Cornerstone Updates

 

May 16, 2026

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The Reviews are in!  Cornerstone is once again on top as a 5 star place to stay!

Thank you to all of our amazing guests for leaving a review on Google, Florida Rentals, VRBO and TripAdvisor!  We really appreciate you taking the time to write them!

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A Wonderful beach-side Condo in a great location!, Apr 18, 2026        By Teresa W.

 

Our week's stay at Cornerstone was perfect! Located mid-island and right on the beach, we couldn't have asked for more! Jodi and James were friendly, prompt with communications, and efficient. Our condo was beautiful, clean, and had every amenity we needed. The entire Condominium and pool/grounds was clean and very well taken care of. Beach towels and beach chairs/umbrellas were provided for each condo, plus a parking space was provided for each unit. Stunning view of the Ocean, in each direction and beautiful Sunsets, right off our balcony! We Loved our Condo, and we will be back!!! Thank you, Jodi and James! Teresa and Dave

 

By Sally L.

 

We really enjoyed our stay at Cornerstone. Everything is new and updated. The beach was beautiful. It's nice to see the area coming back. We would stay again.

 

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Just what my wife and I needed, Feb 24, 2026    By Jeff F.

 

The condo that we rented was exactly what my wife and I were looking for. It was right on the beach. The view was amazing. It had a big enough kitchen for us to fix breakfast. It was perfect.

 

By Gary B,

 

Many positives about this location. Clean and updated, great location, very good value, very nice pool, great views of the Gulf. James (site manager) was accommodating and accessible.

 

Perfect property for two., Feb 12, 2026     By Emily S.

 

We were very pleased with our 2nd floor unit. Extremely clean & comfortable with a beautiful beach view. This beach was pristine, powder-white sand loaded with shells and private.

 

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The condo is just right. Perfect location halfway down the island where the beaches are less crowded and the water is clear. Beds are comfortable and bathroom is a good size. Having laundry and beach necessities in unit is so helpful.

I recommend stopping at the Publix grocery store a few blocks away to pick up necessities. The unit provides two coffee pods, salt and pepper so be sure to pick up or bring all other edibles (spices, oil, etc.)

My kids loved swimming in the pool in the mornings and the Gulf in the afternoons. The sunset views are amazing!

Rooms: 5/5Service: 5/5Location: 5/5

Hotel highlights    Great view, Quiet, Kid-friendly, Great value

 

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Been going there for years. Have made good friends that also return every year because of how great the resort is.

Rooms: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Location: 5/5

 

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James and Jodi are awesome hosts!! Clear instructions, great advice. Easy access to the beach.   

Rooms: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Location: 5/5

Rooms    Spacious with comfortable beds and pillows. Beach chairs are sturdy easy backpacking style to carry, towels are thick and large. Very clean bedding and bathroom towels.

Nearby activities   You can walk to just about anything you would want to do. There is also shuttle or trolley.

Safety   I felt safe, friendly people at the beach and restaurants, stores. Day or night walking. Didn’t ride bikes but easy access to bike rentals as well.

Walkability   Lots of walking for use, besides the beach.

Food & drinks    All the resort recommendations for food and restaurants were spot on. Many great places to dine that are reasonable. Grocery store nearby and pharmacy.

Noteworthy details      Cornerstone was welcoming, comfortable, had close access to stores . The pool was a wonderful addition and the water temp was perfect. Every unit has a view of the ocean , you can see the Sanibel lighthouse becon at night. Then just a short drive to visit Sanibel. Just loved it all!!! Will return!!

Hotel highlights     Great view, Quiet, Great value

 

 

2 weeks ago New

Vacation · Couple

We finally made it back to Cornerstone earlier this year and it is more beautiful than ever. Our condo was entirely renovated and so comfortable. The beach is beautiful and the ocean waters washed up lovely shells each morning. Fun to see dolphins on a daily basis. The pool was warm and the patio level was updated, too. You really should stay here if you are looking for a peaceful stay on Fort Myers Beach!

Rooms: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Location: 5/5

Rooms     The king bed was comfy. The bathroom and shower were great. Small kitchen and nice living area. Best of all - the screened in lanai!

Nearby activities     We did trivia one afternoon at Fresh Catch Bistro and took a fun dolphin tour out of Snookbight Harbor.

Food & drinks     Publix is just a few minutes drive, as is Santini Plaza.

