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In case you can’t find the number you might also try checking it on WhoCalled.US read more ...

Randal Davis, you should be ashamed of yourself! This is a BRAND NEW building, and it couldn't even handle a little hurricane like Dolly without major damage. What's going to happen to this building when a REAL hurricane hits the island? What other corners did you cut in the building design? Buyer beware!!!!
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Greetings from Sapphire South Padre, where it is progressively getting better. The new bus duct providing electricity to the building has been ordered from General Electric. We should have full power by December. Elevator repairs are in progress and the elevators should also be operable by December. The restoration company that was hired to remove damaged materials is in the final stages of their efforts. GT Leach is now providing additional construction services to ready your residence for occupancy.

Several residents have inquired about viewing their Sapphire home. You may do so on a floor by floor basis as the condominiums are restored to their original condition. GT Leach is moving from the bottom up; bottom floors will be ready for viewing shortly.

South Padre Island is mostly returning to normal as it relates to hotels and restaurants. We understand the Radisson is opening in October and several notable restaurants on the island have already reopened. The Sheraton next door to the Sapphire is scheduled to reopen in March.

New furnishings have been ordered by our Houston designer, John Robinson, to replace damaged furniture, wall coverings, etc. in the main lobby. This effort also includes repairs or replacement to furnishings in the Wine Room, Teen Room, Fitness Centre, Theatre, and Spa. In a short period of time these common areas will be ready for viewing. Additionally GT Leach has been assigned the task of preparing two new models within the building for viewing. These units will be on the 8th floor and should be ready by year end.

We understand that you are anxious to begin enjoying your residence at Sapphire, and to that end, we are working very hard on a revised schedule of closings. GT Leach currently estimates the earliest closings to be from mid-December to mid-January; however, we will not have definitive information until GT Leach has dissected all of the issues affecting the schedule. If you have any questions in the interim, please contact, as always, Charlene. A further update will be provided in October.

Randall Davis
Sapphire V.P., L.P.
General Partner
 read more ...

Doesn't have anything to do with real estate, but thanks for the important info! The last thing I want to do is pay cell phone minutes for somebody who wants to interrupt me and sell me something. I'm amazed the government is releasing cell phone numbers to anybody with deep enough pockets to pay for them. That should be a crime. read more ...

More pictures please read more ...

It's interesting that some of the agents on this island try to steer buyers into these "newer products", when some of the newer products are actually a lot less hurricane resistant than some (but not all) of the older products. Ocean Towers and Sapphire have both been disasters. Who would have thought that a brand new complex first class complex like Sapphire would literally "short out" after just a basic 100 mph hurricane? I'm not a lawyer, but to me that seems like the building is not suitable for the purpose intended, and the buyers should get their money back. Too much focus on high visibility amenities, and not enough focus on building integrity. Well, whatever sells, right? In a few years most buyers will have completely forgotten about Dolly.

Seriously, how can any potential condo buyer be certain that their purchase will be relatively hurricane resistant, and that the foundation isn't going to cave in after they move in? That original marketing literature for Ocean Towers bragged about the integrity of the foundation, and that' turned out to be the worst part of the whole building. I also seriously doubt if the typical buyer's prepurchase inspection is going to include a foundation or electrical distribution inspection.

I also noticed that a few other beachfront condos lost their roofs, causing serious water damage inside for many owners on floors far below the roof. You would naturally think that a concrete building would be hurricane proof, but in reality it is only as good as the roof and windows. (How many windows did the Radisson lose? Four major hotels were seriously damaged by Dolly? Where are our building standards?)

Buyers might want to consider waiting for new condos to be completed instead of buying at pre-construction bargain prices. That way you don't have to worry about construction problems or delays. There are just too many recent examples of sub-standard construction and delays.

Another thing to consider is our beach erosion, which nobody seems to be addressing adequately. At the rate we're going, 20 years down the road these beachfront condos could be waterfront condos. Perhaps we should require new beachfront builders to also build artificial reefs to protect the shoreline.

Bottom Line: If we continue to let new developers short change our island there won't be a good island for our grandchildren to enjoy. read more ...

It's interesting that some of the agents on this island try to steer buyers into these "newer products", when some of the newer products are actually a lot less hurricane resistant than some (but not all) of the older products. Ocean Towers and Sapphire have both been disasters. Who would have thought that a brand new complex first class complex like Sapphire would literally "short out" after just a basic 100 mph hurricane? I'm not a lawyer, but to me that seems like the building is not suitable for the purpose intended, and the buyers should get their money back. Too much focus on high visibility amenities, and not enough focus on building integrity. Well, whatever sells, right? In a few years most buyers will have completely forgotten about Dolly.

Seriously, how can any potential condo buyer be certain that their purchase will be relatively hurricane resistant, and that the foundation isn't going to cave in after they move in? That original marketing literature for Ocean Towers bragged about the integrity of the foundation, and that' turned out to be the worst part of the whole building. I also seriously doubt if the typical buyer's prepurchase inspection is going to include a foundation or electrical distribution inspection.

I also noticed that a few other beachfront condos lost their roofs, causing serious water damage inside for many owners on floors far below the roof. You would naturally think that a concrete building would be hurricane proof, but in reality it is only as good as the roof and windows. (How many windows did the Radisson lose? Four major hotels were seriously damaged by Dolly? Where are our building standards?)

Buyers might want to consider waiting for new condos to be completed instead of buying at pre-construction bargain prices. That way you don't have to worry about construction problems or delays. There are just too many recent examples of sub-standard construction and delays.

Another thing to consider is our beach erosion, which nobody seems to be addressing adequately. At the rate we're going, 20 years down the road these beachfront condos could be waterfront condos. Perhaps we should require new beachfront builders to also build artificial reefs to protect the shoreline.

Bottom Line: If we continue to let new developers short change our island there won't be a good island for our grandchildren to enjoy. read more ...

THE CAMERON COUNTY DISTRICT COURT LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SAPPHIRE WILL BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE COUNTS FOR FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE BUILDING BY THE CONTRACTUAL CLOSING DATE OF OCTOBER 15,2008. A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER HAS GIVEN A WRITTEN OPINION...THAT AT THE VERY LATEST THE WHOLE PROJECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY MAY 23,2008...SOME 2 MONTHS BEFORE "DOLLY" read more ...

Ike damage calls into question development along Texas beaches

The devastating hit that Hurricane Ike delivered to the upper Texas coast has many experts questioning the breakneck pace of development along the beaches.
With the Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston Island and Surfside Beach all hit hard by the surge from the Category 2 storm, scientists are again saying that Texas needs to rethink the way it builds along the coast.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who oversees the Texas General Land Office, which is responsible for enforcing the Texas Open Beaches Act, said that during two flyovers of the coastline, he saw "hundreds" of homes sitting on the beach or in the water.

It is a sign, Patterson said, that in many places homes need to be built farther from beaches to protect dunes and allow room for beaches that are eroding. He proposed setback rules this year but was met with opposition.

"This is kind of an opportunity to take a big-picture look about where we go forward," he said. "This event says it’s time to take inventory, time to assess. It’s a good time to look at whether the rules we proposed earlier this year were stringent enough."

Patterson said he will propose setbacks again in hopes of gaining more public support.

"I think it’s less difficult today than it was a week ago to get support," he said. "I think we need to have more public hearings and to revisit the issue."

Galveston city officials opposed the earlier proposal, and Galveston County commissioners went further, saying the idea should be abandoned. Some coastal residents called the proposal a "land grab" by the state.

But Ike has changed the dynamics.

"A lot of the issues are gone, and we hope to find common ground where we can work together to do things better and smarter than what we inherited before," said Galveston County Judge James Yarbrough.

The Bolivar Peninsula, just a ferry ride away from Galveston Island, was hardest hit by Ike. Almost everything in the community of Gilchrist was destroyed, and Texas 87, the main road through the peninsula, may have to be moved in some places because it is now too close to the beach.

"Gilchrist, God love ’em, has nothing left," Yarbrough said. "There’s only eight out of 350 buildings left. There’s no debris, nothing.

"It’s just gone."

Crystal Beach lost about half its homes, but there is still rubble for homeowners to sift through.

With residents clamoring to get back in, Yarbrough said, coastal development issues will have to wait.

"At the right time, we’ll discuss these issues, but our mode right now is not worried about beach access and dune protection," he said. "Our primary focus is to allow folks to get back in and pick through the debris and bring some sort of closure."

Legal dispute

To give beaches time to recover, Patterson said, he will wait at least a year to take actions against homes now at the water’s edge. Sand that washes offshore during hurricanes often returns to the beach during the next year.

Under state law, any home on a beach is considered to be on state property and must be removed or demolished.

Since before Ike, Patterson has been involved in a legal dispute over 14 houses standing on public beaches in Surfside Beach. He was sued by the homeowners after offering them $50,000 apiece of state money to move their houses from areas that obstructed public access to the beaches.

Patterson said that the storm washed away 10 of those houses and that he now expects a quick resolution on the other four.

The sentiments to rethink coastal development were applauded by two Texas researchers who created a geo-hazards map showing that the upper Texas coast was sinking faster than anywhere else in the United States.

James Gibeaut, a coastal geologist with the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies in Corpus Christi, said aerial surveys show many houses that need to be moved.

"There were just too many to count," he said.

