LEE COUNTY, Fla.– Several months after Hurricane Ian and Fort Myers Beach is still in the early stages of the rebuilding process. What will the island look like that so many people have fallen in love with?
Some people invested their entire life savings and bought a home on the island just to get a piece of paradise. Hurricane Ian took a lot of it away and now there are questions about what the future will hold for this charming island.
“There’s no two ways about it, we’re down. We never expected such a catastrophe here,” said Dennis Ramos, who lived on Fort Myers Beach for more than 20 years.
“It’s a big thing for us to go down and watch the sunsets, and it’s a whole different thing and it’s kind of neat to be able to walk down there and sit on the seawall,” said Ramos.
Ramos was one of the lucky ones on the island. His home had minor damage after the hurricane.
“When I look around and see the homes that were totally destroyed or water up over the kitchen tables, I was very lucky,” said Ramos.
The catastrophic damage on the island may change what the future landscape looks like along the coast that so many of us have come to love, including the old Florida charm, the vibrant colors and island living.
“Hopefully they keep to the charm and character through the new development,” said Realtor Annie Lump with Sunset Coast Realty.
Lump says there is a possibility some things will be similar to what it once was, but with more regulations, some people may not be able to make ends meet.
“They can’t meet the 50 percent rule, which means you can’t develop your property more than 50 percent of the building value. So, at that point you have to either tear down the home or raise it to code,” said Lump.
There is a building code on Fort Myers Beach. It’s been in place for years, but after Hurricane Ian, some islanders say they’re concerned the code will change.
“We do have a land development code review process underway and also the local planning agency. That local planning agency is also impacting how the town is rebuilding, but I need people to understand that we are adhering to the codes that were in place before the hurricane,” said Jenny Dexter with the Town of Fort Myers Beach.
Things will be different, but nothing will change overnight. Residents will have plenty of opportunities to speak up.
“Our current code is very focused on hurricane safety standards, but it’s not easy,” Dexter said. “The builder says I’m going to do this and then they do that. So it’s not like the town is going to do something to surprise people. There’s a big long process that’s involved in anything that would get changed.”
We’re starting to see businesses purchase properties that were destroyed by Ian, including the Silver Sands Resort to TPI, the company behind Margaritaville. A potential start to larger businesses looking to purchase and expand, and it’s not just local businesses.
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“You are starting to get a lot of people from all over the country calling,” said Lump.
There are dozens of properties for sale, selling for millions of dollars. Some residents are able to rebuild, but others may be forced to leave if they can’t afford to rebuild. It’s a perfect opportunity for builders to come in and build whatever they want.
“Hopefully they keep the charm and character through the new development. We’ve had 23 homes sell since the storm, single-family homes,” said Lump.
We may see more resorts on the island and commercial living buildings. A sight some people don’t want to see, but it’s something many will probably have to get used to.
When Ramos was asked: If Hurricane Ian can’t make you leave, nothing will, he simply replied, “no…haha, I’m here for good.”
Only time will tell just how many people will stay or leave and how many people can afford to rebuild. One thing is for sure, the island’s spirit didn’t wash away with Hurricane Ian. Many people say it actually grew stronger.
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