Our new carports are coming together

Installing sliders on the ground floor

Our first shipment of windows are being installed, as well

More and more building materials are arriving each day

The Manor clan from Georgia came to visit to say “hello” to Andy!

It has now been ten months since Hurricane Ian hit, and just like the recent record number of sea turtles on the island we’ve mentioned, we’re putting one flipper in front of the other and making amazing strides.

We have accomplished so much within the past ten months at Ocean’s Reach.  While we still have a distance to go in our rebuilding effort, we wanted to share more of our progress:

• We finally have electricity again!  With that, we will soon be able to start installing air handlers, with the goal of having air conditioning back throughout the complex by mid-September.
• Shipments of windows and sliding glass doors have started to arrive.  They are being installed in first floor units as pictured above.  The same materials for upper floor units should arrive by early September, with the goal of all installation being completed by mid-October.
• We’re also continuing with framing first floor units.  On the upper floors, we’re beginning “rough in” work for plumbing and electrical and preparing for inspection.
• Construction of our carports and storage areas are well underway.  Framing continues as pictured above.
• Owners are almost finished putting together floor plans for their individual units and contractors are being selected for when interior work can get started near the end of the year.
• We’re continuing to work closely with the City of Sanibel and have passed all inspections to date.

More and more island businesses, both old and new, are now open and excited to welcome back visitors.  Many of our Ocean’s Reach guests — like the Manor family pictured above, who have stayed with us in July for more than two decades — have made trips to the region to show their loyal support for island businesses.

Our overall ecosystem is recovering, as well.  Boat captains are reporting that, while fishing is a little different now due to shifting sands from the storm, marine life is coming back and remaining debris is now mostly submerged.

Not surprisingly, there’s no better spot to see how nature is mending than at the J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge, which was featured in a CBS Sunday Morning episode last month.  We just play this over and over, and hope you’ll enjoy it, as well:

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