Home sales in Indian River County jump by 17%
By Robert Barba (Contact)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
VERO BEACH — Realtors in Indian River County got some good news this week: an increase in existing home sales.
The Realtors Association of Indian River County reported 159 existing single-family homes were sold in August — 16.9 percent more than from the same period a year earlier. Meanwhile, the median home price dipped 6.4 percent to $207,000 for the same period.
"It's a little glimpse of glory," said Karen Hall, association president. "I am encouraged by these figures. ... I think we are headed in the right direction."
Hall said the increase was likely driven by sellers lowering their prices.
"Sellers are becoming more realistic about their prices," Hall said. "They are realizing that they may not be seeing the big bucks that some people were making in the past."
According to William Pittenger, chief real estate economist for Seacoast National Bank, prices will need to continue to roll back to 2003-2004 levels "before we start to see any major action in the market."
Indian River County's August figures reflect the first positive sales growth since the Realtors association began reporting its figures in July 2006.
The increase, however, didn't spill over to the rest of the Treasure Coast.
The Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie metropolitan statistical area, which includes Stuart, had 287 single-family homes sold in August, reflecting a 26 percent decrease from a year ago, according to the Florida Association of Realtors.
The median home price for the same period also fell 15 percent to $214,200.
The Realtors Association of Martin County reported flat year-to-year growth with 130 existing single-family homes sold in August. The median home price in August was $247,750, down 16 percent from a year earlier.
The state Realtors association credited low mortgage rates, low unemployment rates and strong demographics for bringing August home sale totals close to the August 2001 and 2002 numbers — before the peak of the housing boom years.
Statewide, single-family home sales in August were down 26 percent compared to a year earlier, with the median home price falling 4 percent for the same period.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Piper News
Officials in Vero Beach say final Piper offer is in the works
By Ed Bierschenk (Contact)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
City and county officials are preparing what they say could be the final incentive offer to keep Piper Aircraft Inc. in Vero Beach.
The package would update earlier proposals made after an Indian River County referendum on $40 million in funding to retain the company was cancelled. Piper had said that a vote was not in the best interests of county residents.
Vero Beach Mayor Tom White said Tuesday that negotiators for the company have told the city that if it presented the right financial package, Piper would stay in Vero Beach.
While the city would have to hold a referendum to deliver all that Piper requested, White said, "We're not that far off."
Piper executives did not return phone calls for comment Tuesday.
Piper is considering moving its headquarters and planned manufacturing plant for the PiperJet from Vero Beach to Albuquerque, N.M., or Oklahoma City. Piper officials have been tight-lipped on when a decision will be made.
City and county officials expect a decision from Piper this week or in early October.
White wanted a meeting of city and county officials on Oct. 4 to inform the public about the final offer because it would impact government spending. For instance, some money earmarked for Piper might otherwise be spent on capital improvements such as road paving and sidewalks.
White learned Tuesday that the city could not be ready to meet by that date. But County Administrator Joe Baird said they want to meet "sooner rather than later."
To date, White and sometimes Indian River County Commission Chairman Gary Wheeler have participated in private negotiations with Piper, along with Baird, City Manager Jim Gabbard and financial and legal representatives from the city and county.
White said he had seen a list comparing what the three communities have to offer Piper. For instance, electric costs are higher in Vero Beach, White said, but Florida has no personal income tax.
Published reports have pegged Albuquerque's offer at as much as $70 million.
White said the figures he saw were spread out over 20 or 30 years and were tied to goals such as the number of employees.
By Ed Bierschenk (Contact)
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
City and county officials are preparing what they say could be the final incentive offer to keep Piper Aircraft Inc. in Vero Beach.
The package would update earlier proposals made after an Indian River County referendum on $40 million in funding to retain the company was cancelled. Piper had said that a vote was not in the best interests of county residents.
Vero Beach Mayor Tom White said Tuesday that negotiators for the company have told the city that if it presented the right financial package, Piper would stay in Vero Beach.
While the city would have to hold a referendum to deliver all that Piper requested, White said, "We're not that far off."
Piper executives did not return phone calls for comment Tuesday.
Piper is considering moving its headquarters and planned manufacturing plant for the PiperJet from Vero Beach to Albuquerque, N.M., or Oklahoma City. Piper officials have been tight-lipped on when a decision will be made.
City and county officials expect a decision from Piper this week or in early October.
White wanted a meeting of city and county officials on Oct. 4 to inform the public about the final offer because it would impact government spending. For instance, some money earmarked for Piper might otherwise be spent on capital improvements such as road paving and sidewalks.
White learned Tuesday that the city could not be ready to meet by that date. But County Administrator Joe Baird said they want to meet "sooner rather than later."
