Key Takeaways
- • Benchmark General Contractors awarded management of a $22 million redevelopment project comprising three Gulf-front condominium buildings with 18 total units on Sanibel Island's West Gulf Drive, marking one of the first major ground-up condominium projects on the island in approximately 25 years.
- • The By the Sea Condominium project represents post-Hurricane Ian recovery infrastructure, with the original buildings constructed in 1983 sustaining severe damage (roofs torn off two of three structures) when the storm made landfall on September 28, 2022; the association secured approximately $8 million in insurance proceeds.
- • Project specifications include three buildings with six units each, each structure totaling 19,477 square feet and rising to 45 feet in height with three stories of living space elevated approximately 14 feet above ground level; ground floors designated for parking and storage; completion expected by March 2028.
- • Benchmark General Contractors is contractually obligated to complete exterior and interior construction through drywall, with the contractor also finishing interiors on 12 of the 18 units; individual unit owners will complete remaining interior finishes separately.
- • All 18 units have secured ownership despite post-storm turnover, with the project emphasizing elevated construction standards, coastal resilience design, and sustainable building practices; the existing swimming pool will be preserved from the original development.
Summary
Benchmark General Contractors has been awarded general contractor duties for the By the Sea Condominium redevelopment, a three-building, 18-unit Gulf-front luxury residential project located on West Gulf Drive in Sanibel Island. The $22 million undertaking represents a significant post-Hurricane Ian recovery initiative and marks among the first major condominium construction efforts on Sanibel in approximately 25 years—the last comparable project, Sedgemoor, was completed in 2002 with 12 units.
The original By the Sea development, constructed in 1983, sustained catastrophic damage when Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28, 2022, with sustained hurricane-force winds lasting approximately eight hours tearing roofs from two of the three buildings. The condominium association received approximately $8 million in insurance proceeds following the disaster. Despite post-storm ownership transitions, all 18 units have subsequently been assigned to owners committed to the rebuild.
The redevelopment comprises three structures, each containing six units and measuring 19,477 square feet with a height of 45 feet. Buildings feature three stories of living space elevated approximately 14 feet above ground level, with ground floors reserved for parking and storage—a design specification emphasizing coastal resilience and elevated construction standards. Benchmark General Contractors is contractually responsible for completing exterior and interior construction through drywall installation, and will also complete interior finishes on 12 of the 18 units; remaining unit owners will complete individual interior finishes separately. The project is expected to reach completion by March 2028. Bob Moyle, president of the By the Sea condominium association, emphasized the sustainability features and generational quality of the rebuilt property, noting the owners' commitment through a lengthy reconstruction timeline that began with initial meetings in early October 2022.
The original By the Sea development, constructed in 1983, sustained catastrophic damage when Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28, 2022, with sustained hurricane-force winds lasting approximately eight hours tearing roofs from two of the three buildings. The condominium association received approximately $8 million in insurance proceeds following the disaster. Despite post-storm ownership transitions, all 18 units have subsequently been assigned to owners committed to the rebuild.
The redevelopment comprises three structures, each containing six units and measuring 19,477 square feet with a height of 45 feet. Buildings feature three stories of living space elevated approximately 14 feet above ground level, with ground floors reserved for parking and storage—a design specification emphasizing coastal resilience and elevated construction standards. Benchmark General Contractors is contractually responsible for completing exterior and interior construction through drywall installation, and will also complete interior finishes on 12 of the 18 units; remaining unit owners will complete individual interior finishes separately. The project is expected to reach completion by March 2028. Bob Moyle, president of the By the Sea condominium association, emphasized the sustainability features and generational quality of the rebuilt property, noting the owners' commitment through a lengthy reconstruction timeline that began with initial meetings in early October 2022.
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