Cape Coral General Information

Good evening Glen thanks for posting the map, it really is loaded with very valuable facts.
Where can I get one ?

Rich and Carm
 
quote:
Originally posted by RBD

Good evening Glen thanks for posting the map, it really is loaded with very valuable facts.
Where can I get one ?

Rich and Carm

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I got the link to that map/chart from a Realtor named Dan Starowicz. I used his father, Joe Starowicz (also a Realtor), as my buying agent for Florida. I am a licensed Realtor, hut I'm licensed in VA, not FL (yet). By the way, there are more canals farther northwest in the Cape close to Matlacha. To see those, click on the northwestern part of the map in the link below. To get to the same one I posted above, click on the southern part of the map.

http://www.topwaterfrontdeals.com/gulf-access-florida-homes-canals/cape-coral-waterfront-5.html
 
The square " lakes " are really " retention ponds " required and regulated by SWFWMD ( swift mud )
 
quote:
Originally posted by Double D

The square " lakes " are really " retention ponds " required and regulated by SWFWMD ( swift mud )

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Thanks. Good info. I learn something new every day. I wonder why they are required in that particular location, but nowhere else in the Cape. Are they for absorbing storm surges that come up the canal, such as from a hurricane?

Thanks.
 
From what I was told by " swiftmud " they retain runoff waters from roadways and land grades. SWFWMD here in Florida is like the EPA/DEP in NY.....but worst. I just purchased a second rental house in our community and its a waterfront piece. There are a few dead ( drowned ) trees at the waters edge ( lake )....I wanted to cut the trees down but when I contacted the agency they said if I did I could be heavily fined. Even though the trees are dead ? They regulate all vegetation around all waters in Florida.
We have retention ponds through out our community some have fountains some don't....most have gators too.

These are the dead trees I will NOT touch...behind the rental unit.

IMG_1038_zpscfn75uvo.jpg


This is one of the retention ponds in the community behind our home.

IMG_0645_zpsnbpr7ssx.jpg
 
Thanks, Double D. Do you have house(s) in the Cape? After the recent tornado that came through in January, that would have been a great opportunity for those trees to have been "accidentally" taken out by the storm. ;)
 
No.....I'm in Central Florida ( between Orlando & Tampa ) and was not lucky enough to have the tornado's remove my trees ....they fizzed out way before they reached this area. I'm waiting for a decision.... if I can have them pulled out once they do finally " fall down " or do they then consider them to become termite habitat.... and be left alone. There was ALOT less B/S when I file for permits to stick wood in the water on Long Island when I refaced my bulkhead. Government needs a lobotomy.
 
Heading to Cape Coral with week to look at canal homes as well, I'm hoping to find something south of Gleason highway. I'm told that is a 30 minute ride to the river? Also - How long of a voyage is it to the gulf from each one of the three bridges over the river?
 
From the southermost bridge figure 30 minutes, the "miserable mile" is a no wake zone with high traffic. It takes me at least 30 minutes to clear the Sanibel bridge from Tarpon Point Marina.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Herrington

From the southermost bridge figure 30 minutes, the "miserable mile" is a no wake zone with high traffic. It takes me at least 30 minutes to clear the Sanibel bridge from Tarpon Point Marina.

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Miserable Mile is Slow Speed Minimum Wake.

Ken
 
Ok, I was wrong. But, most of the boaters I've encountered thru the MM take the no wake approach, me included.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bruce Herrington

Ok, I was wrong. But, most of the boaters I've encountered thru the MM take the no wake approach, me included.

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That is the problem. We lose steerage depending on the direction of current when people are idling through there. Sometimes I am in and out of gear 30 plus times just to get through.

If people would maintain speed it would clear out the boats faster and they would not jam up.

Sorry if this comes off as a rant, but that area can be dangerous.

Ken
 
I'm afraid you're mis-assigning the "miserable mile".
It starts west of marker 101 and extends westward, where the often strong currents tend to push southward and the wind creates varying effects according to direction.
The misery is the frequency with which boaters stray out of the relatively narrow channel into the adjacent shallow water and run aground.
Hence, the admonition to stay aligned by watching markers astern as well as off the bow, so as not to focus on one ahead and drift out of the channel.
This is not a no-wake zone. The no-wake extends along past Shell Point and the floating bait shop - that is east of the infamous miserable mile.
(Boating that area for 30+ years - documented this often misunderstood issue many times since I was corrected long ago).
Agree it's not really an important distinction, except for accuracy in communication. The no-wake zone still slows you, and is on occasion vigorously enforced.
John
 
quote:
Originally posted by JHS3750

I'm afraid you're mis-assigning the "miserable mile".
It starts west of marker 101 and extends westward, where the often strong currents tend to push southward and the wind creates varying effects according to direction.
The misery is the frequency with which boaters stray out of the relatively narrow channel into the adjacent shallow water and run aground.
Hence, the admonition to stay aligned by watching markers astern as well as off the bow, so as not to focus on one ahead and drift out of the channel.
This is not a no-wake zone. The no-wake extends along past Shell Point and the floating bait shop - that is east of the infamous miserable mile.
(Boating that area for 30+ years - documented this often misunderstood issue many times since I was corrected long ago).
Agree it's not really an important distinction, except for accuracy in communication. The no-wake zone still slows you, and is on occasion vigorously enforced.
John