John Anderson, a Rice University oceanographer and author of The Formation and Future of the Upper Texas Coast, said the city of Galveston needs to rethink its support for rapid growth on the west end. He also said he isn’t sure whether all sections of the Bolivar Peninsula can be rebuilt.

South Padre Island, hit by Hurricane Dolly this summer, is as vulnerable as Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula to a strong hurricane, he said.

Mustang Island

One area of the developed Texas coast in better shape is Mustang Island near Port Aransas, where setbacks keep homes away from the beach.

Under the rules proposed by Patterson, new buildings would have to be set back 60 times the erosion rate, as measured from the beach’s line of vegetation. If the shoreline is eroding 5 feet a year, then construction wouldn’t be allowed within 300 feet.

The Legislature ordered the new rules last year in hopes of reducing storm damage. But Patterson insists that it doesn’t make sense to enact them until it can be determined whether beaches will recover from Ike.

Patterson and Gibeaut say Mustang Island development is a good example of how coastal land should be developed.

"But it’s a wider island," Patterson said. "There’s more room there. The road is set back farther from the beach. You just don’t have the same kind of room in other places."

The cost of storm damage should also be considered, Anderson said.

"Is it right for the city of Galveston to ask taxpayers of Texas and perhaps ultimately the federal government to pay for this unbridled development?" he said.

$4 billion in claims?

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the insurer of last resort along the Texas coast, estimates that it may see $4 billion in claims from Ike. That would wipe out its $2.1 billion pool to cover losses, said Sandra Helin, a spokeswoman for the Southwestern Insurance Information Service, which oversees the fund. Up to 20 percent of any overruns could be collected annually from the state’s general revenue fund, she said.

Ike is the kind of storm that the association "has been warning the state about for 10 years," Helin said.

Every year, the agency asks for an increase and gets a fraction of what is sought, she said.

As insurance companies have pulled out of the Texas coast, the number of policies covered by the windstorm pool has soared. As of Aug. 31, the fund had 224,468 policyholders in 15 counties, an increase of 150,653 policies since 2001.

The $4 billion figure is merely an estimate, and insurance officials won’t really know the impact until adjusters and residents are allowed back into damaged areas.

"This will be a lengthy process," Helin said. "It could very easily be that these claims will be coming in for up to a year."


This is kind of an opportunity to take a big-picture look about where we go forward.  . . .  I think it’s less difficult today than it was a week ago to get support. I think we need to have more public hearings and to revisit the issue."

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson
on proposed beach setback rules  read more ...

Subsea 7 Inc , one of the world's leading subsea engineering and construction companies,

has won the first contract for its new fabrication and spoolbase facility at Port Isabel, Texas.

The subsea pipelay fabrication and installation contract has been awarded by Marathon Oil Corporation and is valued at over US$ 45 million.

The supply agreement is part of Marathon's previously disclosed procurement activities related to long lead time items associated with the Company's Droshky discovery in the Gulf of Mexico. Marathon anticipates sanctioning the Droshky development in the fourth quarter of this year.

The contract has been awarded for the fabrication and installation of two 8" flowlines totalling 58 km at the Droshky field development which is located approximately 180 km south of Houma, Louisiana, USA in water depths ranging from 1,350 ft to 3,000 ft in Green Canyon block 244. Marathon holds a 100 percent working interest in the Droshky development.

Subsea 7's full scope of work on the project includes project management, engineering, fabrication and installation services associated with the subsea infrastructure, including the flowlines, pipeline end terminations (PLETs) and risers. The pipeline will be fabricated at the company's new fabrication and spoolbase facility at Port Isabel, Texas, development of which was announced in May 2008. Engineering work will be carried out from Subsea 7's office in Houston. The offshore phase of the campaign will be carried out in the third quarter of 2009 and will be delivered by Subsea 7's flagship rigid reeled pipelay vessel, the Seven Oceans.  read more ...

I would like to repeat that written comments regarding the proposed rule may still be submitted and may be sent by email or U.S. mail to Mr. Walter Talley, Texas Register Liaison, Texas General Land Office, P.O. Box 12873, Austin, TX 78711, facsimile number (512) 463-6311, or emailed to walter.talley@glo.state.tx.us no later than September 15, 2008. Doyle Wells says we have until Sept. 17th. So, please voice your opinion. There are many people that own land on the north end of South Padre Island that will not be able to build if this rule is passed. If the GLO is concerned about erosion, why not implement replenishment or the building of dunes instead of just changing setbacks?

 read more ...

It's great to hear repairs are being made, and the island will be better than ever for next year's tourist season. It's hard to believe that a crummy little 100 mph hurricane could do so much damage so quickly. I suppose it is just nature's way of telling investors to insist on quality construction!

Alice, you were working out of the Raddison, one of buildings that was seriously damaged, right? Have you relocated to other quarters?

At the moment it looks like Ike is headed toward somewhere between Houston and Corpus. Not a very good year to be in the Texas Gulf Coast real estate business. But next year will be better, so just hang in there. Wishing you all the best - Sam read more ...

Texas General Land Office presents new rules, gets an earful from citizens and developers
By CARL PHILLIPS
Island Breeze



Representatives from the Texas General Land office held a public hearing in South Padre Island City Hall on Thursday, September 4, to explain proposed new building setback rules for Texas beaches.

The presentation was moderated by Jodena N. Henneke, Deputy Commissioner of Coastal Resources. Eddie R. Fisher, Director of Coastal Reserves, explained the new proposals.
They got an earful from worried landowners, some of whom were irate and indignant, accusing the GLO of taking their property without compensating them for it. Court action was threatened by at least one.

The proposed rules, published May 16 in the Texas Register, specify more than one way to determine the building setback line. Instead of relying simply on a “vegetation line”—which in some areas of Texas coast does not exist—the GLO is proposing other ways to determine exactly where the setback line will be.

Texas House Bill 2819, Amendments to Open Beaches Act and Dune Protection Act, became effective a little over a year ago on September 1, 2007, and is the basis of the new rules and revisions.

The changes include definitions of small-scale construction, large-scale construction and dune restoration; rules for establishing the line of vegetation if no clearly defined line exists; dune protection lines established further inland to allow protection of critical dune areas; beach user fees; and erosion response plans.

The purpose of the erosion response plans is fourfold: to reduce expenditures for erosion and storm damage losses to both public and private properties; to protect critical dunes and vegetation that provide protection during storms; to preserve and enhance public access and use of beach; and to reduce the loss of dune habitats and biodiversity.

This reduces disaster response costs, prevents loss of human lives, reduces the need to install seawalls and hard erosion control structures, and cuts down on structures that encroach onto the public beach and interfere with natural sediment cycles.

The erosion response plans of local governments are voluntary, but they should be prepared with input from the GLO, must be consistent with dune protection and beach access plans, and must be updated every five years.

An erosion control plan should establish the setback line; prohibit certain kinds of construction, allowing for exemptions, and other requirements; protect the beach from erosion and storm damage while enhancing public access; enhance, preserve, and restore critical dunes; and establish potential funding sources for acquiring fee title—or at least an interest—in property that is seaward of the setback line.

The setback line must allow for shoreline retreat. The best approach is to utilize the historic erosion rates determined by the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology. If a foredune line exists—foredune being the line of dunes nearest the water—then the building setback line should be the greater of the following: (1) 60 times that annual erosion rate measured from the line of vegetation, or (2) 25 feet back from the landward toe of the foredune ridge.

In areas where there is no foredune ridge, then the line should be 300 feet back from the mean high water line of the Gulf of Mexico.

The setback line is limited to the local dune protection line.

Amenities, such as a pool or a cabana, are allowed seaward of the setback line, so long as there is minimal use of impervious surfaces.

Some acceptable exemptions to the rule include accreting beaches of more than two feet per year according to the Bureau of Economic Geology; situations where no practical alternative exists; where previous setbacks have been certified by the GLO; where modifications to existing structures do not increase the footprint; and property subject to an expired permit in previously platted subdivisions or expired master plans.

An example of no existing practical alternative would be the case of an undeveloped lot with the setback line too near its back to allow construction. However, a neighboring deeper lot with room to build entirely behind the setback line would not be allowed to build any part of his structure seaward of the line.

Doyle Wells wanted to know who instigated the legislation, and when Henneke named the legislators who co-authored the bill, Wells explained he wanted to know who brought the need for change to the attention of the legislators. Henneke admitted it was Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

Wells then asked if a foredune were created in the future, where none had existed before, if that could then be used to determine the setback line. The answer was yes, with GLO approval and in accordance with local government plans. “Building dunes is encouraged,” Fisher said.

“Why weren’t local governments allowed to participate in drawing up these rules?” Wells asked. Henneke said they visited both county and city officials. Wells, who serves on the Cameron County Dunes Task Force, said he remembered, but added that local officials were not asked what they thought about the proposals. “We didn’t have them written down (when we visited),” Henneke said.

Wells said it appeared that the new rules were created to allow the GLO to take over the duties of local governments. GLO has such a high turnover of people, he charged, that in effect they were a revolving board interfering with local government efforts to preserve the beaches. He said every time new people go to work for the GLO we get proposed rules changes.

Charles Brommer, who also serves on the county’s dune committee, asked why not establish one setback line, 200 feet from the mean high tide line. “Any reason for the different benchmarks?” he asked. He said he would like to see one line, period.



Herb Houston wanted to know about the issue of the government taking land from private citizens. “Is the GLO ready to step up to the table and help the county defend itself (from lawsuits initiated by affected landowners)?” he asked. “Are you ready to reimburse the landowners?”