Hotel highlights      Great view, Romantic, Quiet

 

 

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Our stay at Cornerstone in Fort Myers Beach was absolutely outstanding. From the moment we arrived, everything exceeded our expectations.

 

The housekeeping team was incredibly clean, thorough, and respectful—every detail was handled with care, which made our stay so comfortable and stress-free.

A special shoutout to the staff manager, James Barron, who was truly exceptional. He answered the phone every time we called, kept us informed throughout our entire stay, and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. That level of communication and dedication is rare and very much appreciated.

We’ve stayed at many beautiful places before, but this experience beats them all—hands down. We will definitely be coming back. Great job to the entire team!

Rooms: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Location: 5/5

 

 

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Mr. James was the Best and everything was so beautiful and we will be back to enjoy the most lavish hotel on Fort Myers Beach

Rooms: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Location: 5/5

 

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We stayed 9 nights there. The apartment was very nice, clean and had everything we needed. It was very quiet. Beautiful beach view from the balcony. Short walk to the beach. Nice heated pool. Perfect.

The beach there is off the main beach area and quiet, which we prefer.

To have a washer and dryer in the apartment is a plus. To have access to a grill was nice.

All in all: great

Rooms: 5/5

Location: 5/5

 

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Recently re-opened this place is amazing. The area, the pool, the location on the beach, the view from the balcony.

The apartment was comfortable and spacious. Very well equipped kitchen and bathroom. The grill was a nice surprise! We had some wonderful days! We ll be back for sure!

Rooms: 5/5

Service: 5/5

Location: 5/5

Hotel highlights    Great view, Quiet, Kid-friendly

 

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Cornerstone is a gem

We are soooo happy to be back after Hurricane Ian wreaked havoc on this island over three years ago. Cornerstone is back and beautiful as ever! We stayed in unit 201. It is lovely. Beautiful and thoughtfully decorated and equipped for guests! The pool is perfect and heated to a comfortable temp. There is a nice Weber grill which we used to cook seafood and steak. James Barron is also back and helpful as always. Wish we could stay longer than a week but thankful we get to spend this time here!

 

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10/10

Posted Mar 7, 2026

My wife and I loved the condo…the deck-lanai had a great view of the beach and sunsets and we were just an elevator ride and a couple steps to the clean pool and beautiful beach!

 

10/10

Posted Mar 17, 2026

Our host Jodi was. Awesome.

 

10/10

Posted Mar 18, 2026

Beautiful beachfront condo! Perfect for our family. The location was central to so many attractions.

 

10/10

Posted Apr 1, 2026

Cornerstone 202 for the win. So charming and clean upon entry. The living area is full of natural light. Bright airy space with a relaxing beachy feel. We immediately entered vacation mode. The view of the gulf is stunning and we even saw some dolphins early in the morning. The host has thought of everything- pots, pans, etc., games—UNO was a hit, beach towels, chairs and even a cooler. Very convenient for the short walk to the beach. Conveniently, there is a washer and dryer in unit and an elevator on site. Off street parking. Quiet condo complex. No competition for pool space or pool chairs. Host provided many restaurant suggestions and things to do nearby. A property and communication from host. Highly recommend.

 

10/10

Posted Apr 10, 2026

Nice cozy condo. Everything you need for your stay. Condo and property was very clean.

 

10/10

Posted Apr 5, 2026

Was a great condo for a mother/daughter beach trip! Beautiful location with great beach!

 

 

10/10

Posted Apr 9, 2026

Check in was easy and quick. Location right on the beach. Our unit was spotless. Enjoyed our coffee each morning on the screen porch looking at the beautiful gulf.

 

10/10

Posted Apr 10, 2026

Our room was extremely clean and neat. Everything that we wanted was there

 

10/10

Posted Apr 15, 2026

Great condo, host was so accommodating. Will definitely stay here again!!

 

10/10

Posted Apr 16, 2026

A quiet, beautiful oceanfront property that has everything you'll need to go to the beach. Leave your towels and beach chairs at home. We'd stay here again for the right price!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

April 22, 2026

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We officially made it through our first high season since Hurricane Ian shut us down for three years!  Much thanks to all of our loyal returning and many new guests,  Mr. James, our fabulous cleaning staff, condo board members and owners for helping make it a success.  

As we head into our spring and summer seasons, make sure you reseve your condos sooner rather than later for the best availability.  We are running a late summer special which is low season.  Stay four nights, get your fifth night free!  This is valid late July, August and September.

