RESTORATION HELP
For those of you who have not yet heard, there is an online forum that has been created by a local resident as a place where visitors and residents can share information about damage and recovery. The address is
www.bestofsanibelcaptiva.com. Soon after it was established the seasonal residents and visitors who went to the site were asking what they could do to help. In response there was a fund established called the San Cap Vegetation Restoration Fund. Donations came in from around the globe as well as locally. The funds are to be given to the city to help restore the islands to their normal paradise condition. There has already been $1,200 earmarked for the Periwinkle Way Restoration project which came from visitors and residents who were united by the forum. It is nice to hear things like this.

MORE NICE TO HEAR THINGS
People are really very nice. And their niceness seems to grow and expand during times of trouble. For example, two well known island residents have collected clothing and other necessities and taken them up to Sidell, LA. (a city northeast of New Orleans).There is a church there which will serve as a distribution point for area residents. That is a really nice thing to do. The response by the island to Hurricane Katrina has been heartening. Local businesses such as The Dunes, Ellingtons at Sanibel Inn and others have stepped up and helped out.

Another example - a group named Soon Come, Inc. and CROW hosted an event to raise money for the animals impacted by Katrina. They raised over $10,000. Its nice having neighbors like this who freely step forward to help others even in the face of their own adversity.

CITY BUDGET IS FRIENDLY
As of this writing the Sanibel City Council is making final adjustments to the city budget for fiscal 2005- 2006. The goal is to maintain city services at the current level and build up a healthy disaster relief fund. That means higher taxes, right? NO!!! The council is reducing the average tax by about 4%. Are they a great bunch or what?

CAUSEWAY BUZZ
The county has approved a reduction in the prepaid toll by $2 effective November 1, so you can enjoy the new causeway for a little less money. Construction of the new causeway is scheduled for completion around one year from now about September, 2006. The existing structures will be demolished by around January, 2007, and the demolished bridges will be sunk and become offshore reefs. The causeway islands will stay as they are so the new reefs will provide additional recreational opportunities. Sounds like a pretty good deal.

THE SANIBEL SCHOOL STRIKES AGAIN

Like so many other advances made by The Sanibel School they are now in the forefront in advancing bi-lingual education. On Sanibel bilingual instruction starts in the first grade rather than waiting until middle school as so many others do. And it is not done at the expense of math and reading. Sanibel continues to rank among the elite schools in Florida in math and reading FCAT scores and it is one of the few elementary schools in the region offering full time Spanish instruction. Not bad for a little small town school. Just one more reason this is such a special place to live.

REMODELING?
This is our periodic report of value added when you remodel. The overall value enhancement is 33% for each 1,000 feet of house added according to two professors at Florida State University. They report that if you add a bathroom you will get 8.7% more. Add a bedroom and you will get 3.7%. (Does this mean that sleeping takes a back seat to showering or whatever?). Add a garage and get 10.8%. Maybe the car is more important than we thought. In any event we all seem to know that improving your property will improve your value.

SMALL TOWN GOINS ON
We're coming up to season and the islands open up to all sorts of things.

  • Big Arts Film Society has a schedule of memorable films starting in October and going through April
  • The Shell Museum will have their 10th anniversary bash
  • The Luminary Festival will light your holiday season
  • There are several new restaurants that you might give a try
  • The Conservation Foundation has some new programs that will enlighten and amuse you.
  • The Refuge will welcome you to go out on the drive and enjoy the birding or engage in the many programs they offer at the Education Center.
  • And, of course, there is the theatres, the golf, the beaches the many and varied activities that make Sanibel and Captiva such special places.

So when you come down to this island paradise either as a visitor or a seasonal resident there will be much to do to make your stay a pleasant and memorable one.

DAVID'S RECENT HAPPY BUYERS AND ELATED SELLERS

HOMES
1571 San Carlos Dr........$1,700,000
941 Cormorant Cr .............Pending
1643 Atlanta Plaza ............$435,000

CONDOS
Pointe Santo B37 ..............$955,000
Pointe Santo B42 ..............$990,000
Sandalfoot 3D3.................$607,000
Ocean's Reach 1B4............$620,000
Nutmeg 209 ......................$639,000
Sanibel Siesta 211 .............$622,500
Beachcomber B-102 ......$1,875,000

Coquina Beach 1B ............$570,000
Poinciana 3A..................$1,400,000
Captains Walk F6..............$252,000

LOTS
1860 Ibis Lane...................$220,000
1060 Whisperwood ..........$390,000
809 Pyrula Ave .................$390,000

Join these satisfied clients and list your property with David. His experience will work for you!

<Previous      Next>

www.schuldenfrei.com • 800 553-7338 x 227 • davids@schuldenfrei.com