BRADENTON BEACH – So far, 33 hurricane-damaged homes have been demolished citywide since the 2024 hurricanes, two are permitted for demolition and building officials are now focusing on the removal of three more that do not yet have demolition permits.
The three properties are on the south end of the city at 104 10th St. S., built in 1930, and 801 Gulf Drive S. and 100 Ninth St. S., both built in 1949.
“After Hurricane Milton in October, we had numerous homes that needed to be torn down that were over 50% damaged,” City Code Enforcement Official Evan Harbus said at a July 17 city commission meeting. “We did give them plenty of time, but we are getting letters out and we are on it.”
At recent city commission meetings, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby noted that homes that were built up to current codes sustained very little damage, while the older ground-level bungalows did not fare as well against the storm surge from Hurricane Helene and the winds from Hurricane Milton.
Two other hurricane-damaged properties, 103 12th St. S. and 1201 Gulf Drive S., have been issued demolition permits with removal of those homes imminent, Harbus said.
“The yellow house, the one that’s leaning, I’ve been working with the gentleman that owns it, and he has been trying to salvage whatever he can out of there,” Harbus said. “He’s devastated and we’ve given him some leniency to get windows and certain things out of that property but hopefully within a week, or two or three we will see that house removed.”
The former home at 1201-A Gulf Drive S., a 1930 739-square-foot bungalow, sustained extensive damage when floodwaters lifted it off its foundation and it floated down 12th Street during Hurricane Helene. That property was demolished in October.