To date, White and sometimes Indian River County Commission Chairman Gary Wheeler have participated in private negotiations with Piper, along with Baird, City Manager Jim Gabbard and financial and legal representatives from the city and county.
White said he had seen a list comparing what the three communities have to offer Piper. For instance, electric costs are higher in Vero Beach, White said, but Florida has no personal income tax.
Published reports have pegged Albuquerque's offer at as much as $70 million.
White said the figures he saw were spread out over 20 or 30 years and were tied to goals such as the number of employees.
Pelican Island trail to reopen
Pelican Island trail to reopen Oct. 6 in Sebastian
The Centennial Trail at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge will reopen Oct. 6 during National Wildlife Refuge Week.
A public event will dedicate the trail as a National Recreation Trail and highlight the improvements completed this summer.
Recent improvements include replacing all 547 worn planks with new, denser boards and engraving the refuge names deeper so that they won't wear away.
The design and installation of 16 permanent educational panels along the trail was also completed with the help of a combined Wild Birds Unlimited and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant and additional funds from the Pelican Island Preservation Society.
The dedication event is at the Pelican Island Viewing Area, one-half mile south on Historic Jungle Trail off Highway A1A in Sebastian and will begin at 7 a.m. with a family early-bird tour of Bird's Impoundment Trail.
The National Recreation Trail dedication will begin at 8 a.m. at the Pelican Island Viewing Area
The National Recreation Trail dedication will begin at 8 a.m. at the Pelican Island Viewing Area, followed by a tour of The Centennial Trail.
Tours of the refuge butterfly garden will be offered throughout the morning and the Pelican Island Preservation Society, the refuge friends group, will be selling special National Wildlife Refuge Week T-shirts. Refuge trails will remain open to the public throughout the day and on a daily basis thereafter.
For more information, call Joanna Webb at (772) 562-3909 ext. 258 or e-mail pelicanisland@fws.gov.
The Centennial Trail at Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge will reopen Oct. 6 during National Wildlife Refuge Week.
A public event will dedicate the trail as a National Recreation Trail and highlight the improvements completed this summer.
Recent improvements include replacing all 547 worn planks with new, denser boards and engraving the refuge names deeper so that they won't wear away.
The design and installation of 16 permanent educational panels along the trail was also completed with the help of a combined Wild Birds Unlimited and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant and additional funds from the Pelican Island Preservation Society.
The dedication event is at the Pelican Island Viewing Area, one-half mile south on Historic Jungle Trail off Highway A1A in Sebastian and will begin at 7 a.m. with a family early-bird tour of Bird's Impoundment Trail.
The National Recreation Trail dedication will begin at 8 a.m. at the Pelican Island Viewing Area
The National Recreation Trail dedication will begin at 8 a.m. at the Pelican Island Viewing Area, followed by a tour of The Centennial Trail.
Tours of the refuge butterfly garden will be offered throughout the morning and the Pelican Island Preservation Society, the refuge friends group, will be selling special National Wildlife Refuge Week T-shirts. Refuge trails will remain open to the public throughout the day and on a daily basis thereafter.
For more information, call Joanna Webb at (772) 562-3909 ext. 258 or e-mail pelicanisland@fws.gov.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Helping habitat in Wabasso
Crews work to restore natural habitat of refuge in Wabasso
By Gabriel Margasak (Contact)
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Rhythmic whacks of a machete against Australian pine trees and Brazilian pepper plants echoed through the tangled thickets of Preacher's Island.
Workers here must sometimes toil by hand when their chain saws break on the notoriously hard trees. Heavy machinery is not allowed because it would destroy the very vegetation the crews are trying to save by killing the non-native plants.
But experts say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project that began on Aug. 6 is worth it to restore the habitat for blue heron and wading birds, fish, turtles and wildlife in the historic Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. President Theodore Roosevelt named Pelican Island as the country's first national wildlife refuge on March 14, 1903.
"All you have to do is take a ride down the Indian River and you see all the houses and sea walls going up," Charles Mathis, the assistant refuge manager said while surveying the project. "The more we can save and restore back to its original state — it's not going to offset what we're losing — but at least we can keep what we have."
The problems here began back in the early 1950s, when dredge spoil from construction of the Intracoastal Waterway channel was dumped on the natural islands.
Covering up the native mangroves and other vegetation allowed "the exotics to take control and out compete the natives," Mathis said.
For decades, they choked out the natural landscape and wildlife.
As part of the refuge's 15-year conservation plan, federal wildlife agents determined the islands needed to be restored to benefit water birds and fisheries.
And refuge managers wanted to keep the exotics on the islands from creeping into other parts of the refuge.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used $80,000 to begin the project.
Some of that money went to contractor, Riviera beach-based Aquatic Vegetation Control.
A crew of company men leave a little island on the Wabasso Causeway by boat four days a week for brutal 10-hour shifts.