Henneke ruled that no one present was qualified to respond to that. Houston told them there is a place where individual property rights have to be respected. “I believe you have people not satisfied with any amount of public beach they take,” he said. “Is the GLO ready to indemnify Cameron County and the other taxing authorities for the loss of millions of dollars per year in revenues the devaluation of this land will cost? How about the property owners themselves?”

Stuart Diamond, president of the local chapter of Surfrider Foundation, commented that local government should adopt more stringent rules about building on the beach, and the GLO should exert a minimum of influence. Surfriders is an organization dedicated to preserving beaches around the world.

Clayton Brashear, introducing himself, told the GLO representatives, “I disagree with everything he (Diamond) just said. Everything.”

“You said these rules are law,” he said. “But I have a copy of the law as passed, and I don’t see any reference to setbacks in it.” He added that building setback lines have always been determined by local governments. He said the statute does define “setback” and gives local governments the authority to make rules. “So the legislature gives us the authority to make the rules,” he said. “Does (South Padre Island) have beach and dune protection now? Yes, we do.”

The State of Texas built a bridge to the Island in the early fifties, he said. The state allowed people to buy property here, to pay taxes on it all these years, and now you’re saying, “Oh, gee, we made a mistake.”

“Values will diminish if you change this setback line,” he charged. “You’re damaging every local taxing entity. You’re taking away people’s right to enjoy the beach. It’s bad to even think about changing the setback line.”

Martha Paez, a native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, moved to the Island several years ago and built her home here, as well a luxurious condo complex on the bay side. “I am in 100% agreement with Mr. Brashear,” she said.

We need to ask for some of the taxes we have paid to be used to renourish our beaches, she explained. “No beach, no town, no nothing. You people come here for a few days, and change the law for us when you don’t even live in our town.”

Most people want to work with the GLO to keep from losing their land, she said. “It is very precious to us. If you’re going to take the land, who’s going to pay the taxes?”

She urged them to find some solution other than taking land away from its owners. “When I was growing up,” she said, “a farmer could lose a whole year’s crop if he didn’t get enough rain. But not my parents. My father provided ahead of time every year to have irrigation water in case the rains didn’t come. And, like irrigating crops, we need to keep our beach renourished (where it is eroding).”

Her comments drew applause from a largely sympathetic crowd.

John Thobe told the GLO he would be submitting written comments. “If government action reduces the value of land by 25%,” he said, “if a person loses the effective use of his lots, that’s a taking. It’s an immediate loss of revenue to the county and other taxing entities. I’m going to provide you a takings impact analysis (so you can see the amount of liability you are assuming).”

Richard Bennett, a rancher who invested in South Padre land when he was younger, hoping it would provide for his retirement, commented, “We’ll go fix the dunes and vegetation. We can do that. But we’re not going to allow you to give our land to the public. We’re not going to just stand by while you take it away from us.”

James Oldham, an engineer, talked about natural sedimentation. “You throw those words around in an effort to comfort less knowledgeable people,” he said. “But I know about sedimentation, and I can tell you if you want natural sedimentation you’re going to have to go all the way to the Continental Divide and tear down every manmade structure between there and here to get natural sedimentation.” He said it was that natural sedimentation that built the Island over thousands and thousands of years.

“Why doesn’t the GLO just go back to Austin and leave us alone to run our own county?” he demanded.

South Padre Island Dewey Cashwell was the last to comment. “People who live and work here have invested their lives and they care very much about what happens to this beach and shoreline,” he said. “Oh, sometimes we may fight and scrap, but we also hold hands and pull together when it comes to improving this place.”

He encouraged the GLO to extend its time line to implement these new rules. “You care, we care, so let’s work together,” he said. “I urge you to keep the dialogue open a little longer.”
He, too, drew applause.

Meantime, the GLO’s public comment period ends a week from next Monday, September 15. To comment on the proposed rules, people can send written comments to Mr. Walter Talley, Texas Register Liaison, Texas General Land Office, P.O.Box 12873, Austin TX 78711. Comments can also be made by FAX to (512) 463-6311, or by e-mail to
walter.talley@glo.state.tx.us  read more ...

MT,

You are right. Pirates Cove has much potential. One problem is that no one wants to be the first to build. Mr. Johnson will need to take the lead in that capacity to instill buyer confidence and add stability to the project.

A more dense population plan with high density condos and possibly higher end apartments (that could be sold as condos later) could be built. Short term rental units need to be considered too. The apartments would generate some cash flow for the development and more finished products for sale would be better for the bottom line than just selling lots. Higher profits for the developer while offering more affordable value to buyers.

The approach of New Urbanism, for remodeling the site plan and CCR’s, would be a good concept to study and try to adapt here. The way the streets are currently laid out lends itself to more dense multi-family housing in the front of the development and transitioning to single family further in. The water front on the larger public channel should be a balanced mix of commercial and residential.

I agree with you that a market study would help to identify the key changes that should be made, but the developer would actually need to implement the new ideas or else what’s the point of a study. The city will let them do pretty much whatever they want as long as it is in good taste and does not affect the public welfare.

We do know that whatever they are doing now does not seem to be working. I hope they get it sorted out and it is a success.
 read more ...

To the person who commented above,

The place has a lot of potential if the area around it were to be cleaned up. There are failed developments in many places across the U.S. right now. Mostly those that either ran out of finances OR built the wrong thing in the wrong place.

Question - have you purchased a lot in this development? Would you recommend one of your family members to do so?

The answer to the sales problems at this development are as simple as putting in product(s) that today's buyers in that area want.

Perhaps it is high-density condos? Not sure, but step one is to do a market study and find out. read more ...

I don’t think this place is at all a “joke”! The developer, Mike Johnson, has invested some “serious” money into, the purchase, planning, permitting, and building of Pirates Cove. The area needs more people like him and more new waterfront development. Mike lives here, supports our local economy, and has invested heavily in the success of the city’s future. Not true of all of the developers/builders in this area.

I believe that the “ghetto” next door, that some here refer to and where they say they keep their boat (would you call that a ghetto boat?) might be for sale too. This is a prime site for improvement and community re-development. Said boat owners might want to start scoping out another place to park their boat. The new development/marina that could be built on that site might not allow ghetto boats! Pirates Cove might rent you a slip?

Community improvement and re-development has to start with big ideas from even bigger visionaries. I think we should support our community business leaders who put their money where their mouth is and invest in the future of Port Isabel. Mr. Johnson should be given a community appreciation award for taking a chance and improving the City of Port Isabel. I am certain that the city and school district both appreciate the tax money, from the development, that he personally contributes to their coffers. The current slump in the real estate market will turn around, as it always does, and area development and community re-development will come with it. I look forward to the future and commend Mike Johnson for his vision and his faith in our community.
 read more ...

Randall,

You mean to tell us that SPI's newest, most expensive high rise condo can't easily handle a Cat 2 hurricane without major damage? You got to be kidding me. It sounds like you cut too many corners on the design. (Though obviously not as bad as the leaning Ocean Towers!) What kind of damage can owners expect when a Cat 3 hits the island? No building is completely hurricane proof, I realize that. However you need to be more up front with buyers regarding Sapphire's relative hurricane resistance, which doesn't seem to be very robust after its first significant storm test. read more ...

They should plan a Ferry while the bridge is under design and construction, a process that typically takes 15-18 years. read more ...

A FEMA center opens on Saturday morning on South Padre Island at the Suites Motel

The center will be open for at least 3 weeks, Monday thru Saturday from 10 am until 6 pm and on Sundays from 1 to 7 pm.

The disaster recovery center manager says anyone is welcome. The center is open to all who were affected by hurricane Dolly.

The other center opening is in La Feria and that center will be open from 10 am until 7 pm Monday through Wednesday of next week. read more ...

Never fear, SPI is coming back fast! Below is a link to dozens of post-Dolly photos taken around the island. A lot of windows blew out and roofs were damaged, especially on older buildings. BUT, the beach is still there, and there are plenty of places that sustained only minor damaged. You will also note that the vast majority of trees sustained less damage than many of the buildings! This was a bad storm, but far from a complete disaster. Property owners will learn from the experience, and rebuild to be more hurricane resistant. The end result is that the island will be better and stronger than ever.

http://picasaweb.google.com/spilinks/DollyDamagePhotos

 read more ...

This is an update regarding the impact of Hurricane Dolly on the Sapphire.

The building suffered storm damage.

Preliminary findings indicate significant damage from the water to the two major electrical delivery systems (or buses) for the two towers at Sapphire. These buses were custom built by General Electric and, should they need to be completely replaced, we expect a production and installation duration of approximately 60-75 days. The building is currently being powered by several large generators which provide adequate power to allow the clean up to continue.

Repair and clean up of the storm damage is progressing. We have employed one of the largest and most experienced restoration firms in the country to lead this effort. Crews are working to ensure that any damaged materials and/or finishes within Sapphire are removed as quickly as possible. We have also commissioned testing of all electrical and mechanical systems within Sapphire to ensure they will perform as designed.

We understand that you are anxious to know of your revised closing date and we are working hard every day to formulate this schedule. There are a few unknown variables at this time. Currently, our main focus remains on adjusters identifying all storm damage. It is not until all damage is identified and addressed that we will know the full duration of the repair.

