We’re always told not to judge a book by its cover, and I experienced this over the weekend when I went out of town to visit relatives.
I was taken to, shall we say, an entry-level Italian restaurant with paper napkins, fans with either an on or off setting and nothing in between, and an owner, chef and waiter with an attitude all rolled into one.
The point of the above story is that we have a lot of recent and future construction going on in Cortez and on Anna Maria Island, which could turn off potential buyers for this area. If this were a book, looking at the cover and not reading the inside would be a big mistake. The inside is where the value is, and buyers need to know that.
Let’s start with what is known as the old Seafood Shack property. On Sept. 5, 2024, the county commission approved purchasing the property for $13 million. The delayed real estate transaction officially closed on Dec. 31, 2024, after Hurricanes Helene and Milton partially destroyed the Seafood Shack building.
Manatee County purchased the property with the original intent of adding boat ramps and possibly some casual restaurant facilities. Residents of the Cortez peninsula organized and pointed out the negative and dangerous results of bringing boat ramps into a residential community and potentially impacting property values.
Although the county has not officially announced its change of plans for the property, there has been more open discussion about creating a family-friendly park with amenities and the possibility of a ferry stop. As of now, the property is an eyesore and it will be used as a staging area by the construction company building the new Cortez Bridge, which brings me to the next topic.
After years of discussion and multiple designs, the replacement of the 70-year-old Cortez Bridge will soon be underway. Currently, the infrastructure is being worked on along the western section of Cortez Road, with more large construction vehicles and cranes arriving almost daily.
I live in Cortez, and I have not looked forward to the inevitable replacement of the bridge, but now that it’s here, I’m glad. Not glad to live through what may be a daily intrusion of my life, but glad that a new bridge will eventually soar across Anna Maria Sound. The new bridge will increase safety in hurricanes and for emergency vehicles, improve traffic flow and make the boating public a lot happier and safer without a drawbridge to navigate.
Another project on the books for this area is the redevelopment of Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. The plans are in the preliminary stage but will likely include condominiums, a hotel, shops, restaurants and a boardwalk with water access.
Locals and visitors alike may mourn the loss of the “old Florida” vibe, but the new vibe will be more in keeping with a whole new generation of property owners and vacationers. The world moves on, and there is no doubt that Anna Maria Island and Cortez are moving along with it, like it or not.
How are all of these improvements going to change the real estate market? I think we’re looking at the tip of the real estate iceberg. Smart buyers and investors should think about what’s inside the book and not what’s on the cover and start moving their money before everyone has the same idea.
Getting back to my culinary weekend experience: the food was good, served hot and all at the same time. The moral of the story is to think past what you’re looking at on the cover and toward the future. Next time I’m in the neighborhood, I’ll try this place again, but maybe takeout would work better.
