by Melinda Pletcher
Living the dream on the Barrier Islands has always meant plenty of fun and only a few moments of preparing for storms. Of course, some areas are more prone to water intrusion than others, but last year’s tidal surge from Helene was either a once-in-a-hundred-years flood, an El Niño seven-year event, or just proof that the Indian Mounds – once thought to protect us – might be the best fireside story ever told.
In the past six months, many of us have learned valuable lessons and experienced the crushing of our dreams. We’ve worked hard to prepare our properties ahead of storms and have shared successful (or at least somewhat effective) strategies with each other. One of my neighbors introduced me to a battery-operated caulk gun and a case of DAP Seal and Peel – it was a game-changer. Together, we’ve helped each other mitigate damage, understand how to appeal SD/SI letters, and invested time, effort, and money into defending our property rights, especially after inaccurate assessments by Tidal Basin that ignored grade-level elevations and pre-storm mitigation on individual properties.
Helene itself was devastating; the real tragedy became the struggle faced by our most vulnerable. We have elderly residents, those with significant health issues, and others unable to afford alternative housing. Waiting four to five months for claims and then permits just to begin repairs before returning to their homes has been a devastating experience for so many. A significant percentage of residents have been forced to forego the renovation, keeping the policy payout to help offset the loss of value to the impacted home. The amount of small independently owned businesses will not be able to reopen which impacts their livelihood, their employees’ livelihoods, all of which are a beloved part of our community.
There are easy solutions to help keep our small businesses and a place for our elderly population in this community that can be accomplished through multi-use zoning containing condos that allow walkability, which is what is already in place with the Town Center zoning that St Pete Beach has in their comprehensive plan. We need to learn from the past and make sure we are planning for our future.
While our beach communities and leadership are navigating unprecedented challenges, we must remain focused on progress. Elevation is a vital aspect of our future and must be prioritized. For those who favor first floor living, Vina Del Mar, for instance, has become an impressive success story, thanks to its higher-grade elevations established during the island’s development – the waterfronts typically sit at 7 feet or higher. Additionally, our delightful bungalows in Pass-A-Grille benefit from FEMA’s 50% rule variance for historic preservation, and some homeowners are exploring the option of lifting their homes, which is an exciting trend. Currently FEMA compliant homes and non-impacted homes are doing extremely well in this market.
If building new is still the best option for you, I’ve been working closely with local builders and designers to offer comprehensive design-build packages that include cost estimates and completion timelines. We’re all adapting and discovering new strategies. Although I’ve sold hundreds of homes, I’ve only seen two demolished, and my appreciation for our mid-century ranches and commercial properties is immense. However, it’s clear that we must evolve, learn new tools, and embrace fresh perspectives. There’s hope for those who wish to continue to live, work and play in this wonderful piece of paradise
Melinda Pletcher
Top 10 REALTOR® in Pinellas County
#1 Realtor in St. Pete Beach/Treasure Island
Smith & Associates Real Estate Tampa | St. Petersburg | Clearwater
Office 727.342.3800 | Cell 727.455.6633
MelindaPletcher@gmail.com
www.melindapletcher.com