Until permanent power is restored, all systems checked and approved, and the final assessments are made, we will be unable to escort owners through the building.

Due to the hurricane, best estimates for the initial closings currently are for the end of 2008/beginning of 2009. Please keep in mind we have every hope that this estimate can be improved upon.

While there is certainly never an ideal time for a storm to hit, the timing at Sapphire was particularly unfortunate due to its impact on closings.

Days before the storm hit, the Town had orally acknowledged completion of Floors 1-10 and had previously done so for all public areas.

The Certificate of Occupancy was expected to be issued on the Monday before the storm hit on Wednesday.

Despite the setback from the storm, we want to assure you that Sapphire will be restored to its original unparalleled quality level.

We appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this unfortunate event.

Randall Davis
General Partner
Sapphire V.P., L.P. read more ...

The Ocean Tower project was a design-build contract between Zachry and the developer. What a design-build contract means is that Zachry was responsible for the overall design of the building - Zachry contracted out the design team. With that being said, it is pretty clear cut that Zachry is responsible for any deficencies in the design or construction of the tower. The developer has every right to file a lawsuit to try and recuop some of his losses that he is going to incur. Bottom line is that you cannot re-engineer the tower to correct the problem...the tower needs to be demolished.  read more ...

Small Business Administration Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can make federally subsidized loans to repair or replace homes, personal property or businesses that sustained damages not covered by insurance. The Small Business Administration can provide three types of disaster loans to qualified homeowners and businesses:

* home disaster loans to homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster-related damages to home or personal property,

* business physical disaster loans to business owners to repair or replace disaster-damaged property, including inventory, and supplies; and

* economic injury disaster loans, which provide capital to small businesses and to small agricultural cooperatives to assist them through the disaster recovery period.

For many individuals the SBA disaster loan program is the primary form of disaster assistance. Learn how to apply for SBA disaster loan assistance at:
http://www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance/index.html read more ...

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) relocated three of its Consumer Assistance teams to newly opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to Hurricane Dolly.

TDI field staff are available at the following locations to provide in-person assistance to consumers. Hours are Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cameron County DRC
Harlingen Municipal Auditorium
1204 Fair Park, Harlingen

Willacy County DRC
American Legion
211 W. Hidalgo, Raymondville

Hidalgo County DRC
La Villa Middle School
Multipurpose Room
500 E. 9th Street, McAllen

Pharr TDI Assistance
Home Depot
409 N. Jackson, Pharr

Consumers can also get help by calling TDI’s Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439. The Consumer Help Line is available: weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Spanish speakers are available.

Consumers who suffered a loss from the hurricane winds, tornadoes or flooding should contact their insurance companies or agents as soon as possible to begin filing a claim.

Consumers in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties who have uninsured losses due to Hurricane Dolly should register with FEMA by calling:

1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
or online at
http://www.fema.gov/assistance/register.shtm read more ...

Sounds to me like Domit is just another wheeler-dealer who got caught with his pants down. I would never buy anything that he is associated with. Ultimately it was his responsibility to get it right. He can lay blame wherever he wants, but the buyers bought from him, not Zachry or the engineering firms.

I hope they tear it down because the resale value of this poorly engineered building will sink ten times as fast as the building itself and the buyers will be stuck with a financial nightmare. read more ...

Finest quality tower? Better avoid the bottom floors unless you fancy subterranean living. read more ...

to mikead, just go ahead and be a smart a** just remember that when you need us. NO BODY EVER APPRECIATES THE COAST GUARD TIL THEY NEED THEM! REMEMBER THAT. read more ...

Schlitterbahn reopens tomorrow, the high rises are still standing, and the beach looks wonderful! Dolly is long gone and this is the best time of the year for SPI!

www.spadre.com/southpadrebeachcam.jpg read more ...

Again I apologize. I give up trying to post the whole article, for some reason this thing keeps getting truncated. In order to prevent me from messing up this web site any more, here is the link for anybody who wants to read the article, and the mention of Bill Donahue, who it says is owner of the Radisson:

"Bill Donahue, owner of the Radisson Resort South Padre Island, told me that his hotel is full of guests, primarily with a healthcare conference which chose to continue, and his employees, who will be lodged at the Resort because once winds are clocked at 45 miles per hour by the Texas Department of Transportation, the Queen Isabella Causeway bridge will be closed to traffic until winds recede."

http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:vkSD009MDDoJ:www.riograndeguardian.com/rggnews_story.asp%3Fstory_no%3D2+Donahue+Radisson+Dolly+South+Padre+Island&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us read more ...

Alice, I apologize for the big mistake! The news article below from the Rio Grande Guardian stated that somebody named Phil Donahue owned the Radisson. I wrongly assumed it was your husband. Again I apologize, and I wish you the best of luck in quickly restoring your business. It's a beautiful island, and helping people fulfill their dreams must be a wonderful job.

- Jose

Whitlock: Preparing for Hurricane Dolly on South Padre Island

By Ron Whitlock

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, July 22 - As Hurricane Dolly continued to ponder exactly where she would make landfall along the U.S. and Mexican coast, it was obvious by looking at the giant waves crashing onto the world famous beach of South Padre Island, Texas, that her winds, tidal surge and rain would soon arrive.

While some parents watched their children play in the rough surf of the Gulf of Mexico, dozens of surf boarders relished the high waves of the approaching storm, claiming that they were similar to those normally only seen in the Hawaiian Islands. It seemed like no one was worried or paying attention to the beach warning flags that had been posted, s beaches was a memorable site to behold.

My concerns for my safety and the others who have chosen to ride out this hurricane on a barrier island, South Padre, primarily deal with the storm surge, which is the most dangerous life threatening thing about hurricanes and claim the most lives historically. With Dolly, it is forecast to be only 4 to 6 feet. Winds are expected and forecast to be 50 to 70 miles per hour, unless Dolly moves her tract more northward from the mouth of the Rio Grande River, or the coast of Mexico, where the eye is expected to make landfall tomorrow morning. Either way, it looks like we will be in the most powerful northwest quadrant of Hurricane Dolly, where winds and rain are the most significant.

Our prayers go out to the impoverished, in many cases, practically homeless poor people that I have seen living a day to day existence near the Matamoros, Mexico garbage dump, and to others’ who will be trying to sleep fitfully, snuggled up with their family, as Hurricane Dolly’s initial rain bands begin to come ashore.

The national media have also descended on the island. ABC and the Weather Channel both made live satellite reports today, and here at the Bahia Mar Resort and Conference Center, facilities general manager Everett Shands Caskey, will be interviewed live tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. on the CBS ‘The Morning Show.’”

 read more ...

Texas Department of Insurance (TDI):

The TDI has six insurance specialists in South Texas available to provide in-person assistance from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the following locations.

Brownsville Home Depot 4551 Padre Island Hwy (intersection with Boca Chica Blvd)

Harlingen Home Depot 4710 S. Expressway 83

Weslaco 1500 W. Expressway 83

Please see the Hurricane Dolly Resource
Page for additional information:

http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/consumer/storms/dollypage.html.

TDI is conducting daily conference calls with the insurance industry to exchange information about our disaster response efforts.

Consumer Help Line hours are: weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays noon to 6 p.m.

Consumers may contact 800-252-3439.  read more ...

To all of our customers and devoted web site fans - First of all thank you for your calls and concern over the Hurrricane that hit our beloved island. Michael and I appreciate it very much. Secondly as those of you who know us are aware, we do not own the Radisson Hotel and have nothing to do with the operation of it. We have had our office there since 1995 and will continue to do so. My husband Michael Stuart is the CEO of TexasGulfCoastOnline.com which is our regional online brokerage and he does all of our websites and internet marketing through our company. We also work with many developers and real estate companies on the Texas Gulf Coast with their internet marketing. Real Estate and taking care of our clients is our #1 priority and our office will continue to be in the Radisson and fully operational very soon. read more ...

I'm not sure, but I think Alice and her husband OWN the Radisson, thus explaining why Alice's real estate office is located there. Damage from Dolly was very severe to that building, including some significant roof damage. Given that situation, I suppose getting the real estate business back up and running isn't at the top of their priority list. Getting that resort back up and running has to be their priority now. Real estate commissions are just "chump change" compared to the resort revenue. (This web site is probably fully automated, hosted somewhere far away.)

At this point the Donahue's are probably taking a hard look at the whole building repair project, and having to make some hard decisions regarding how much they're going to invest to make the whole place more hurricane resistant. It's kind of embarrassing to see how much damage the place sustained with just a relatively weak category 2 hurricane. On the other hand they may chose to just repair the place as it was, to reopen it ASAP. I don't pretend to know what is going on in their heads right now.

Don't underestimate the significance of this repair job. Everybody on the island is going to be standing in line for access to qualified contractors -and that's AFTER they figure out how strong they're going to make the place for the next hurricane. It's easy to brush this off as a simple "insurance job", but it's really not that easy. The saddest part is the employees who have lost their jobs during the peak tourist season.

A lot of folks will brush off the Donahue's problems given their wealth, but that doesn't change the fact that this is a real disaster for them, and our hearts go out to them and all the other business owners that have been so badly hurt by Dolly.

Here is a current picture of the beach, if you're interested. The whole thing looks very small in comparison to the dune area, and this is the south end of the island, where the beach is widest. If the erosion continues police/maintenance vehicle traffic is going to become more impractical, as it already is on northern parts of the island. The Radisson has the best beach on the island, but if you're making long term investment decisions, you can't ignore the continuous beach erosion problem.

http://www.spadre.com/southpadrebeachcam.jpg

- Jose
 read more ...