It seems early to think about Winter and Spring of 2027, but if you plan to stay with us during this time, I would advise you to put your deposits down as soon as you can.  We have limited availability already in February and March 2027.  I do not forsee any rate changes from the posted rates on our website. 

Turtle season is fast approaching, May 1.  As a reminder to all of our guests and owners, all light must be blocked once the sun goes down.  This means you must close all shades, blinds, drapes on windows facing the beach.  There are pretty hefty fines if you are found in violation, and they do monitor the entire island nightly. 

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If you stayed with us and had a great time, be sure to leave a review on Google, TripAdvisor, Florida Rentals, VRBO, Yelp, FaceBook or any other media. 

Tell your friends too!  Word of mouth referrals are the best advertising to help get the word out that Fort Myers Beach is BACK and open for business!

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Thanks again and we will look forward to seeing you on the beach!

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March 8, 2026

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We are in full swing of high season!  It's been exciting to have a full house of guests enjoying the property and beach.  The weather and beach have been beautiful!  

We still have some availability for late spring, so it's not too late to escape the cold of the north. For our more local guests hop in the car and spend a few days at the beach.  If you plan to stay in 2027 get your dates and deposits in!  February is filling up fast!  We will open March 2027 dates in April.  

Cornerstone is a great place to book a family reunion in the summer.  Rates are lower and the island is less crowded.  This makes for better shelling and quicker seating at local dining establishments!  Families love our less crowded beach being away from the busier Times Square area.  

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January 27, 2026

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Happy New Year to all of our former and future guests!  Thanks to all of you we are back and things are going great!  Many guests have checked in and out since we reopened in October '25  and everyone who's stayed loves the new coastal vibe of Cornerstone.  Things are constantly changing with availability so if you don't see your favorite condo available, be sure to check on the website or let us know what dates you would like and we will do our best to alert you if it becomes available.  The shelling has been FANTASTIC this past month due to some storms.  

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October 19, 2025

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It feels great to say, Cornerstone Is Open!  We have had guests and owners staying in the condos and so far everyone seems to like it!  The fall is a perfect time to visit south Florida, well, ANYTIME is perfect, but I am loving the less humid air compared to August.  It's been wonderful to see people enjoying the pool and the buzz of vacation and relaxation, rather then a construction site!   Anyone with a hold should have received a confirmation this past week.  If you did not, please contact us.  You will have a new confirmation number starting with the letters JG or JB.  This is the confirmation number you will need to get into your guest login portal.  You can login anytime and see your reservation, payments and make payments.  Please use the email on file with us along with the confirmation number as your login credentials.  The whole system is new, so if you experience any glitches please let us know.  I do believe it is all up and running though.  

If you haven't made a reservation yet, we are taking them now through​.​​​​​​

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October 1, 2025

 

We are happy to report inspections went well!  Condos have been cleaned and getting some final finishing touches.  James and I are working hard to get the software updated, reservations in and invoices prepared! 

Please be patient with us. 

All current holds are good to go and you can feel confident in making a reservation!  Thank you to all who have followed us over the past few years while we put our "Slice of Heaven" back together!

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July 6, 2025

Happy Independence Day weekend!  I hope everyone had a great time celebrating!  We got the permit and passed an electrical inspection.  Still waiting to get our date from the Fire Inspectors.  I'll be on the property all this coming week, hopefully we get some information and dates.  With the uncertainty of a date, I reluctantly had to cancel all July holds.  If you had a hold in July you should have received an email from me last week.  I am hopeful we will get a few of our August guests in.  

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June 16, 2025

I've been down here the past few weeks morning and night trying to get things ready!  I did a walk around with Ed from Beach Talk Radio last week!  You can see the interview and video of the property on their Facebook Page!   Our hope was to be open this past weekend, but we have a few hold ups.  The biggest one being our permits for the fire suppression system (Sprinkler System).  I believe the building construction will be done this week.  We need to pass fire inspections before we can rent.  We are truly at the mercy of the person who issues permits and the inspectors schedule.  So it looks like we are playing the waiting game again.  As soon as we get any news, I'll post!   I will let some photos speak to the progress!  

