is at BuyLocalLee.com.

Big thanks to Jean Baer and Betsy Ventura for starting, expanding, and continuing these events which they co-own under the umbrella called Local Roots. They will have 40-50 vendors participating this season, offering a variety of products and crafts. (Probably bears noting that the markets are held rain or shine and it is always good to bring your own bags and small bills for paying vendors.)

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Real Estate News

The islands Association of Realtors office reopened Monday and held their delayed monthly membership meeting yesterday. Below with data from the islands MLS are summary tables of the residential sales statistics, followed by info about our listings, plus all the Sanibel/Captiva MLS action reported this week. There was plenty of activity this week, making up for the lack last week from the storm.

On the commercial side, there was a big price change at the former Norris Furniture condo building in the PMR Center at 1025 Periwinkle Way, reduced from $1.3M to $950K.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity Sep 27-Oct 4:

Sanibel

CONDO9

3 new listings: Colonnades #51 1/1 $295K, Cottage Colony West #102 1/1 $599K, Nutmeg Village #109 2/2 $1.595M.

2 back on market: Colonnades #1 1/1 $299K, Sundial #K403 2/2 $1.15M.

1 price change: Mariner Pointe #1023 2/2 now $544K.

1 new sale: Sundial #A303 1/1 listed at $740K.

2 closed sales: Sandalfoot #5C2 2/2 $650K, Oceans Reach #1D3 2/2 $960K.

HOMES

8 new listings: 3784 Coquina Dr 3/2 $999K (short sale), 4546 Buck Key Rd 4/2 $1.05M, 497 Lake Murex Cir 4/3 $1.05M (short sale), 1410 Albatross Rd 3/3 $1.175M, 5422 Osprey Ct 3/2.5 $1.447K, 1564 Middle Gulf Dr 3/2.5 $1.499M, 888 Limpet Dr 3/2 $1.795M (short sale), 4988 Joewood Dr 4/4 $2.45M.

1 back on market: 668 Anchor Dr 3/2 $1.545 (SanibelSusan listing).

3 price changes; 812 Rabbit Rd 3/2 now $724.5K, 4221 Old Banyan Way 3/2 now $1.275M, 5422 Shearwater Dr (1/2 duplex) 3/2.5 now $1,337,007.

1 new sale: 1425 Sanderling Cir 3/2 listed at $949K.

1 closed sale: 4461 Waters Edge Ln 3/3.5 $5.125M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Bayside Villas #5232 1/2 $595K.

2 price changes: Tennis Villas #3135 1/1 now $449K, Tennis Villas #3134 2/2 now $720K.

No new or closed sales.

HOMES

No new listings.

1 price change: 16979 Captiva Dr 7/7.5 now $8.2M.

No new or 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