Has Alice's office moved somewhere else temporarily? I heard the west side of the Radisson got wiped out by Dolly, and that it was going to take 4 to 6 months to fix it. (Don't know if it's true or not, but the person who told me had no reason to lie.) Regardless, I bet there are some pretty good post-hurricane real estate deals out there, or ready to enter the market, and I am looking forward to picking up something. Perhaps the hurricane will actually help generate some additional cash flow for all of the island's real estate agents, as frustrated owners seek to sell their properties, and bargain hunters move in. I hate to say it, but if these agents play their cards right, they might actually earn more money this year than they have in recent years. Good luck to all you agents, and I look forward to working with you soon! read more ...

Island recovering from Dolly

July 29, 2008 - 8:57PM
By Kyle Arnold, The Monitor

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND - There are only two items on the menu at Palm Street Pier Bar & Grill on Tuesday - burgers and fried shrimp.

But that was enough for weary South Padre Island residents still struggling to move on after Hurricane Dolly ravaged their resort hometown last week.

Still without power over the weekend, employees at the restaurant, next to the Laguna Madre, hooked up generators and propane grills to keep the eatery going.

On Tuesday - the first day authorities allowed non-residents back on the Island - a slow flow of customers, mostly construction workers, wandered in to order beers and grub.

"We bought generators and freezers and fired up the grill," manager Cathy Laferty said. "We just put it back together and kept going."

Dolly slammed the Island as a category-2 storm lobbing 100-mph winds and torrential rainfall.

Most small businesses weathered Dolly fairly well, suffering some damage but not enough to shut them down for good - unlike some of the major hotels.

Electric company AEP Texas has told residents full power to the Island would likely be restored by Thursday night. On Tuesday, power was restored to about a third of the Island.

The dock at Palm Street - one of the establishment's most remarkable features - was destroyed. Laferty doesn't know if the state will allow it to go back up.

Palm Street, however, was more fortunate than neighboring Señor Frog's. That restaurant's aluminum roof was mangled and much of the rest of the structure damaged. Laferty said the building would be demolished.

Down the street at Louie's Backyard, windows and some dock rails were knocked out. Heavy surf also soaked nearly all the restaurant's carpets with hard-to-clean saltwater.

Owner Dan Stanton said Dolly hit businesses at the worst time of year.

With Texas schools starting in less than a month, many businesses will not have recovered in time to capture remaining tourists, Stanton said. So, the 2008 tourist season is over for them.

Wind sheared away walls at the Bahia Mar hotel, where crews were on site Tuesday making repairs and cleaning out debris. The Radisson and Holiday Inn SunSpree hotels also suffered major damage.

Stanton hopes to reopen the restaurant by this weekend, but not before electricity is restored to the entire Island.

"Why should we open if there is no one here to serve?" Stanton said. "We need people in hotels to even make business worth it."



South Padre Island merchants weren't ready to put dollar amounts on their structures yet. Insurance claims adjusters began arriving on the scene Tuesday and contractors are cleaning up debris before they can see if there is any structural damage.

South Padre Island residents Charlie and Julie Curtis and Jerry and Jackie Rippetoe stopped by Palm Street for some cool drinks and lunch.

"We just got our power back this morning," Julie Curtis said. "We've had to sleep on our deck, it was so hot."

The South Padre Island Convention Center, which lost a roof and wall, sustained more than $1 million in damage, said Dan Quandt, executive director of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Captain Murphy's charter owner Patrick Murphy simply looked forward to returning to normal as he led his first fishing tour since the hurricane.

"The fishing is great, but there's no one out here," Murphy said. "We are definitely open for business."

 read more ...

great job! part of the crew '88-90 read more ...

South Padre Island closed for business after hurricame Amid Dolly cleanup, police turn tourists away

By LYNN BREZOSKY San Antonio Express-news

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — With this normally busy beach destination virtually uninhabitable and not expecting power restored until next week at the earliest, officials Friday made a very rare decision to turn away tourists.

As residents, public employees and aid workers across the Rio Grande Valley pitched in to help clean up after Hurricane Dolly, a prostrated South Padre Island declared itself not open for business.

Dan Quandt, executive director of the island's Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it was the first time he had ever urged people not to visit.

"So many people are calling saying they want to come to the beach, and we're saying, 'No,' " he said. "This is not a time to sightsee down here. We are actually going to have law enforcement at the causeway saying if you don't have business being here, you're going to have to turn around."

South Padre took the full force of Hurricane Dolly's 100 mph winds, but the storm's punch was also proving hard to shrug off inland. Two days after it hit, floodwaters were receding but crews were still rescuing stranded people in rural areas.

Many roads remained impassable, many businesses remained closed and large areas remained without power — and some without gasoline.

Workers were trying to get large generators to South Padre and the Port Isabel area to get fuel pumps operating, Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos said.

Officials in Texas and Mexico worried about standing water creating health hazards.

"A lot of streets are completely under water," Cascos said. "Our challenge now is going to be how to address all those septic systems that are going to be backing up. You've got kids in the water that are out there playing when they shouldn't be. That water is contaminated."

In Hidalgo County, where flooding and damage to homes was widespread, officials set up a hot line to call for help: 956-318-2426.

The Red Cross worked with nonprofit groups and the National Guard to distribute food and water. Red Cross spokesman Bob Howard said 27 mobile units were on the road, and the organization expected to manage seven shelters by the end of the day.

Jennifer Ryan, a Red Cross spokeswoman in the field in Harlingen, said the units were unable to reach some affected neighborhoods "until government officials tell us it's safe to come in."

"There's frustration," she said. "One of the drivers was telling me he got out and waded through hip-deep water bringing water and snacks to a family who had called for help. When people saw the truck they all came out and kind of waded out to get some food. I think people are happy with what we're doing now."

Ryan said shelter populations were dropping as residents returned home to assess the damage.

Poorer neighborhoods in Matamoros, Mexico, across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, remained badly flooded, although businesses seemed quicker to reopen there and in Reynosa, Mexico, compared to the hardest-hit Texas cities.

The city of Edinburg and other communities urged residents to conserve water because of the strain on treatment systems from power outages.

About 121,000 residences and businesses served by American Electric Power in the Valley remained without power Friday evening, down from a peak of more than 200,000 on Thursday.

An AEP spokesman predicted power would be restored to at least 95 percent of customers in Edinburg, McAllen, Mission and Rio Grande City by Sunday night. The company was still assessing damage elsewhere.

Magic Valley Electric Cooperative said about 2,700 of its 94,000 customers had no power. At one point, 41,000 had been without. Most outages were in the Rio Hondo area, where winds blew down 85 poles.

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board still had 1,300 customers without power, down from a peak of 5,500.

Attorney General Greg Abbott warned of fraudulent home-repair services wanting payment up front, and said his office would go after businesses that tried to squeeze people as they did after Hurricane Rita in 2005.

"What we've seen all too often is that these supposed repair companies will never come back or will do the job inadequately," he said.

He advised people to call 800-252-8011 to report problems or price gouging.

The slow-moving storm replenished area reservoirs but devastated Valley agriculture.

Texas Farm Bureau field representative Cynthia Wolfe called the cotton crop "a dead loss" and said at least half the citrus crop would be lost.

"In areas, the wind got above 100 miles per hour and easily picked the fruit from the trees," she said. "The trees are sitting in water right now, so that crop probably won't be harvested."

She said agricultural losses would be in the millions of dollars. Overall losses to homeowners and businesses from the storm could approach $1 billion, an insurance group spokesman has estimated.

Brenda Cichon, 57, of Arlington, said little things would have helped a lot once Dolly started pounding South Padre for seemingly endless hours. Like batteries for flashlights and radios, because no one knew what was going on.

"I called everyone" before deciding to stay on the island with her son and daughter-in-law and two small grandchildren, she said. "We called the Fire Department, the police, the South Padre tourist bureau, the homeowners association at the condominium. We even called the Sheraton to ask what they were telling people."

Over and over, Cichon was told Dolly would just be a very bad storm.

"I think the worst thing is that probably up to the last minute they really didn't think it was going to be as bad as it was," she said. read more ...

SPI could see economic impact from Dolly
Comments 0 | Recommend 0
July 25, 2008 - 9:05PM
Valley Freedom Staff

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND - Leaders in this coastal resort town had to make a decision Friday no vacation destination ever wants to make: to turn people away.

Hundreds of curious Rio Grande Valley residents took to the island Friday to survey the damage from Dolly, the Category 2 hurricane that made landfall Wednesday with 95 mph winds and torrential rainfall.

On Friday afternoon, local police started checking identification of cars entering the Island and turning nonresidents away.

"There's no power here and nothing is open," said Dan Quandt, executive of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Center and unofficial spokesman for the town of 2,700. "We never want to tell people this, but we don't need any visitors here right now."

When Hurricane Dolly blew through South Padre Island, the storm interrupted the height of the Island's tourist season, and the economic impact could be far reaching.

By some estimates, the storm caused some $750 million in damage to South Texas. While it's too early for official estimates, Quandt speculated the damage on the Island alone is in the millions of dollars, as every major business has sustained significant damage.

According to most estimates, it will be at least a week before the majority of businesses reopen.