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March 29, 2025

It was a week full of meetings!   The general contractor is sticking to the beginning of May, but now we are having some concerns about the fire suppression system, which is out of their control.  We will not be able to get our occupancy permit if it is not functioning properly.   The elevator works, I took a ride on it a few times today.  Fence should be installed April 3, lanai work has been going on, railings are all painted, I can say all condos will be newly painted and most furniture is being replaced.  Some condos had replaced bedroom sets right before the hurricane, so those will stay, but just about everything else will be new.  Some will have all new bathrooms, cabinets, vanity's, lanai furniture and pool furniture will be all new as well.  It will be like a new building once we open!  There are lots of workers on site, the property has been buzzing.  Such a difference from my past visits.  I have been able to meet with several owners in person this week and many phone calls with other owners trying to get things organized for our guests.  Still much to do in and around the property, but definitely feeling better about getting guests in condos!  I've been taking photos and will post them soon.  They are now pushing the opening back to Mid-May.  If you had a May hold, we should be good to go around mid-May.  Beginning of the month holds will need to be pushed back later in May or rescheduled.  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

 

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January 3, 2025

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season.  It's been a while since the last update, but I haven't had much to report.   Here is the latest news.

Concrete and stucco work has been finished, finally!  Exterior painting is scheduled to begin February 1 and expected to take about four weeks to complete.  Once the painting is done, the pool deck will be laid and the pool will be repaired and resurfaced.  

The new doors are in and hardware is being installed. 

Fire panel has been replaced.

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The contractors best update for all work to be done is April.  They did not say beginning, mid or late, but they were confident all work would be done in April.  We seem to have a reliable schedule in place, so as soon as we get that solid date or timeframe I will let you know.  I have emailed everyone with a hold January-March 2025 letting them know we will not be open for their holds.  April holds, I would certainly have a solid plan B since I don't know the exact date yet.  If you had a hold this past January-March, you will get the option to hold your similar dates in 2026 before we open it up to the general public.  If you know you will or will not be back in 2026, please let me know.  I will attempt to contact you if I have not heard back or don't see your hold come through the internet.   I am anxious to get everyone back to the beach!

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November 4, 2024

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While we had been making progress and were hoping to be open by Jan. 1, 2025, I was just informed today by the condo board president, they do not think they will be able to open until March 2025.  The more recent hurricane damage and delays in several items is pushing our opening back yet again.  I can't believe we will be missing out on a third year of January and February guests.  I am very disappointed in this news as I know you are too.    

I sincerely thank you for continuing to want to come back to Cornerstone and Fort Myers Beach.  I will continue to update you as I get updates. 

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October 12, 2024

What a whirlwind of a two weeks!  First Helene and then Milton!   I was waiting to get some photos and reports before an update.  We faired ok.  Lots of sand washout all around the property from Milton, but the structure of the building is good and minimal damage to the building as far as we can tell.  We believe the elevator is ok at this point.  We certainly lost some progress, but the repairs are not major.  Only owners have been allowed on the property, so our contractor has not been able to be on site yet.  One of the owners was on site yesterday and took some photos and was able to check on their condo.  They report no water intrusion or damage to their condo.  So we are hopeful for all the others.  As for the island itself, it looks pretty good overall.  We did get flooding, up to about six feet of storm surge on the north end, where the elevation is lower.  Sand everywhere!  But most buildings seemed to have held up pretty well.  I have seen lots of video and drone footage of the island the morning after, and aside from lots of sand and fences all over, it looks pretty good.  I really think we dodged another major catastrophe.  At this point, I am not sure how much this will set us back, and we still need to get through another few weeks of hurricane season.  Once I hear more I'll give another update.  I do think it's safe to say we will not likely be open till 2025, unfortunately.  I will of course keep updating if anything changes.

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September 29, 2024

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Hard to believe it's been two years since the big one, Hurricane Ian.  We have made it through Idalia, Debby and now Helene.  I am glad to say Helene didn't hurt too much.  We did have flooding on the property causing water to get into the storage rooms, bathrooms and elevator pit.  Some pavers had sand washed out from under them and the pool is full of water and likely sand.  After clean up we can get back on track.  We certainly dodged another potential disaster!  The weather has been extremely rainy the past month which has slowed down some projects, but they assure me work is continuing.  I have a few photos of the property.  The tile along the top edge of the pool looks nice and the bathrooms are looking good.  Pavers for around the pool area are supposed to be delivered soon, maybe even this week.   I will continue to take holds for 2025 without deposit until I get about the eight week notice we will reopen.  Late spring, summer and fall are wide open as of now.  

