BRADENTON BEACH – Residents of Sandpiper Resort Co-Op are questioning FEMA guidelines that deem some mobile homes with flood damage uninhabitable. City Building Official Darin Cushing said during an Oct. 17 city commission meeting that those FEMA guidelines identify the hurricane-related damage as substantial damage, making the homes uninhabitable.
“We assumed this would be on a case-by-case basis, by the 50/50 rule,” Tracy Moon, Sandpiper manager said on Oct. 18. “Some of the units only got a couple inches of water, some got maybe 15-16 inches, but people can live in them. It’s a matter of replacing floors and some drywall, not a blanket condemnation of the whole co-op.”
Moon said the co-op is receiving legal advice and an attorney representing Sandpiper will be reaching out to the city for clarification of the FEMA rules.
Debris lined the streets of the Sandpiper mobile home park after Hurricane Helene. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“We were completely caught off guard by the city’s interpretation of the FEMA ruling of substantial damage,” Moon said.
Cushing had read the following at the Oct. 17 meeting, “In accordance with FEMA’s damage assessment guide, there are different degrees of damage when it comes to mobile homes, or as they call them manufactured homes, and those different degrees of damage are affected, minor, major and destroyed. By these degrees of damage, all of the mobile homes in the Pines and many in the Sandpiper, but not all, have major damage by that guideline.”
He said that major damage is determined when water covers the floor system and enters the living space of the residence but is below the ceiling.
Hurricane Helene debris was placed alongside this elevated mobile home in the Sandpiper mobile home park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“There was some question whether major damage is the same as substantial damage. In speaking with FEMA representatives yesterday in person, that’s what they considered,” Cushing said at the Oct. 17 meeting. “By this description, according to FEMA, the structure is considered to be substantially damaged and in accordance with the city of Bradenton Beach flood ordinance it says if an existing manufactured home has incurred substantial damage as the result of a flood it shall be elevated such that the bottom of the frame is at the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus three feet.”
According to Cushing, the BFE at Sandpiper is seven or eight feet depending on the section of the park.
The 50/50 rule says if damages to a structure are to a level such that it would cost 50% or more of the value of the structure to bring it back to its original condition, it has to be elevated to flood compliance and Florida Building Code, according to Cushing at the Oct. 17 meeting.
Moon said there are 166 mobile homes at the co-op. Of those, 120 are shareholders and own the land in its entirety. The other 46 mobile homes are rented.
Cushing said approximately 150 of those mobile homes were impacted by flooding.
Sun reporter Joe Hendricks contributed to this story
BRADENTON BEACH – On Friday morning, (Oct. 4), City Attorney Ricinda Perry provided an update on the ongoing hurricane recovery efforts taking place in the city.
When speaking to The Sun, Perry addressed power restoration, new tropical weather concerns, debris collection, mail delivery, access to and from Longboat Key, FEMA assistance, and the arrival of FEMA and a Manatee County assessment team.
Power restoration
According to the Florida Power & Light update the city received this morning (Oct. 4), Wilco had restored all but three lateral undergrounded power lines on the south end of the city, with work on the remaining three lateral lines ongoing. Wilco is the company that installed many of Bradenton Beach’s underground power lines south of the Cortez Bridge.
Perry said FPL has restored power to 98% of the city as of late Friday morning. FPL is releasing its power restoration resources for reassignment elsewhere and shutting down the FPL staging area at Coquina Beach.
The Bradenton Beach Police Department shared this FPL update Friday morning. – FPL | Submitted
Perry said some properties are still without power and some property owners have damaged electrical systems that prevent them from receiving power.
When asked if electrical service is being restored to the residential properties south of Bridge Street, Perry said, “Yes. Mayor Chappie has power at his house (on 12th Street South).”
Most, if not all, of the businesses along Bridge Street had power as of this morning.
Tropical concerns
Perry said city officials are monitoring the tropical weather activity predicted to start as early as Saturday and potentially produce more heavy rain on the Island. The city is expected to release additional information regarding those weather concerns later today.
Today, Manatee County included this statement in a recovery-related press release: “An additional state of emergency declaration was signed earlier today allowing for preparations to occur for the upcoming weather systems. With some rainfall forecast models approaching or having an even greater potential impact than Hurricane Debby earlier this year, county emergency leaders are encouraging citizens to monitor the weather and make any needed preparations for their property.”
