Author: Porter

We’re Here To Help You

As if the housing market slowdown were not enough to challenge local contractors, now Holmes Beach City has stopped issuing all building permits.

The City of Holmes Beach Commissioners decided the building department stop granting “requests for construction, reconstruction, or improvement of buildings or structures within the flood hazard areas” beginning February 12th. All building is halted while compliance is being studied and codes compared with other communities.

Caught in this moratorium is a partly rebuilt 1950’s house. New walls, windows, and roof were constructed last month but work has now stopped. The city is considering that it may even have to be torn down again.

Tags Advisories, Hurricanes, Taxes

Arts

Springfest Festival

Anna Maria Island Art League presents the 20th Springfest Festival of Fine Arts and Fine Crafts on March 8 – 9, at the Holmes Beach City Hall field, 5800 Marina Drive.

The festival is open from 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday, with many artists’ works on display and for sale. Paintings, glass, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, textiles, woodwork, and photography will be exhibited.

Also featured will be “Young at Art”, an exhibit for children’s art. A raffle will be held for over 50 items of donated works from participating artists. Live Cajun and Bluegrass music will be performed and festival food available.

Tags Art League, Galleries, Markets

Environment

Great Blue Heron Rookery

A couple of Great Blue Herons nesting in Bimini Bay have produced 3 chicks this season. These are the first to appear out of 6 7 active nests. The most popular spot for the rookery is high up in an Australian Pine tree bordering Fiske Bayou. Two nests are in other pine trees across the bayou.

The Australian Pine has been demonized as an exotic, invasive species in Florida, condemned because it crowds out native undergrowth, has shallow roots, and ostensibly is prone to blow over in strong winds. It is the target of systematic removal by the local authorities. In this location it appears to be the tree of choice for these nesting herons, and has been for several years.

Tags Wildlife

Real Estate

Anna Maria Downtown Redevelopment

Post author By Porter
Post date February 26, 2008
2 Comments on Anna Maria Downtown Redevelopment

Ed Chiles, local businessman and son of the late ex-Governor Lawton Chiles, spoke to the Anna Maria Island Historical Society last week at their annual luncheon meeting, to present his company’s plans for retail, office, and residential redevelopment on Pine Avenue.

Chiles investment group has purchased seven properties, one of which is the earliest homestead of George Bean. He said he intends to restore the house.

Pine Avenue is the main street of Anna Maria City and connects the City Pier on Tampa Bay to the beach on Gulf of Mexico. Until the present causeways and bridges were built for motor access, visitors would arrive by boat from Tampa and walk across to the beach.

Tags History

Politics Real Estate

Florida State Amendment 1 Opposition Continues

Post author By Porter
Post date February 19, 2008
1 Comment on Florida State Amendment 1 Opposition Continues

Old Florida cracker house under Poinciana tree

Those of us in the real estate business in our area fully understand the current market problems and we agree that Amendment 1 will not “jump start’ the real estate market as suggested by Tallahassee [state capital] and our media. It will possibly assist those sellers who plan to purchase a replacement home in our state.

We need to consider that the buyer of a home plans to reside and homestead in our state and if they’ll accept their initial tax bill. Also, it is not clear in the amendment if we’re able to assure a buyer if the homestead cap is to remain.

Tags Taxes