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September 5, 2024

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Not as much progress as I had hoped for, but some.  Pavers have been laid under the building, condos have been cleared out of old furniture, new furniture has been ordered.  Ground floor bathroom tile is in, elevator is almost ready for inspection.  They had some parts they were waiting for.  The stucco/concrete report was finally delivered last week.  I don't know if the work has begun yet.  Last I heard they were working on a plan to get the work done.  New turtle safe lighting has been installed on the exterior, plumbing work and electrical work has been done around the pool.  I believe work is ongoing, I will get another update tomorrow morning and will add anything new to this entry.

I do not believe we will be open in October or November.  It's hard to say when there are so many parts to this project and I have learned how one thing here or there can hold up everything for months.  Enjoy some new photos.​​​

 

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June 14, 2024

 

I know it has been a while since I gave an update, so here it goes.

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After another slow down of work a meeting was called with our General Contractor this morning.  I was able to attend along with our condo board.  To make a very long story, short.  I am feeling like anything that could go wrong, has.  After all the windows and sliders were installed, this past week's rain has exploited the poor installment of them.  So, we are having them taken out and reinstalled correctly.  A few other items need to be redone too.  We have a new company installing these items.  It has been an incredibly long few months since we got the permit.  After meeting with our new project manager today, I feel good about the direction of the repairs, but there are still many.  I asked her when she thought we would realistically be able to open, her response was, "Sometime in September." to which I asked, September 1 or 30?  She replied, "If we have no more problems since we just entered hurricane season, Doors open October 1."  Obviously this was not what I wanted to hear, but I'm thankful for her honesty and an answer.  It will be two full years since Hurricane Ian stole our happy place.  

 

With that said, if you have a hold in August or September, we will likely not be ready for you.  I can't even begin to tell you how it pains me to have to write another email cancelling holds.  I feel terrible for all of you who were looking forward to coming this summer, and find it unbelievable we are sitting here still waiting.  If you have not been down since the hurricane, the time it has taken to get back open is telling of how truly devastated the island was.   For comparison, if you remember Hurricane Charlie, which was a smaller but very damaging hurricane, we were able to open in a few months.  As mentioned in my other online updates, Ft. Myers Beach has been very resilient in all the chaos.  Times square looks different, but it's getting its groove back a little more each day.  The town just presented its conceptual drawings for the rebuild and many new properties have gone before the LPA and town council for approval. Old and new favorites have reopened.  Beach Talk Radio is a great place to get the most updated, accurate information!  They are on FaceBook, but have a stand alone website too. 

 

On a more personal note, the previous property managers have decided to retire, and offered me the accounts at Cornerstone.  The condo board approved us, so I am very excited to take the next step in this adventure! If you have stayed with us before, you likely met James.  I am happy to say he will be back with us!  I have not been very available by phone due to everything going on.  Email works a little better, since I can reply to those almost any time.  Once things slow down a bit, I look forward to having all those fun vacation conversations again!

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Jodi

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May 9, 2024

Things are progressing!  We have all new windows and doors.  Electrical work is being done for the pool equipment and elevator this week.  Interior work is scheduled to begin next week.  Old light fixtures are being removed from the exterior and stucco work is scheduled as well.  For those asking, it sounds like there will be new couches, mattresses and bedding in the condos!   The final selections are being made and presented to the owners very soon.  Really the best news is that things are progressing on a consistent basis.  Our best estimate is a reopening date in August.  A few other changes for our returning guests- you will now pick up your keys at Cornerstone!  You will no longer have to make that extra stop and we will have James on site to welcome you and assist you.  

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April 20, 2024

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Yesterday I got an update and was able to get some sort of updated timeline on reopening.  The latest estimate is four to five months.  This puts us around Labor Day.  The president of the condo association said he is hopeful for "sometime in August".  So any spring/summer hold will have to be cancelled.  This was not the news I was hoping for, but I am glad to have some sort of solid estimate.  As mentioned in previous posts, once we finally got our permit in February,  we hit a stall with our contractor.  I am not sure what all the reasons are, but very little work was done in March.  Now that we seem to have a somewhat consistent crew on the property, work is slowly being done.  The exterior stucco work has been a concern.  Even though the building looks ok from a distance, small cracks were exploited by Ian and Idalia that were initially missed in early inspections.  Water forced into those cracks got behind the stucco and caused delamination of portions of the stucco.  This is a problem on a few fronts.  Without addressing this properly, the stucco will deteriorate and become a safety problem since it is not all fully attached to the blocks beneath it.  More scaffolding has been put up, new windows have been installed. I want to assure you we have and continue to closely monitor any water intrusion into the condos and take all measures to professionally mitigate and repair water/moisture damage.  