The potential for more heavy rain comes at a time when the city’s storm drains have not yet been cleared of Hurricane Helene debris.
“FDOT is finishing up their street and right of way clearing efforts today and will resume activity on Monday. FDOT has not cleaned out our storm drains yet. FDOT and the city can’t get to the storm drains yet,” Perry said, noting that could impact drainage.
The city hopes to place empty sandbags and shovels near the comfort station on Bridge Street and the comfort station at the north end of the city by the Circle K convenience store, but as of 1 p.m. the county had not yet delivered them.
“Upon arrival, you can pick up your sandbags and use the sand on your property,” Perry said.
Debris collection
Perry said the city’s contract with its emergency debris removal company, Ashbritt, only provides for two city-funded hurricane debris pickups.
“We want to get as much debris out to the curb as we can before our first pickup,” she said.
Hurricane debris collection has not yet begun in Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The debris must be sorted and cannot be placed in a single pile. Debris needs to be sorted into three piles: Household/construction debris (mattresses, furniture, siding, fences, etc.), white goods (appliances) and landscaping debris.
“We only get two city-funded pickups and we need to allow time for people to return to the city and clean their houses up,” Perry said.
Waste Pro serves as the city’s regular trash and recycling collection company and those collection activities have resumed.
Mail delivery
“Mail to delivery started today to anyone who has a mailbox. If you don’t have a mailbox your mail will be held at the Longboat Key post office,” Perry.
Perry said cleanup efforts are underway at the Bradenton Beach post office but it’s not yet known when service will resume at that location.
Longboat Key access
Perry said per an agreement between both cities, vehicular access between Bradenton Beach and Longboat remains closed to motorists with a checkpoint still in place.
“We’re turning away people who are trying to get to Longboat Key for work or to collect their mail. It’s a joint agreement between Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach. We both support that,” Perry said.
FEMA/county assistance
Perry said three FEMA representatives arrived in Bradenton Beach Friday morning and began going door-to-door, starting at the Pines Trailer Park, using mobile devices to help hurricane-impacted residents file FEMA claims. The FEMA reps will continue from there and a FEMA Corps team will be joining those outreach efforts.
“They will go door-to-door to every single house and structure in the city, starting at The Pines,” Perry said she’s still trying to get a mobile FEMA site established on Bridge Street.
Perry said a Manatee County needs assessment team consisting of 20 individuals and four vehicles will begin going around the city today, starting at The Pines.
“They’re going to ask the people that live here what they need. Do they need fuel, groceries, gloves, etc.?” Perry said. “Residents are going to see two different teams approaching them: the county needs assessment team and FEMA.”
BRADENTON BEACH – Pines Trailer Park mobile home residents will experience significant rent increases that will take effect Jan. 1, in some cases more than doubling their lot rent, according to a letter sent by developers.
The waterfront mobile park was recently purchased by Pines Park Investors LLC, which lists developer Shawn Kaleta as the LLC’s manager and attorney Louis Najmy as its registered agent. On Aug. 24, Pines Park Investors entered into an $8.25 million mortgage and security agreement with The Jackson Partnership LLLP as part of the LLC’s $16.25 million park purchase.
Dated Sept. 29 and sent to all homeowners in the park, the notification letter says, “Pursuant to Florida Statutes and the Florida Administrative Code, this serves as 90-day notice of an increase in the lot rental amount for Pines Trailer Park. This increase in the lot rental amount for base rent will be effective Jan. 1, 2024.”
The monthly rent for waterfront lots in the Pines Trailer Park will increase $850 per month. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe letter includes a price increase chart that shows the base lot rent for a standard lot, with the exception of lots #37 and #65, will increase by $575 per month, rising from $625 to $1,200 per month. The base lot rent for lots #37 and #65 will increase $580 per month, rising from $620 to $1,200 per month. Base lot rent for water-view lots will increase by $725 per month, rising from $625 to $1,350 per month. Base lot rent for waterfront lots will increase by $850 per month, rising from $625 to $1,475 per month.
Many Pines Trailer Park homeowners and residents are retirees who live on fixed incomes. The pending rent increases may make it difficult for some of them to remain in their homes. None approached by The Sun were willing to discuss the issue.
BRADENTON BEACH – Developer Shawn Kaleta’s Pines Park Investors LLC has purchased the Pines Trailer Park in Bradenton Beach.
Formed on May 5, Pines Park Investors LLC lists the Najmy Thompson law firm as its registered agent and Kaleta as its manager.