South Padre Island residents fear the storm could shut down tourism - the area's largest industry - for weeks or months during the busiest season of the year.

"If the tourists don't come, the hotels can't pay their part-time employees and will have to let them go," Quandt said. "That will impact the economy as much as the storm."

No one can calculate the economic damage at this point, he said, and the long-term impact is even more difficult to project.

The storm caused at least $1 million in damage to the SPI Convention Center when winds tore the roof off the building's exhibit center and knocked down a wall to a storage room. There is also water damage.

The recovery from Dolly is also complicated by the lack of electricity.

Quandt said power could be out for more than a week.

Power company trucks can be seen all over the Island, working to remove damaged utility poles and prepare for the installation of new poles and wires. A convoy of additional repair trucks was spotted headed toward the Island on Friday afternoon.

A substation in Port Isabel that is critical to getting power to the Island sustained heavy damage, and no estimate of when it will be repaired has been made.

Officials, business owners and residents are frustrated over the lack of power and the inability to begin many repairs. The hum of small electric generators can be heard all through the town.

Without power, banks are closed and ATMs are out of order, meaning many residents could be left without funds for food, water and other supplies.

There is a concern among the business community that some small business owners may not be able to recover at all.

Across the bay, the town of Laguna Vista condemned 12 individual apartments in four different apartment complexes Thursday.

"There's a house on Orange Street the building inspector hasn't got to yet," City Manager Iris Hill said. "It looks like it might also be condemned."

David and Laura Helms live in the Waters Edge on Santa Isabel. Their apartment is among those that were condemned.

"We went to Brownsville last night looking for a hotel," David Helms said Friday. "They were all full, so we came back home and slept in ours. But we have to move right away."

Laguna Vista police Chief Robert McGinnis said Friday he had already personally pulled one 36-hour shift.

PsychaDeli, a sandwich shop on Padre Boulevard, sustained major damage. Owners Amy Alvis and Josh Kay said they were dealing with the devastation as best they could but were unsure of their future.

At the Cameron County Parks and Recreation Department's office at Isla Blanca Park, on the southern tip of the Island, Parks Director Joe Mendez showed photos of some of the damage at the parks in his care.

No one will be allowed to return until cleanup is complete and all utilities are back in service, he said.

Before the storm, Mendez said, officials predicted any outages would be restored within five to seven days.

"I don't know when we'll be back up and running, or when people we ordered out before the storm can return," he said. "I'll know more about that Monday or Tuesday." read more ...

Texas Granted Presidential Disaster Declaration

President George W. Bush today granted Gov. Perry’s request for a Major Presidential Disaster Declaration, which will provide assistance to 15 Texas counties. This afternoon, the governor and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn toured the impacted areas and were briefed by local officials regarding ongoing emergency response efforts as Tropical Storm Dolly continues to move slowly through south Texas.

"Though some areas in south Texas have incurred significant damage, preparedness efforts on the part of our local, state and federal officials and private sector partners ensured that our number one priority – protecting lives– was successfully met,” said Gov. Perry.

"As damage assessments begin, the state stands ready to help south Texas residents rebuild and restore their homes, businesses and communities.”

The Major Presidential Disaster Declaration covers Aransas, Bexar, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Victoria and Willacy counties.

While decisions on individual federal assistance requests cannot be made until damage assessments are conducted, the declaration does include public assistance for emergency protective measures taken before, during and after the disaster, including:

* Warning devices such as barricades, signs and announcements
* Search and rescue efforts
* Security forces such as police and guards
* Construction of temporary levees
* Provision of shelters or emergency care
* Sandbagging
* Bracing/shoring damaged structures
* Provision of food, water, ice and other essential needs
* Emergency repairs
* Emergency demolition
* Removal of health and safety hazards
* Emergency communications, emergency access and emergency public transportation costs may also be eligible.

Expanded public assistance also must await joint state federal damage assessments.

To date, Texas has taken the following actions:

Public Utility Commission: The PUC is working to restore power (or establish generator power) for critical care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, shelters and public safety facilities. More than 200,000 homes and businesses are currently without power. PUC has asked customers who still have power to conserve electricity while crews are restoring service to other customers.

Texas Military Forces: 700 of 1,200 activated national guardsmen are currently assisting with response and recovery efforts, in addition to an incident management team and six UH-60s.

Texas Engineering and Extension Service: Texas Task Force 1 currently has swift water teams located in several South Texas counties and performed numerous rescues overnight and continue to do so today, assisting local officials, as needed. Texas Task Force 2 has also been deployed.

Texas Department of Agriculture: With approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, TDA responded to requests for food in Laredo and Hidalgo County, including a request from Congressman Ruben Hinojosa. After determining the areas most in need, TDA sent a truckload of USDA-donated commodities for a shelter operating in Laredo and another truckload for shelters operating in Hidalgo County. TDA also has food available to feed a growing number of evacuees being sheltered in the Laredo Civic Center. TDA shipped another truckload of food from San Antonio to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen where 2,179 people are being housed in 10 shelters.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice: Power has been restored to the Lopez and Segovia facilities, which had been operating on generators after electric outages.

Texas Department of Transportation: Widespread flooding continues to obstruct travel in the Rio Grande Valley. TxDOT crews are assessing roads and bridges and repairing damage to signal lights and signs. TxDOT has received reports of electrical transmission lines down, signal lights out, water and debris on roadways in the Rio Grande Valley. Many major and minor roadways are impassable. The Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge to South Padre Island in Cameron County has reopened. Cleanup and recovery operations have begun. TxDOT crews from the Yoakum, San Antonio and Corpus Christi Districts have been deployed to the Rio Grande Valley to assist with cleanup and recovery operations. The agency’s road condition hotline will be staffed with live travel counselors until at least 9 p.m. CDT today. TxDOT personnel are monitoring road and bridge conditions across South Texas and the Coastal Bend to determine whether storm damage presents a threat to travel.

Department of Information Resources: Partners (Unisys, Maintech and PTG perspective) are on standby to assist any agencies impacted by the hurricane. The Data Center has successfully completed backups for all remote locations for all systems including DSHS, TxDOT and HHSC.

Department of Insurance: The Consumer Protection Division has scheduled daily calls with the insurance industry to discuss conditions and issues on the ground. A decision will be made later today about when and where to deploy TDI insurance specialists.

Texas Animal Health Commission: Texas Animal Health Commission livestock health inspectors and animal care personnel from the Houston SPCA will begin damage assessments for livestock and small animal issues Friday with the three incident management teams in the area.

Texas Education Agency: Schools in the lower Rio Grande Valley opened their doors to hundreds of evacuees, providing them with shelter and food. Schools in the Brownsville Independent School District, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD, Edinburg Consolidated ISD and La Joya ISD are among those serving as shelters.

Texas Department of Public Safety: Highway Patrol day and night units are escorting food, water and assets throughout affected areas and assisting with other requests. Troopers are escorting supplies to the main staging area in Weslaco. Highway Patrol managers have been sent to DPS Communications offices to ensure DPS communication systems are working well throughout the Valley. DPS helicopters from McAllen, Houston and Austin are also working the area and assisting as needed.

Texas Youth Commission: The Tamayo Halfway House in Harlingen remains closed, and the 13 youth residents and necessary accompanying staff have been temporarily relocated to the York Halfway House in Corpus Christi. The Harlingen Parole Office also remains closed today. The Beto Halfway House in McAllen lost power and phone service, and staff are working with local authorities to reestablish the services. All youth are safe and the facility is secure without damage. There is no flooding in the area. The Evins Regional Juvenile Center in Edinburg and York Halfway House in Corpus Christi are secure and all youth are safe.

Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services: DARS is standing by to provide support, such as interpretation services in shelters, as needed.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: The TCEQ Emergency Response Strike Team, consisting of 16 trained individuals with a mobile command post, a Lab/GIS trailer, and a communications trailer, has deployed to the Valley. The Strike Team is will assess damage caused by Hurricane Dolly.

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs: TDHCA staff will be assisting with preliminary damage assessments. TDHCA has advised community action agencies in the lower Rio Grande Valley that they may be called upon to serve additional persons and offered additional resources if needed at this time. TDHCA is reminding all affordable housing rental owners statewide to keep their apartment vacancy information current so that the agency has accurate information on available housing for storm victims who may not be able to return to their homes.. TDHCA also will provide any technical assistance necessary to help these communities apply for post-disaster housing funds.

Health and Human Services Commission: The state’s 2-1-1 system activated 24-hour response operations in additional sites to handle more calls from the affected areas. More than 84,000 Texans have used 2-1-1 to register for transportation assistance, including a surge in registrations from the affected areas just before Dolly hit. HHSC is providing ice and water for evacuation shelters. The state's health and human services offices in the affected area will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday. HHSC is making arrangements to have staff available at Assistance Recovery Centers to help victims apply for state and federal benefits.

Department of Aging and Disability Services: DADS is maintaining contact with providers in the four-county affected area. The Twinbrook South Nursing facility in San Benito is in the process of evacuating 46 residents to a sister facility in McAllen due to flooding.

Department of State Health Services: DSHS is assessing the need for mosquito control and protection. Area hospitals and dialysis facilities are being surveyed to assess conditions and operations, and to determine assistance required. Baptist Children & Family Services is establishing a medical special needs shelter with a capacity for 250 people. Two eight-person medical strike teams and three sanitarians have been deployed to the impact area.