The good news is my fall/winter 2024 and spring 2025 holds seem to be in good shape, but as we have learned anything is possible.  You will LOVE the all new and improved Cornerstone!   I've seen the new pool furniture and new pavers.  We are working on updating our website to allow for secure online payments and convenient wristbands as your door keys.  The late check in box will be on site.

Several other improvements in the works as well, I hope to announce them very soon!   "

I am very sorry to have to deliver this news.  We have had many issues with our contractors, and that combined with the extensive stucco work now needed has really set things back.   At this point I will be cancelling all "holds" for this spring/summer, through July 31.  As we get through the spring and summer months and closer to August I will have a better idea of the actual reopening date.  

 

 

 

April 10, 2024

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Things are looking up a bit.  Last week windows were installed and this week stucco and exterior work is beginning.  We are getting more frequent updates so I am feeling a bit better since my last update.  We still do not have a reopening date, but as I have learned going through this, even if they gave me a date, I wouldn't hold my breath.  It seems like so many unexpected things have popped up and delayed things the past six months.  I am hopeful we can continue consistent work on the property and get a sense of reopening timeline in a few weeks.   We will not be open in May, I just don't see it happening.  I am not optimistic for June either, at this point.  But we will see!  Hoping to get some photos of progress soon to share. 

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February 28, 2024

After a quick chat with our condo board president and board member, here is the latest.  Work is happening, but it is slow.  The elevator is in, but they encountered some electrical issues needing repair before they can complete it.  Some additional stucco damage has been found causing water to delaminate it and will have to be repaired.  At this point we will not be open in April and May is truly up in the air.  We have had to deal with a change from our original foreman on site and illness with the new one right after we finally got the permit.  So the delays just kept coming!  It seems we are in a better place this past week or so.  I will be making another trip on site at the end of this month and hope to get some photos of real progress happening.  I know we have so many guest anxious to get down there, and I wish I had better answers and information.  I have emailed our April holds, but if you have a hold in May, please know I can't promise we will be ready.  As soon as we get any real timeline, I will share it!  If you had a hold these past few months or upcoming and plan to be down in 2025, please let me know asap!  I will be releasing condo availability if I don't hear from you.   

A side note:  One of our owners has a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom condo on Bonita Beach available for the month of March and last two weeks in April.  It is located a The Ambassador condo building on the the beach.  If anyone is interested in staying in it for at least 2-3 weeks, please contact me and I will get you in touch with them.  Here are some photos and information on the condo. ​​​​

 

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January 26, 2024

Good Morning all.  I have had many calls, emails and text this past week asking about progress and when I think we will reopen.  I wish I had a crystal ball and could tell you.  From my communications between the condo board and property manager, the spring stays are not looking good.  I can say we will not be open before April 1.  Between what our contractor needs to do and our owners need to do to get the condos up and running it's going to be a while.  The elevator has been worked on, I am not sure if it is complete.  

As I said, February and March we will not be open.  If you have a hold in April or May I would be cautiously optimistic especially May.  April is really up in the air right now and could go either way.  I feel like by May we may have a few condos ready.  I know this is not the news anyone wants to hear, but I am trying to be as transparent as possible.  We had all thought we would be open by now without a doubt a few months ago, but it seems Murphy's law is with us.  If  I hear anything new, I will post it here.  

Jodi

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January 5, 2024

Happy New Year!

I hope this finds everyone healthy and enjoying our first few days of 2024.  I know it's been a little longer between updates, and I wish I had more information more frequently, but things are just at an absolute stand still!  I was on site this past week, and I am sad to say, it looks pretty much the same as it did in August when I was there.  The permit has progressed and the latest rejection letter was only one paragraph instead of multiple pages, so I guess that is a positive!  The issue at hand is the ground floor bathrooms.  Anyone who has visited Cornerstone since it was built in 2004, knows we had two bathrooms right next to the pool.  The condo board and the town have been battling it out regarding the replacement of these bathrooms.  The condo board feels we should be able to replace them as they were and the town says since they were destroyed in the hurricane, we have to follow the "new" floodplain rules of "no bathrooms on the ground floor".   I am not sure where or when this will all end, but the condo board feels they are very close to a solution and hoping it is resolved this week.