According to a warranty deed dated Aug. 25, Pines Park Investors LLC completed its long-rumored purchase of the 2.78-acre waterfront mobile park property from The Jackson Partnership LLLP for $16.25 million. The Pines Park property contains 86 or 87 residential units and a shared clubhouse area.
Some of the Pines Trailer Park mobile homes have waterfront views. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
According to the mortgage and security agreement dated Aug. 25, Pines Park Investors LLC secured an $8.25 million mortgage with The Jackson Partnership LLLP. According to the mortgage terms, all rents, leases, issues, profits, revenue, income, proceeds, and tax liabilities are given to the borrower, Pines Park Investors LLC.
“If the mortgaged property and any part thereof shall be damaged or taken through condemnation, either temporarily or permanently, the entire indebtedness and other sums secured shall, at the option of the lender (Jackson Partnership LLLP), become immediately due and payable,” according to the mortgage agreement.
The mortgage agreement also states, “Borrower shall not remove or demolish any building or other property forming a part of the mortgaged property without the written consent of the lender. Borrower shall not permit, commit or suffer any waste, impairment or deterioration of the mortgaged property, or any part thereof, and shall keep the same and improvements thereon in good condition and repair.”
“We hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. We are writing to you today with some exciting news regarding the future of Pines Park. We are Pines Park Investors LLC – a group of trailer park owners and operators. As you may be aware, we have recently acquired Pines Park and we wanted to take this opportunity to assure you that we are committed to preserving and improving the park in hopes of ensuring long-term success,” The letter says.
“First and foremost, we are thrilled to announce Brien Quinn, our outstanding park manager, will remain on board. Brien has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and dedication and we believe that his continued presence will greatly contribute to the smooth transition and ongoing management of Pines Park. With his expertise, we can ensure that our community remains well-maintained, secure and enjoyable for all residents.
“Please continue to remit rent payments to Brien Quinn, as well as direct any questions you have his way. Going forward, all checks should be made out to Pines Park Investors LLC.
“We want to emphasize that your satisfaction and well-being are our top priorities. We believe that the future of Pines Park is bright, and together we can continue this thriving community that you are proud to be a part of. We are committed to open communication and we encourage you to reach out to Brien with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have.
“We look forward to embarking on this new chapter with you and witnessing the continued growth and success of the park. Thank you for your support, and we anticipate an exciting future ahead for Pines Park,” the one-page letter says in conclusion.
Future land use
According to the city of Bradenton Beach’s zoning map, the Pines Trailer Park property is currently zoned M-1 (mobile home park). According to the future land use map, and Building Official Steve Gilbert, the accompanying underlying land use for the Pines property is partially retail/office/residential and partially commercial.
According to Gilbert, the property owner would have to obtain a city-commission-approved comprehensive plan change, and likely a city-commission-approved rezoning approval as well, in order to redevelop the property as anything other than a mobile home park.
Several meetings took place at the Pines Park clubhouse after the property was put on the market earlier this year. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Earlier this year, the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association and the park residents were unsuccessful in their efforts to form a co-op and secure the financing needed to purchase the land their mobile homes are located on. Those efforts included several homeowners’ association and resident meetings held in the Pines Park clubhouse.
Prepared by homeowners’ association secretary Kathy Diskey, the minutes for the April 18 homeowners’ association meeting addressed a potential rezoning of the Pines Park property and stated, “The new purchaser of the park will have to get the property rezoned in order to change the land use from a resident park to something else. It is hard to guess how long that process would take.”
The Sept. 12 letter indicates Pines Park Investors LLC currently has no known plans to redevelop the Pines Trailer Park property for an alternative use.
BRADENTON BEACH – A May 8 letter Largo-based attorney David Luczak sent to the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association board members addresses the sale of the waterfront mobile home park. The accepted purchase offer appears to give the Pines Trailer Park’s permanent and seasonal residents at least five years to remain in their mobile homes and make their future plans.
The pending sale follows the Pines Trailer Park residents’ unsuccessful efforts to form a co-op and raise enough money to purchase the mobile home park owned by Richard and William Jackson’s Jackson Partnership LLLP.