They wade ashore through a foot of muck and disappear into the tangled thicket of mangroves.
The only clearing in sight is what the men have cut down.
"We cut it with chain saw, the peppers and the Austrian pine," said crew supervisor Jose Rivera, 40. "We drop it down, we put it in pieces and we stock it."
Once the exotics are all cut and piled high, federal fire crews will burn them down in a tightly controlled fire.
That work is scheduled to be finished by Sept. 21.
But wildlife officials still have to figure out how to replant the area and where to come up with the $200,000 it might cost to do that.
Pine needles are highly acidic and can regenerate quickly. So crews might have to bring in dirt or use chemicals to treat the area.
Mathis said the idea is then to plant more mangroves, palm trees and plants that would naturally be on the island.
"What we wanted to do here inside the refuge was remove these exotics, try to correct the damage that was done to them," he said, "and assist them in their natural process of restoring themselves back to a completely natural island with the unique characteristics and habitat and animal species that are associated with these natural islands."Australian pines and Brazilian peppers stifle natural Florida plants — on which wildlife depend for food and habitat — by taking sunlight and other nutrients.
Brazilian Pepper:
?Introduced in Florida in the 1890s as decorative landscaping
?Female trees have yellow to white flowers in the spring, and small red berries in the fall.
?The trees are also synonymous with poison ivy, oak and
sumac.
?Notorious for re-growing even after being cut down
Australian Pine:
?Australian pines were brought to the area to provide windbreaks for citrus groves and farms.
?Can flourish in a salt water
environment
?Can invade beach dunes
?May interfere with sea turtle nesting
By Gabriel Margasak (Contact)
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Rhythmic whacks of a machete against Australian pine trees and Brazilian pepper plants echoed through the tangled thickets of Preacher's Island.
Workers here must sometimes toil by hand when their chain saws break on the notoriously hard trees. Heavy machinery is not allowed because it would destroy the very vegetation the crews are trying to save by killing the non-native plants.
But experts say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project that began on Aug. 6 is worth it to restore the habitat for blue heron and wading birds, fish, turtles and wildlife in the historic Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. President Theodore Roosevelt named Pelican Island as the country's first national wildlife refuge on March 14, 1903.
"All you have to do is take a ride down the Indian River and you see all the houses and sea walls going up," Charles Mathis, the assistant refuge manager said while surveying the project. "The more we can save and restore back to its original state — it's not going to offset what we're losing — but at least we can keep what we have."
The problems here began back in the early 1950s, when dredge spoil from construction of the Intracoastal Waterway channel was dumped on the natural islands.
Covering up the native mangroves and other vegetation allowed "the exotics to take control and out compete the natives," Mathis said.
For decades, they choked out the natural landscape and wildlife.
As part of the refuge's 15-year conservation plan, federal wildlife agents determined the islands needed to be restored to benefit water birds and fisheries.
And refuge managers wanted to keep the exotics on the islands from creeping into other parts of the refuge.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used $80,000 to begin the project.
Some of that money went to contractor, Riviera beach-based Aquatic Vegetation Control.
A crew of company men leave a little island on the Wabasso Causeway by boat four days a week for brutal 10-hour shifts.
They wade ashore through a foot of muck and disappear into the tangled thicket of mangroves.
The only clearing in sight is what the men have cut down.
"We cut it with chain saw, the peppers and the Austrian pine," said crew supervisor Jose Rivera, 40. "We drop it down, we put it in pieces and we stock it."
Once the exotics are all cut and piled high, federal fire crews will burn them down in a tightly controlled fire.
That work is scheduled to be finished by Sept. 21.
But wildlife officials still have to figure out how to replant the area and where to come up with the $200,000 it might cost to do that.
Pine needles are highly acidic and can regenerate quickly. So crews might have to bring in dirt or use chemicals to treat the area.
Mathis said the idea is then to plant more mangroves, palm trees and plants that would naturally be on the island.
"What we wanted to do here inside the refuge was remove these exotics, try to correct the damage that was done to them," he said, "and assist them in their natural process of restoring themselves back to a completely natural island with the unique characteristics and habitat and animal species that are associated with these natural islands."Australian pines and Brazilian peppers stifle natural Florida plants — on which wildlife depend for food and habitat — by taking sunlight and other nutrients.
Brazilian Pepper:
?Introduced in Florida in the 1890s as decorative landscaping
?Female trees have yellow to white flowers in the spring, and small red berries in the fall.
?The trees are also synonymous with poison ivy, oak and
sumac.
?Notorious for re-growing even after being cut down
Australian Pine:
?Australian pines were brought to the area to provide windbreaks for citrus groves and farms.
?Can flourish in a salt water
environment
?Can invade beach dunes
?May interfere with sea turtle nesting
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