Department of Family and Protective Services: DFPS is reminding foster parents and caregivers that had to evacuate to notify the agency as soon as possible of their new location. Once a family reaches its evacuation destination, they may notify their local CPS office or call the DFPS Hotline (1-800-252-5400) to check in.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Texas Parks and Wildlife is opening campsites and screen shelters to those who need a temporary place to stay at state parks not affected by storm. Mustang Island, Resaca de la Palma, Llano Grande and Bentsen state parks are closed due to flooding or other storm-related issues:

Texas Workforce Commission: TWC’s McAllen Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tele-Center remains closed. UI calls that would normally go to the McAllen Tele-Center continue to be forwarded through TWC’s toll-free UI phone network to tele-centers across the state. Preliminary visual reports show no damage to the McAllen Tele-Center. The following workforce centers were open today in the Coastal Bend region: Sunrise, Staples, Sinton, Beeville, as well as the workforce board’s administrative offices. The following workforce centers remain closed: Alice, Kingsville, Falfurrias, Rockport and George West.

The State Operations Center is conducting daily conference calls with local officials, first responders, mass care providers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Weather Service to assess the latest weather projections and to coordinate state and local preparation and response.  read more ...

Hurricane Dolly focus shifts to flooding
Tim Ballisty, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
5:58 p.m. ET 7/23/2008

Hurricane Dolly made landfall about 20 to 25 miles north of the town of South Padre Island or 35 miles northeast of Brownsville as a category two hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph at around 1 p.m. CDT.

Since landfall, as expected, because of land friction sustained winds from Dolly have dropped back to 85 mph; remaining a category 1 hurricane. The center of circulation is now located 50 miles north of Brownsville, Texas and moving to the northwest at 8 mph with an eventual turn to the west expected.

Even before the eye's official landfall, Dolly's eyewall punished interior and coastal South Texas beginning at the mid morning hours and the lashing continues into this evening.

Nasty squalls of tropical downpours, tropical storm-force sustained winds, and hurricane-force gusts (sometimes sustained) from Hurricane Dolly are spinning across far South Texas interior. Even with the eye making landfall, conditions will continue to be dangerous and miserable through tonight and into tomorrow morning.

It should be emphasized that this will be a long duration event for South Texas due to Dolly's sluggish nature and impacts from Dolly, especially flooding rainfall, will last well into Thursday.

Locations along the immediate coast such as Port Mansfield, Laguna Vista, Arroyo City, South Padre Island, and Port Isabel have all taken a pounding today.

Other cities such as Brownsville, Harlingen, and Raymondville ahave also felt the wrath of Dolly.

All power is reported out on S. Padre Island while power lines and power poles are down in Brownsville, Harlingen, and Port Isabel.

A 72 mph wind gust was measured earlier this morning at Port Isabel and extensive dock damage is being reported.

An unofficial observer east of Matamoros, Mexico recorded winds of 65 mph with gusts to 119 mph. Brownsville recorded a gust of 67 mph around 12 noon CT.

Port Mansfield has recorded a 76 mph gust with structural damage reported within the town. Roof shingles/tiles are being torn off in several communities.

Waves heights, between 10 and 20 feet, are crashing and punishing the shoreline. Because of Dolly's stubborn movement, severe beach erosion is becoming a major concern. Because Dolly is finally onshore, wave heights will finally begin to decrease.

Even with the extensive damage being reported, the most life-threatening impact from Dolly is becoming the prolific flooding rainfall.

Rain amounts are forecast to be in the 6 to 15 inch range in locations south of Corpus Christi through Brownsville and into northern Mexico. A majority of Cameron County, including the city of Harlingen, has already received an estimated 8 to 12" of rain. A few locales will receive close to 20 inches of rain. Flooding is a certainty in the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy. read more ...

Hurricane Dolly making landfall
Tim Ballisty, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel 2:40 p.m. ET 7/23/2008

AS of 1 p.m. CDT, Hurricane Dolly has made landfall about 20 to 25 miles north of the town of South Padre Island or 35 miles northeast of Brownsville as a category two hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph.

Even before the eye's official landfall, Dolly's western eyewall has been punishing interior and coastal South Texas for several hours now.

Although meandering at times, Dolly is moving onshore generally to the west-northwest at just 7 mph. The storm's latest pressure, measured by the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance plane, is at 967 millibars.

Nasty squalls of tropical downpours, tropical storm-force sustained winds, and hurricane-force gusts from Hurricane Dolly are rotating onshore along the far South Texas interior and coastline. Even with the eye making landfall, conditions will continue to be dangerous and miserable through the afternoon and tonight.

It should be emphasized that this will be a long duration event for South Texas due to Dolly's sluggish nature and impacts from Dolly will last well into Thursday.

For several hours Dolly's western eyewall has been sitting and spinning along the shoreline. Because of this, locations along the immediate coast such as Port Mansfield, Laguna Vista, Arroyo City, South Padre Island, and Port Isabel are all taking a pounding.

Other cities such as Brownsville, Harlingen, and Raymondville are also feeling the wrath of Dolly. All power is reported out on S. Padre Island while power lines and power poles are down in Brownsville, Harlingen, and Port Isabel.

A 72 mph wind gust was measured earlier this morning at Port Isabel, Texas. An unofficial observer east of Matamoros, Mexico recorded winds of 65 mph with gusts to 119 mph. Brownsville record a gust of 67 mph around 12 noon CT.

Waves are growing in height (generally 10 to 20 feet) as Dolly churns just offshore; crashing and punishing the shoreline. Because of Dolly's stubborn movement, severe beach erosion is becoming a major concern.

The expected storm surge, from Corpus Christi south to South Padre Island, is forecast to range from 3 to 5 feet.

The intense winds of Dolly will be damaging and in some cases destructive. Power outages and structural damage are likely especially for poorly-constructed houses and buildings. In fact, power outages are already occurring. However, because of the very slow forward movement of Dolly, it is quite possible that the most life-threatening impact from Dolly will eventually be the flooding rainfall.

Forecast amounts are expected to be in the 6 to 12 inch range in locations south of Corpus Christi through Brownsville and into northern Mexico. A few spots, especially in the northern Mexican mountains, could get as much as 15 inches. Flooding is almost a guarantee for several locations impacted by Dolly. The estimated 24-hour rainfall for extreme South Texas is already nearing 6 inches.

Hurricane warnings are in effect from Rio San Fernando in Mexico northward to Corpus Christi, Texas. Tropical storm warnings surround the hurricane warning area, with tropical storm warnings in effect in Mexico between Le Pesca and Rio San Fernando (where a hurricane watch is also in effect), and between Corpus Christi and Port O'Connor, Texas.

If you live in or are visiting a beach area of south Texas, heed the advice of local officials with regard to evacuations. Preparations for tropical storm force and hurricane force winds along with flooding rains should already be complete.

For the latest on the tropics, stay tuned to on weather.com.
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First, let us pray that nobody is hurt or killed from Dolly, and that property damage is minimal.

Still, it seems likely that there will be significant property damage, and much of the beach will be washed away. Assuming that happens, Alice it would be useful if you put a special section on your website for property owners not interested in standing in line to get a vulture contractor to repair their property, don't believe the local authorities have the resources or political willpower to rebuild the beach, and just want to sell their property for whatever they can get. read more ...

Officials fear Dolly could break Rio Grande levees

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN
The Associated Press
Tuesday, July 22, 2008; 4:42 PM

McALLEN, Texas -- Coastal officials worried Tuesday that Tropical Storm Dolly may bring so much rain that flooding could break through the levees holding back the Rio Grande.

Officials urged residents to move away from the levees because if Dolly continues to follow the same path as 1967's Hurricane Beulah, "the levees are not going to hold that much water," said Cameron County Emergency Management Coordinator Johnny Cavazos.

The first bands of rain began to pass over South Padre Island Tuesday afternoon and the surf continued to get rougher. Forecasters predicted Dolly would dump 15 to 20 inches of rain and bring coastal storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal high tide levels.

Hurricane warnings were in effect from Brownsville north to Corpus Christi, and in Mexico, from Rio San Fernando north to the U.S. border. Tropical storm warnings were issued for surrounding areas, and the governor has declared 14 counties disasters, allowing state resources to be used to send equipment and emergency workers needed to the areas in the storm's path.

Forecasters said Dolly was expected to make land late Tuesday or early Wednesday as a hurricane with sustained winds of 74 to 95 mph. The storm, combined with levees that have deteriorated in the 41 years since Beulah swept up the Rio Grande, pose a major flooding threat to low-lying counties along the border. Beulah spawned more than 100 tornadoes across Texas and dumped 36 inches of rain in some parts of South Texas, killing 58 people and causing more than $1 billion damage.

"We could have a triple-decker problem here," Cavazos told a meeting of more than 100 county and local officials Tuesday. "We believe that those (levees) will be breached if it continues on the same track. So please stay away from those levees."

Much of the damage to New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina was from levee breaks instead of wind. Levee breaches in the Midwest made river flooding far more damaging than it would have been earlier this summer.

People in the warning areas have little time left to complete their preparations, National Hurricane Center spokesman Dennis Feltgen said.

"They need to get that done like now. Weather conditions will be deteriorating rapidly later this (Tuesday) afternoon and tonight," he said.

Lines grew at centers giving out sandbags in the Rio Grande Valley. In Brownsville, a utility began draining its resacas _ ponds and lakes formed by old bends in the Rio Grande _ last week to prepare for rain.