Some of the mobile homes in the Pines Trailer Park have direct waterfront views. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Luczak’s letter begins by saying, “As you know, this office represents the owners and management of the Pines Trailer Park. In accordance with the provisions of Florida Statutes 723.071(2), we hereby notify you that we have received a bona fide offer to purchase Pines Trailer Park. We intend to consider and accept this offer. The terms are as follows:
Purchase Price: $16.25 million, which includes all park-owned mobile homes, recreational vehicles, equipment, materials, vehicles, buildings, etc.
Initial deposit: $1 million non-refundable deposit within three days of the execution and delivery of the purchase and sale agreement.
Due diligence: The due diligence period shall run for 15 days from the date of the execution of the purchase and sale agreement.
Additional deposit: At the end of the due diligence period, the buyer shall deposit an additional $1 million. At that time, the entire $2 million deposit shall be non-refundable.
Closing: Forty-five days from the successful completion of the due diligence period this transaction shall close unless extended by agreement of the buyer and seller,” according to Luczak’s letter.”
Luczak’s letter does not identify the person or entity purchasing the park.
The final term of the offer appears to allow the current Pines residents and mobile homeowners five to seven more years to remain in the park:
“Seller financing: Seller to hold a purchase money mortgage on the subject property in the amount of $8.125 million at 4.5% interest payable with interest-only payments for five years and no right of pre-payment. Buyer may not seek a land use change during the period of the mortgage financing. Seller may agree to a two-year extension on financing with interest-only monthly payments and the same terms as the original five-year mortgage,” according to Luczak’s letter.
Several residents’ meetings were held inside the Pines clubhouse. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
While attempting to raise the money needed to buy the park, the Pines residents and homeowners participated in several community meetings that were held in the Pines clubhouse building. The printed minutes for the April 18 meeting address the rezoning that would be required in order to redevelop the Pines property as something other than a mobile home park.
“The new purchaser of the park will have to get the property rezoned in order to change the land use from a resident park to something else. It is hard to guess how long that process would take,” according to the April 18 meeting minutes.
Rezoning the Pines’ property from its current M-1 Mobile Home Park District zoning designation would require the approval of the Bradenton Beach City Commission after the proposed rezoning is first reviewed by city staff and the city’s planning and zoning board.
BRADENTON BEACH – The residents of the Pines Trailer Park have fallen short in their efforts to purchase the 86-unit waterfront mobile home park property.
In late January, Pines residents were informed that the Jackson family wanted to sell the park. In accordance with state law, the Pines residents were given the first right of refusal and the first chance to collectively purchase the 2.78-acre property for $16 million. Several residents’ meetings took place in the ensuing months and during that time, the Jacksons’ asking price increased by $250,000 to $16.25 million.
The most recent residents’ meeting took place on April 18. During that meeting, it was disclosed that the residents’ efforts to raise $10 million of the $16.25 million needed to purchase the property had fallen short.
The waterfront Pines Trailer Park property has riparian rights that allow for boat docks. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
It is not yet known who will purchase the Pines property or what will happen to the seasonal and full-time residents of the 86 mobile homes located in the mobile home park.
The park residents and others involved in the potential purchase of the Pines property had been reluctant to address the media while the efforts to purchase the park remained ongoing.
Later in the week, The Sun obtained the written minutes of the April 18 residents’ meeting.
Meeting minutes
According to the minutes, an attorney informed the park residents that no lenders were interested in loaning the residents’ proposed co-op the money needed to purchase the property.
Also according to the minutes, potential lenders don’t believe the Pines property is worth $16 million, partly due to the property’s coastal location and exposure to potential storm damage. High interest rates were mentioned as another contributing factor.
“We have collected $2 million in cash. $4 million more has been promised, with some full shares and some shares to be financed for a total of $6 million. We are over $4 million short of the needed funding. We are not in a position to sign the contract on April 21 unless a miracle occurs in the next three days. The Jacksons will not (self) finance more than $6 million. We need $10 million in cash and/or a loan from outside. We did not get enough investors. Less than half of the residents committed to purchasing a share. All homeowners who made payments will be reimbursed,” according to the minutes.
“When the park is sold, each resident will get a letter. If the buyer pays less than $16.25 million for the park, we have 10 days to match that offer,” the minutes note.
“The broker selling our park property on the open market has indicated that two groups are interested in the purchase and would plan to keep it as a park. We have no proof of this. At this point, it is our best-case scenario,” according to the minutes, which note that rent increases would be expected.
According to the minutes, “The new purchaser of the park will have to get the property rezoned in order to change the land use from a resident park to something else. It is hard to guess how long that process would take. If the new owner would decide to sell the park after their purchase, we would get the first right of refusal.”