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Ditto - That's what I've been told from the area's long-standing residents. They said that most people who have moved into the area within about the past 15 years mistakenly call the no wake zone near Shell Point "the miserable mile", although it isn't. From what I've seen, at this point, there are probably more people who mis-identify it than correctly identify it, ... and it's a lost battle trying to "correct" them all. I suppose that technically there is no "correct" answer. It's not officially named or marked on charts, and is just a name that locals use. Some use it to refer to one area, and others use it for another area. The newer group seems to be winning, and a long, slow zone in the heat can be pretty "miserable".
 
I agree with the actual "miserable mile" definition, however since 2003 when we first purchased our house here, 90% of the time people (boaters) refer to Marker 92 to 99 as the "miserable mile". Marker 101 up through the narrow section is fine as long as you do not get outside the markers. I have never had any issues through the actual miserable mile.

Ken
 
I have been reading this very informative post as we have been looking in a few possible locations in Fla. for a move.
This area is certainly one of the best but we have been concerned about the storm protection in the area especially the storm surge and flood damage potentials. Are there any reasons we should be more or less concerned when looking in this spot and looking at the surge maps? What about flood insurance is it hard to get and it is costly?

Thank you
 
quote:
Originally posted by smitty477

I have been reading this very informative post as we have been looking in a few possible locations in Fla. for a move.
This area is certainly one of the best but we have been concerned about the storm protection in the area especially the storm surge and flood damage potentials. Are there any reasons we should be more or less concerned when looking in this spot and looking at the surge maps? What about flood insurance is it hard to get and it is costly?

Thank you

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We're pretty far south on the canal system (see map on earlier post of mine), so are definitely subjected to some surge. So far, it has not been too bad. We weren't here at the time, but the locals on our street said the surge from Hurricane Charley in 2004 (High Category 4 that hit a little north in Punta Gorda, and Cape Coral was on "strong side") came about 1 to 1.5 feet over the sea wall. That's still another 3.5 feet in elevation below our house.
The BFE (Base Flood Eelevation) for the Flood Maps in our section is 7 feet. Try to buy a house that is above the BFE of the area. Our house is at elevation 8.2 feet. Our Flood Insurance is under $500 per year, but we have a $10K deductible. I think a $5K deductible would've given us a premium somewhere around $700 per year. Anyway, flood insurance is not for insuring a small incident. It's for the "big stuff", so we chose the high deductible / low premium option. If your house is below the BFE, then rates can get sky high. I've heard, but not confirmed, figures approaching $8K per year for lower elevation houses, especially the older, lower elevation ones fronting the Caloosahatchee.

I think most houses built after the mid 80s ?? are built at the higher elevation. Ours was built in 1998. When comparing deals on houses, get quotes from an insurance agency, and figure that into your decision. We ended up buying a house that was about $100K more than we were originally thinking of spending, ... but after considering insurance, we figured it was better to put the extra money into the house than into insurance premiums for an older, lower elevation home. You might think you're "saving" money by purchasing one of the older homes, but you end up spending it on flood insurance if it's below the BFE. If you do an all cash deal, you won't be forced to purchase flood insurance, but then you're taking a pretty big gamble with mother nature.
 
Wind insurance is another cost consideration, especially nearer the river and the Gulf - for us, more than flood insurance by far.
Premiums are determined by location and "quality" of construction.
Newer construction has complied with progressively more stringent code requirements (especially roof and its attachments).
Ask for a wind mitigation report to provide insurance company in estimating insurance costs - most everyone has one.
All considered, a phenomenal place to live and play for boaters!!
Usually beautiful water (recent Lake O drainage notwithstanding), great fishing of all varieties in the flats and offshore, and almost unlimited
miles of beautiful scenery and wildlife among the many accessible barrier islands for cruisers.
Quiet protected anchorages, well equipped marinas, white sand beaches, boat accessible restaurants abound.
Don't let insurance costs deter you - lack of state income tax more than cancels that out . . .
Downside: getting too damned crowded! Guess I'd better be less forthcoming about the boating assets?
 
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