The rebuilding of Matlacha
Residents, businesses continue recovery efforts after recent hurricanes
According to Matlacha resident Michael Hannon, he and his wife, Kathleen Walsh, have not changed their views about Matlacha from their original mindset when they moved here in 2012.
“This is the Shangri-La, and while the unusual occurrence of three hurricanes back to back is discouraging, Shangri-La is worth rebuilding,” Hannon said.
He said he believes this time to be a transitional phase for many who may not have been able to stay after the last three hurricanes. He added that he sees Matlacha as a one-lane choke point as one enters Pine Island.
Bill Carey, owner of Carey Construction, said it is important to rebuild Matlacha above the flood plain.
“Great town. We’ve fallen in love with it. The hurricanes, I think, have given it a little re-boot, or an opportunity to improve itself, which is wonderful,” Carey said.
He admits he’s excited about Matlacha being rebuilt so he can live here. He is currently collaborating with other local businesses, such as Stearns Custom Builders
Local Stearns Custom Builders owner Derrick Stearns said his company recently finished building a home in Matlacha, up to the flood plain elevation, which changed, he said, following Hurricane Ian.
“Even though it is a home that is at the lowest elevation that FEMA allows, we still had nearly 2 feet between the (hurricanes) Milton/Helene water levels and the finished floor of their home,” Stearns said, adding that it’s proof that the new FEMA flood maps are forward-thinking in flood prevention from storm surge.
Stearns contends that you don’t have to build a stilt or a raised home. He also said the rebuilding of Matlacha is a positive thing, for many different reasons, including its popularity for shopping, eating, building, visiting and buying homes.
“Matlacha is important for the commerce of all of Pine Island. It’s important to draw people into the shops, restaurants, stores, the art studios — Matlacha sets the vibe for the island feel that Pine Island and Matlacha hold. It is the entry gate to paradise,” Stearns said.
Current Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce president Dave Conner explained that much of the importance of the rebuilding of Matlacha, for him, lies in all of its history in retail commerce, saying that will go a long way to getting the island back on track.
“Matlacha is extremely important. The retail sector needs to get back up and running again. It’s a big draw. It’s very hep — like a little mini-Keys — but, the old Key West,” Conner said.
Bert’s Bar and Grille owner Bernard Johnson says that although the wheels of preparation take time to turn, there are plans to bring back Bert’s or perhaps something resembling Bert’s.
“We’re still going through the permitting process. It takes a long time, but we’ve made some good strides, so I’m positive about that. This (Bert’s) is over water. It’s not as if we were down the street or anything like that, so, It’s just going to take some time,” Johnson said.
Once the permitting process is done, he said, it will be time to start getting bids in for a rebuild. It takes so much planning and many regulations, he said, adding that there are several agencies involved in a project like this one.
“They’re cooperative, but they’ve been hit by a lot of applications from a lot of different people, so they’re just busy as bees,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he believes had several parts of Florida not been hit by Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, things would look and, in fact, be, very different. Between the Army Corps of Engineers, and several state agencies, he said, there is much to go through.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email