The minutes note that mobile homeowners can still sell their homes if they want. The minutes note residents must continue to pay rent and follow the current park rules.
Additional insight
Ellen Scott is a longtime resident of the Pines. During the resident meetings, her son, Bernie Slicker, provided the Zoom teleconferencing capabilities that allowed residents and mobile homeowners to participate in the meetings from afar.
Slicker said the park residents were not given any timetable as to when a sale might take place or what might happen to the existing residents after that.
An alternative use of the property would result in many of the park’s full-time and seasonal residents moving off Anna Maria Island.
“With a private investor, my mom would likely have to be gone within six months to a year. We’re already looking for a place for her,” Slicker said.
Slicker noted many of the existing mobile homes could not be relocated and would face likely demolition if the Pines property is used for something other than a mobile home park.
“They’re all on wheels, but you can’t move them. In six months, they could just bulldoze everything down,” Slicker said.
Slicker said some mobile homeowners are understandably sad because they stand to potentially lose a lot of the money they invested in their homes.
Slicker said no specific names were mentioned regarding any developers, individuals or investors who may be interested in purchasing the Pines property and redeveloping it.
BRADENTON BEACH – Pines Trailer Park residents will have to pay $250,000 more than they expected should they decide to purchase their park from the owner.
Residents met again on March 15 to discuss their ongoing efforts to cooperatively purchase the 2.78-acre waterfront mobile home park property. The meeting at the Pines Trailer Park community building was open to residents only, who were presented with a seven-page document titled, “Join your fellow residents as we purchase The Pines.” The document, presented by Lifestyle Choice Realty Inc., notes its preliminary nature and says, “Numbers are subject to change as more information is obtained.”
The residents’ meetings take place in this Pines Trailer Park building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Another meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, March 29.
In late January, the Jackson Partnership LLLP ownership group informed park residents and the residents association of their desire to sell the mobile home park. Under state law, potentially impacted mobile homeowners must be given the first opportunity to purchase a mobile home park property before it can be offered on the open market.
According to the financial document presented on March 15, Jackson’s original asking price has increased by $250,000, from $16 million to $16.25 million.
The park contains 86 individual mobile home lots, according to the document. Those lots are currently owned by Jack- son and monthly rent is charged for the use of each lot. The park has a shared community building that would also be part of the sale and the park owners hold riparian rights that allow for boat dockage along the east end of the park.
The document assumes each single share of the park would sell for $200,000, plus an additional $1,000 in closing costs for each lot. It also provides a breakdown of the anticipated costs per ownership share. A shareowner who makes an initial $20,000 down payment would then borrow $181,000. Their monthly share payment would be $1,513, plus a $325 monthly maintenance fee, for a total monthly cost of $1,838.
The Pines Trailer Park has riparian rights that allow for boat dockage along the waterfront park property. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The document cites an assumed 8% fixed interest rate amortized for 20 years. With the current $16.25 million asking price, the document proposes a $10 million loan that would result in a $6,250 remaining balance due for each lot – to be paid by the mobile home owner or the park co-op.
“For those of you who buy in, there will be no more rent and no more rent increases. Instead, you pay a monthly maintenance fee based on the cost to operate the park and a budget the owner’s association has approved,” the document states.
The final page of the document is titled, “How a resident-owned community works for you.”
The document describes a resident-owned community as “a community in which the residents have joined together and purchase their community from the landlord/owner.”
Regarding the initial organization of a resident-owned community, the document says, “Lifestyle Choice Realty recommends such communities be organized through a residents’ cooperative. It is the method favored by most residents.” Resident cooperatives are non-profit corporations owned by the residents who chose to participate.
“Lifestyle Choice Realty recommends cooperatives for two reasons. First, the initial purchase is faster and easier because the cooperative buys the entire community, eliminating the need to survey and subdivide each individual lot. Second, the cooperative operates through its board of directors, a group of residents elected by all participating residents,” the document states.
The document notes an existing mobile home and its associated cooperative share can be sold to another buyer.
It also addresses what happens if a resident chooses not to buy into the cooperative.
“In that case, the resident’s current lease agreement and prospectus remain the same. The main difference is the resident pays rent to the cooperative and will not be allowed to vote in how the park is operated.”
