The islands need to preserve their wildlife and natural beauty and open more businesses to strengthen tourism. With tourism restored, property values and real estate sales will continue to increase. The state of the islands balances on those premises, according to a dozen representatives from various facets of island life who spoke at the Jan. 15 breakfast meeting of the SanCap Chamber at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers.

 

The third annual State of the Islands presentation, hosted by the chamber and title sponsored by Bank of the Islands, kicked off with a special State of the County summary by District 1 commissioner and former Sanibel mayor Kevin Ruane.

 

“The TDC’s [Tourist Development Council’s] got phenomenal opportunities to bring more people here, to be invested in our community and try to understand what paradise is like,” said Ruane, who previously served as chair of the Lee County TDC. He noted that despite post-catastrophic challenges, the county’s Conservation 20/20 program to purchase land for preservation still goes strong, despite rumors to the contrary.

 

“Conservation is our brand,” said SCCF executive director James Evans, who addressed the State of Conservation on the islands. “It’s the community and natural beauty of the islands that attracts visitors from all around the world. And we want to preserve that.”

 

He reported on new projects at all island conservation nonprofits and on the population status of birds, alligators, gopher tortoises, sea turtles, eagles, and ospreys, and on the boon in shorebird nesting on the Sanibel Causeway.

 

Representing the needs of the islands’ human species, Nicole Decker-McHale, executive director of Community Housing & Resources; and Maria Espinoza, executive director of FISH of SanCap, updated chamber members on the State of Social Services, with Florida Trust Wealth Management’s Jeff Muddell as moderator.

 

Decker-McHale reported on the need for more housing for island employees and seniors to meet Sanibel Plan mandates for diversity. She talked about the imminent opening of Riverview units behind 7-Eleven and the potential purchase of adjacent property formerly occupied by the Fish House restaurant. The additions would mean meeting CHR’s goal for 3 percent of island housing for the first time ever.

 

Espinoza said FISH fills in the gaps for many of the CHR residents and others. Particularly following recent hurricanes, the organization has widened its focus for helping island seniors with more services and counseling.

 

Bill Robinson, chief executive officer of the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of REALTORS®, introduced the State of Real Estate panel: Jeff Burns, Sotheby’s International Realty; Greg Demaras, Portside Property Group; and Eric Pfeifer, Pfeifer Realty Group.

 

The message from the three professionals vis-a-vis residential and commercial real estate pointed to more supply than demand for lagging sales since Hurricane Ian and even more so since Helene and Milton undercut optimism. Sales prices, however, have seen an increase. They expressed some positivity for the future, but are hoping for changes to improve the market.

 

“We definitely need more visitors to the islands….” said Pfeifer. “Construction and interest rates: They’re just not great, so hopefully they will come down…. Prices will have to come down on most [commercial] properties.”

 

“If you go up and down the gulf coast, Sanibel and Captiva are still a great value compared to our neighbors,” said Burns.

 

“Sanibel and Captiva are the largest gated communities in Southwest Florida as a result of that causeway tollbooth….,” said Demaras. “The feel of the island is completely different, the handshake is much, much more alive, vibrant, and friendly.”

 

Last up, Sanibel city manager Dana Sousa and planning director Paula McMichael spoke on the State of the City, followed by a closing message from Mayor Mike Miller.

 

Sousa addressed the city’s financial stability and hit on other good-news items such as stormwater and floodwater projects, forthcoming restoration of the city’s fishing pier with private funding, and new citizen-participation initiatives to involve all generations of islanders.

 

McMichael spoke on amendments the city has made since Ian, including commercial-friendly changes to the Town Center project, including extra allowed square footage for businesses providing affordable housing within, streetscaping improvements, on-street parking,  allowance for front porches in lieu of setback, and pedestrian-friendly measures. She showed renderings of the area’s new look, which is designed to expand buildable space for businesses.

 

“We just listened to four hours of practical, actionable information for shaping the islands’ commercial and residential future,” said SanCap president and chief executive officer John Lai. “What we’ve accomplished on these islands in the last three years is nothing short of monumental. What we have to look forward to is even more exciting.”

 

ABOUT SANCAP CHAMBER

The SanCap Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].