In neighboring inland Hidalgo County, officials put out a call for volunteers to man five shelters that it planned to open for residents fleeing coastal counties.

The Navy began flying 104 of its aircraft out of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi to bases inland, said air station spokesman Bob Torres. Other aircraft will be sheltered on base in hangars and no evacuation was planned.

Those who planned to ride out the storm shopped for supplies at a Wal-Mart in Edinburg, 15 miles from the Mexican border. But the store didn't have the wall-to-wall shoppers like the night before. Kerri Urdaz, 31, of McAllen loaded ice, water and batteries into her car, while her 2-year-old daughter Claire watched from the shopping cart.

"It wasn't too bad," Urdaz said of the last-minute shopping. "That's why we woke up and came in early before the rush."

Jesus Gil was lifting large coolers into the back of his pickup truck and had bought flashlights and batteries, bracing for the storm at both work and home.

"I'm just trying to be prepared," said Gil, who was in Houston in 2005 for the Hurricane Rita evacuation. He doesn't plan to leave this time, but bought extra gas just in case.

Maj. Jose Rivera of the Texas Army National Guard said troops were preparing at armories in Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Gov. Rick Perry called up 1,200 troops to help and issued the disaster declaration in the South Texas counties.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement readied its Port Isabel and Willacy detention centers, but had not yet decided if evacuation would be necessary, said spokeswoman Nina Pruneda. Buses were loaded with supplies and kitchens prepared sack meals.

In the Gulf of Mexico, Shell Oil evacuated workers from oil rigs, but said it didn't expect its production to be affected by the storm.

Other areas are bracing for at least a tropical storm with warnings issued from Port O'Connor to San Luis Pass, south of Galveston in Texas and from La Pesca to Rio San Fernando in Mexico.

Mexican border towns near the Gulf coast were setting up shelters and soldiers were also being sent into Matamoros, across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, to protect against looting.

On South Padre Island, vacationers packed up their camps and headed for the mainland.

About 40 children and staff at a summer camp were heading north to San Antonio.

"We're not taking any chances with these kids," said Rabbi Asher Hecht, director of the Lubavitch Camp Gan Israel.

Just across the causeway in Port Isabel, residents were gathering supplies and boarding up windows. Not one to take chances, Larry Haines pulled out the plywood for the first time in years, boarding up his waterside art gallery.

"We're just worried about flying debris breaking through the windows," Haines said. "We're not too worried about storm surge and other things you get from a bigger storm, but we're going to board up anyway."

Also Tuesday, Fresenius Medical Care was preparing to close six dialysis clinics, which serve about 900 patients in the Rio Grande Valley.

Other parts of Texas, stricken by drought, watched Dolly expectantly, with as much as 4 inches forecast to fall by the time the storm's eastern edge sweeps across the region, said Texas A&M University's John Nielsen-Gammon, the state's climatologist.

About 20 counties in the northern part of South Texas _ which includes San Antonio and nearby counties to the north, south and east _ are behind in annual rainfall by between 12 and 16 inches, he said.

"If you get that much (rain) in two days there'd be flooding," he said. "Weather never gives you ideal stuff. This is certainly not going to be an exception to that. The best to hope for from this is a temporary reprieve from the dry conditions." read more ...

I wonder if the tower's problems will worsen after Dolly hits the island. Consider that the tower is already unstable, and the national weather service is predicting wind gusts up to 105 mph on Wednesday.

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I've seen those signs along the highway "Future route of I-69" for somewhere near two decades now. Since then they have made a great deal of improvements to the highways leading north from SPI, including the important bypass around Alice. I also remember a decade ago that it took a lot longer to drive through Falfurius. That isn't exactly a "bypass" now, but it sure helps you get though town faster. I seriously doubt if any of those small towns between SPI and I-37 cause more than an extra 15 minutes of driving time - hardly worth spending huge amounts of money for a full-blown interstate. Don't get me wrong - I would like to see a major freeway between I-37 and the freeway, I just don't think it's worth the money and all the traffic diversions in the process.

I don't want ANYTHING to do with toll roads in the valley. If we had serious traffic problems, and toll roads could be built fast, then I would agree with the idea. But we don't have a big problem like that. Perhaps those money-hungry road contractors are behind any push for toll roads.

We used to have a serious "radar trap" in Los Fresnos, but I think they have a law now that little towns can't get more than a certain percentage of their annual revenue though traffic tickets, so I don't see those pesky cops very often. Really, traveling though a few small towns on the way to I-37 isn't such a big deal. Besides, you have to stop sometimes and get gas, rest, etc. Stopping in a little town every now and then can actually make your trip a bit safer. read more ...

Just tear it down. It's an unsafe eyesore, and you can't fix a collapsing building like that. Use the chunks of discarded concrete to form an artificial reef to stop beach erosion. Then, one of these days, if the developer ever wins his lawsuits and gets a second chance at rebuilding, he'll have the best beach on SPI! read more ...

just look at the ORIGINAL marketing literature, which BRAGGED about the foundation integrity. (not the current white-washed website)

Developer: BE A MAN and take responsibility for the screwup. give deposits back to condo buyers, instead of pointing the finger elsewhere! read more ...

Hey...isn't Zacary the one building the problem tower (ocean tower SPI). My butt is already feeling sore from riding on the new road read more ...

I think that a couple of things being discussed in this blog need to be elaborated on.

1. The General Contractor (Zachary) builds what the Architects and Engineers specify. Sometimes substitutions are allowed, but substitutions must be approved by the Owner’s/Developer ‘s Architects and/or Engineers. Shortcuts, shoddy workmanship, and sub-standard materials are hard things to get approved. The speed at which the GC completes his tasks, per approved plans, should not be an issue if the critical inspections (can be milestones in the critical path method) are performed and passed as scheduled or needed. A competent GC can speed up his schedule and not compromise quality. Zachary did this before when they repaired the Queen Isabella Causeway Bridge after its unfortunate collapse in 2001.

2. On projects of this size, countless ongoing quality assurance inspections are necessary from the beginning design phases through to the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. This is paramount for a good end product. These inspections should be performed by a reputable non-biased third party company. Unfortunately, the Cameron County Building Department per se has no prior experience with high-rise structures. OT SPI is the tallest structure ever built within the Cameron County Building Department’s jurisdiction. On the other hand, The Town of South Padre Island Building Department has many successful high-rise buildings under its belt and another major one about to be completed. Sapphire South Padre. Maybe Cameron County should have enlisted some help from our humble little town of SPI?

3. Contrary to other opinions in this blog, sand is a suitable sub-stratum for piers when properly sized for the weight that will be attached to them. If there are any engineers in the audience please correct me if I am wrong, but I think I am on the right track here... It is not the sand that holds up the building, rather it is the static pressures of the weight of the sand, pushing against the walls of the piers, that holds the weight of the structure in place.

4. While elastic clay soils, sandy loams and corral sands may not the most ideal soil types to build on...”proper engineering” can overcome any shortcomings of these types of sub-stratums. I think we are in for a lot of mud slinging (more probably sand) before we see where the final blame will be placed.

5. The developer, Tony Domit, has a good case for damages resulting from negligence and a good case for punitive damages. However, his stance of not letting his new investors (the buyers) off the hook is unfortunate. He should include them in (proportionately as limited partners) on any settlement monies if and when any settlement is reached and monies awarded.
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After purchasing a condo at the Sapphire last year I began to worry more and more about the development to the side of us. The Gulfpoint looked like it was ready to be torn down. I had heard that was the plan for the place from other Sapphire buyers as well.
It looks like now instead of removal the place is being gutted and renovated. The one building I can see looks like it is well on it's way to being a modern and actually beautiful structure. I could not be happier. Being a first time condo buyer I was afraid I was too hasty purchasing at the Sapphire and not really looking at the developments in close proximity. I was lucky and will not have to worry about a ugly structure right next door for much longer. But advice to all future Island buyers, take a look at your neighboring develpoments. They do impact you decision and they can rob you of equity if they discourage others not to buy your condo because the neighboring condo's do not look to be up to par. Lesson learned over here.
As for the Sapphire, we could not be happier with our purchase! read more ...

I think that the roads are perfectly fine and usable as they are now. Why must TXDOT keep insisting that we have gold plated roads. The Texas Legislature and the federal government both divert the gas tax money and all other excise taxes (paid by you and me to maintain existing roads and build new ones) for more pork barrel projects, then they want to impose a TAX (toll) to pay for something we have already been TAXED and paid for! And just what the hell are "innovative tolls"??? I 'll tell you what....just more TAXES! We need another causeway bridge from South Padre Island to the mainland, for emergency needs and real economic growth, well before we need to fix a road that ain't broke.  read more ...

8 purchasers of Sapphire units are fighting back against the contractor for his fauilure to complete the roads..utilities and recreational facilities in a timely facshion. They are suing in the Disatrict Court in Brownsville to get their deposits back...... read more ...

I seriously doubt if that tower can be repaired. It's just too messed up with cracked, broken, and bent beams. Show me just one company that has proven experience to fix a 31 story leaning tower like that - just one. Tony Domit, the developer, is hoping to fix it for somewhere between $20M - $25M, but the wide range of the estimate means nobody knows exactly what will happen until they get deep into the project. No contractor in their right mind would ever guarantee a repair job like that, though some might be willing to risk it for a hu