One meeting attendee, who wished to remain anonymous, said the Pines residents remain “cautiously optimistic” that the cooperative purchase of the park can be accomplished, but nothing had been finalized yet.
BRADENTON BEACH – Residents of the Pines Trailer Park must soon decide if they have the desire and the means to collectively purchase for $16 million the 2.78-acre waterfront property their mobile homes sit upon.
In late January, the Jackson Partnership LLLP which has long owned the mobile home park informed residents and the residents association of its desire to sell.
Under state law, the potentially impacted mobile homeowners must be given the first opportunity to buy the mobile home park property before it can be sold to anyone else.
According to three Pines residents who spoke on the condition of anonymity, at least two sales-related community meetings have been held in the Pines Trailer Park community building. During those meetings, residents were informed that they’d have approximately 45 days to determine if they can secure the $16 million needed to purchase the park.
The park contains 87 individual lots, which equates to $183,908 per lot. Some residents live in the park year-round and others reside there on a seasonal basis. It is not clear what would happen to the existing mobile homes if the homeowners are unable to buy the park or whether another potential buyer is waiting in the wings.
The park’s management and park residents have not responded to requests for on-the-record comments regarding the potential sale.
State statute
Section 723 of Florida Statutes addresses the sale of mobile home parks and reads as follows: “If a mobile home park owner offers a mobile home park for sale, she or he shall notify the officers of the homeowners’ association of the offer, stating the price and the terms and conditions of sale. The mobile home owners shall have the right to purchase the park, provided the homeowners meet the price and terms and conditions of the mobile home park owner by executing a contract with the park owner within 45 days unless agreed to otherwise, from the date of the notice.
“If a contract between the park owner and the association is not executed within such 45-day period, then – unless the park owner thereafter elects to offer the park at a price lower than the price specified in her or his notice to the officers of the homeowners’ association – the park owner has no further obligations,” according to the statute.
“If the park owner thereafter elects to offer the park at a price lower than the price specified in her or his notice to the homeowners, the homeowners, by and through the association, will have an additional 10 days to meet the price and terms and conditions of the park owner by executing a contract.
“If a mobile home park owner receives a bona fide offer to purchase the park that she or he intends to consider or make a counteroffer to, the park owner’s only obligation shall be to notify the officers of the homeowners’ association that she or he has received an offer and disclose the price and material terms and conditions upon which she or he would consider selling the park and consider any offer made by the homeowners.
“The park owner shall be under no obligation to sell to the homeowners or to interrupt or delay other negotiations and shall be free at any time to execute a contract for the sale of the park to a party or parties other than the homeowners or the association,” according to state statute.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Although some damage occurred, Anna Maria Island survived Hurricane Ian without suffering the widespread devastation many residents and business owners originally feared.
As of Thursday evening Sept. 29, most of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach remained without the water and sewage services provided by Manatee County and the electrical services provided by Florida Power & Light (FPL).
Before the hurricane arrived, Manatee County ordered a mandatory evacuation of the Island as of Tuesday evening. A drive around the Island just before sundown on Sept. 27 revealed several boarded-up buildings and homes and a mostly deserted and evacuated Island.
Residents, business owners and others were allowed to return to the Island via Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue at 10 a.m. Thursday morning.
Bradenton Beach
At 10:05 a.m. Sept. 29, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby provided The Sun with his damage assessment.
“We started operations at 3 o’clock this morning and we had the team fully operational by 5 a.m. We did good,” Cosby said. “The only real damage we had to our city facilities was the police department roof was leaking. The worst damage is in the two trailer parks where some roofs and carports were blown off. We also had some damage to a condo on the 600 block.”
This home in the Pines Trailer Park was damaged. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
None of the live-aboard boats south of the Bridge Street Pier broke free and damaged the pier.
“The pier and floating dock did good,” Cosby said. “We’ve got two boats missing, one boat down and one boat – we don’t where it came from – leaning against the bridge. There’s no damage to the bridge and FDOT’s been notified.”
“The cell tower is damaged. It got hit by some flying debris that left some good-sized dents in it. I don’t know if it’s operational or not. Our cell service is terrible right now, so it may have been disrupted,” Cosby said.
Cosby said there was a lot of tree and landscaping debris, but the main roads had already been cleared by the city’s public works department.
“We had no major power lines down, so that should make it quicker to restore power. Right now we do not have any power, water or sewer; and we have no idea when those are coming back,” he said.
