On Jan. 22, members of the SanCap Chamber and other community guests listened for more than 3-1/2 hours to Sanibel-Captiva leaders and stakeholders make post-hurricane predictions and recommendations during the second annual State of the Islands at Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort in Fort Myers. The speakers addressed the future of our islands with a balance of pragmatism, realism, and optimism.
Last year’s inaugural State of the Islands painted a hopeful post-Ian outlook, but as this year’s panelist Eric Pfeiffer put it: “We took a huge punch to the gut with Hurricane Ian….and then this fall, we got kicked in the teeth on top of that with hurricanes Helene and Milton.” Pfeiffer, from Pfeiffer Realty Group, was one of three panelists on the State of Real Estate panel, along with Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors CEO Bill Robinson (moderator) and Jeff Burns of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty.
Other speakers and panelists included Nicole Decker-McHale, executive director of Community Housing & Resources (CHR); members of the Storm Surge and Standing Water team including chief executive officer of SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) James Evans (moderator), board chairman for the South Florida Water Management District Chauncey Goss, environmental engineer Mark Thompson, and city engineer Oisin Dolly; Porter Goss, the first mayor of Sanibel; the State of the City panel with representatives public information officer Eric Jackson (moderator), city manager Dana Souza, building official Craig Mole, deputy city manager Steve Chaipel, and planning director Paula McMichael; plus Mayor Richard Johnson delivering closing statements.
“We welcomed a distinguished assembly of some of the islands’ most informed and knowledgeable leaders,” said SanCap Chamber president and chief executive John Lai. “They successfully presented useful information on how the hurricanes affect the community to date and looking forward.”
CHR, McHale said, has plans to rebuild the 10 one-bedroom complex at 1517 Periwinkle Way and construct a new building of 15 one-bedroom units. “We are a community with heart, and this is the heart of our community,” she concluded.
The storm surge group addressed changes in weather patterns, an increase in groundwater levels, the loss of vegetation that removes water, and other contributing factors to floodwaters brought in by recent storms.
Oisin said the city is developing a master plan with public input and recommended landowners should improve the efficiency of their property by planting more vegetation, maintaining low areas in their yards to encourage retention of fresh water, and educating themselves about the water drainage systems in their neighborhoods.
As for real estate, despite a current slump credited to this fall’s storms, prices are up but sales are down. Insurance rates, the recent presidential election, problems with land development codes, and fear of future storm events also factor in, panelists said. Elevated homes and finished condos have been moving most quickly, they reported.
“The island is going to come back, and things are going to be a lot better, and there’s going to be a lot more inventory and new restaurants….” said Burns. “We do try to sell the future but it’s interesting that our property values still haven’t done what people suspected they’d do after the storms, which is take a big dip.”
The overarching question that directed panel dialogue and questions from the audience: Are we seeing a new, regular weather pattern or are the past three years of surge events a fluke?
“I guess my major advise would be ‘don’t be surprised when this happens again,’ because I think it’s going to,” said Chauncy Goss. “Not to be a downer, but it just seems to be the reality. So rather than be discouraged about it, adapt.”
Residents are trying to decide if it’s time to leave the island because of such a likelihood, and nearly all the panelists encouraged staying. Porter Goss pointed out that in the 1920s, two monster hurricanes that forever changed the islands hit also two years apart.
“My message is to ‘stay here. Stay on Sanibel’….,” said Souza. “We need to be here. We need to hold onto our investment so we can recover…. You need to keep the faith in this community.”
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].