This mobile home in the Sandpiper Resort felt the wrath of Hurricane Ian. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cosby noted the county and FPL were dealing with significantly worse damage in eastern Manatee County.
“The east side of the county got destroyed. When the storm went over that way, it was a Cat 2/Cat 3. They were rescuing people off roofs this morning,” he said. “The county’s got a lot to take care of. We’re working together and hopefully, we can get the utilities up as fast as we can, but I think it’s going to be a while.”
When asked if folks should return to the city yet, Cosby said, “We’re allowing them to come back. If they want to stay, they can, but there’s no power, no water and no sewer.”
Holmes Beach
When contacted at approximately 11:30 a.m., Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We had minimal damage – some trees and limbs. Power’s out to about 90% of the people on the Island. We have no water yet. We have no Spectrum connectivity and we’re waiting for them to fix that.
“Full access to Holmes Beach through Manatee Avenue was opened at 10 o’clock this morning. Once the Island was deemed an evacuation zone, we limited the number of people that returned to public safety personnel, but we never raise the bridges and we never stop people from leaving the Island.”
The folks at Hurricane Hanks left messages for Hurricane Ian. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Tokajer reflected on what could have been had Hurricane Ian not taken an unexpected turn to the south, making landfall in the Fort Myers area.
“We were truly blessed. The damage and devastation we’re seeing to the south is what we were expecting as a direct hit to our area. It’s truly daunting to see the devastation that happened down there – and to see what a true storm surge looks like in real life instead of just projections,” he said.
Anna Maria
When visited in his generator-powered office at city hall early Thursday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “We did good. We didn’t take a direct hit. If we had, it would have been devasting for our city. We had a lot of trees down and several wires down, but we have most of that cleared. The city’s without power and water. I have no idea when utilities are being restored. I wish I did. People can come back but it’s not real comfortable without water and power.”
The exterior skin of the Anna Maria cell tower was damaged but Murphy said he wasn’t aware of any significant structural damage within the city other than one home having its front door blown off.
“The only significant problem I see is turned over port-a-potties at construction sites. Several contractors picked theirs up, but one contractor didn’t bother to tie them down or pick them up. That’s a problem and a health hazard, and that’s something we put in our construction checklist,” Murphy said.
The new Anna Maria City Pier suffered no hurricane damage but remained closed on Thursday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In 2017, the damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma led to the City Pier being closed and later replaced. When asked how the new pier fared during its first hurricane, Murphy said, “Our new pier held up fine. There’s no structural damage at all. It was built right. I was concerned – like a father whose daughter goes on her first date.”
Anna Maria residents JoAnn and Anthony Manali chose not to evacuate and rode the storm out at their home and business – Captain Anthony’s Stone Crab Store.
“I was scared and I’ll never do it again. It was worse than I could have ever imagined,” JoAnn Manali said of that experience.
Cortez
Sun reporter Jason Schaffer’s tour of Cortez revealed no significant damage. He said there was slight damage to the Fisherman’s Hall building and some siding damage to a storage building on 124th Street West.
The street sign took a ride in Hurricane Ian’s powerful winds. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
A sailboat came to rest alongside the Cortez Bridge. - Leslie Lake | Sun
Fisherman's Hall in Cortez lost a little bit of its siding. - Jason Schaffer | Sun
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies left their post at Cortez Bridge at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Ian damaged this mobile home at the Sandpiper Resort. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
A sailboat stored at the Bradenton Beach Marina fell off its support stands during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Sand Dollar store in Holmes Beach was ready for the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
This parking lot in Holmes Beach was among the few flooded areas on Anna Maria Island. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
A dolphin swam near this sunken boat Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
This tree fell perilously close to Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jake Spooner’s home. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
A displaced screen wound up in this tree near the Pines Trailer Park. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Ian inflicted damage on this mobile home the Sandpiper Report. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
This home near Herb Dolan Park in Bradenton Beach suffered storm damage. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The crosswalk signal pole near the Sandpiper Resort fell during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Bradenton Beach cell tower was dented during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bridge Street resembled a ghost town on Tuesday evening. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bayfront Park in Anna Maria suffered some toppled trees. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Ian toppled these signs in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Tom Aposporos Jr. was among the last to grab sandbags at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
These business owners did not want to get rocked by Hurricane Ian. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Pine Avenue in Anna Maria was deserted Tuesday evening as the evacuation deadline loomed. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The top of the Anna Maria cell tower was damaged. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