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October 22, 2023

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This is the most recent email sent to our November holds.  I will email our December holds later this week with an update as I will be getting more frequent updates on the permit status this week.  We do believe we are very close to getting that permit.  Our contractor feels it will be about eight weeks to completion once the permits are in our hands.  So if we get them this week, we are looking at Mid-December as the earliest possible reopening dates.  It is always difficult to deliver  the bad news but I want to give you as much notice as possible.​

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Jodi

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August 29, 2023

Well we are exactly 11 months out from Hurricane Ian and now we sit watching Hurricane Idalia.  I am watching very closely as I know many of you are too!  I was assured our building is going to prepared for what is expected, at this point rain, some wind, and possible storm surge up to 4ft.  If Idalia continues on the forecasted track, I believe we will be just fine.  But we know things don't always go as forecasted.  So we play the waiting game.  With that said, I was down on the beach for a week mid-August to get more photos and another update.

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Things continue to shape up.  The beach was just as beautiful as ever, the birds are back as well as many dolphin and turtle nests line the beach and the babies are working on finding the ocean.  Shelling was unbelievable!  We found so many shells and many different types of shells which is always exciting!  More and more restaurants are opening in different capacities.  We enjoyed meals at Pinchers, Parrot Key, Yucatan, Dixie Fish Co., Doc Ford's, The Fish House, Mom's, Snug Harbor, Wahoo Willies.  We ventured up to Captiva for the Mucky Duck and Sanibel for a look at the lighthouse and frozen custard at The Shack!  It was a wonderful trip!  Other local favorites open are Heavenly Biscuit, Junkanoo, Fresh Catch Bistro, Yo Taco!, Cafe O La, Bonita Bill's, Doc's Beach House and more!  Publix was open and we did enjoy the Key Lime Pie!  Some retail shops are starting to open as well!

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Cornerstone is shaping up slowly.  When I was down there the permits were still held up which was a bit disappointing but our fantastic construction crew and general contractor and working very hard on everything that does not need to be permitted.  Drywall has been installed in the units needing it, which was all of them!  Most of the drywall damage was in the bathrooms and the wall separating the living area and the bathroom.  Most units looked just about ready to be repainted.  The new elevator is supposed to be coming in September.  I know the company was out looking at what needed to be done to remove the old one and prep it for the new one.  The grounds have been prepped for the new pavers around the pool.  The pool itself will get a new coat and tiles.  I have seen all the renderings of the spaces when they are done, and very excited to see it all come together.  

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Below are some photos from the August trip.  Thank you again for following our journey to recovering and reopening!  The office is still not operating on the island, so I will continue to take your reservations and hold time.  I anticipate making calls in about 4-6 weeks to start collecting deposits.  At that time we will make sure all the details and dates are solid and you will receive a confirmation via email.   We will start with the reservations this fall and winter, then move to our spring and summer 2024.  I will continue to have limited office hours as I do have another job, but will do my best to return calls, emails and texts as they come in. 

It has been a long 11 months but I am so excited for what's ahead.

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July 15, 2023

Things are still progressing in a positive way!  The pavers have been pulled from around the pool and under the building.  I believe they are being replaced with a new style/color.  The storage room wall has been repaired and new hardy board has been installed on the exterior.  Interiors are still being worked on.   The portal to make reservations will open August 1.  We just want to make sure anyone who had to cancel this past year has had the chance to secure their time.  I can tell you, February and March are pretty full which is very exciting to see everyone wanting to come back.  If you were hoping for a February or March reservation, please feel free to send a message and we can put you on a waiting list if we don't have  your dates.   Once we start asking for deposits in late September and October, things may open up a bit.  Here are a few photos from this past week of the grounds.  

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June 9, 2023

I went down to see Cornerstone this past week. I met with our property managers and James from the Seaside office, for those of you who know him.  It was a week filled with many different emotions.  It's been nine months since Ian hit the Island.  For those of you who saw the pictures and videos right after the storm passed, much work has been done!  Most of the big debris has been removed.  There are still some very large piles and as they continue to demolish structures the piles will continue.  I think I can safely say, every single structure was affected by the storm one way or another.  Some buildings are literally shells, some were totally washed away and some have less damage, but everything has some.  Anything on the ground built of wood is gone or damaged beyond repair.  Anything made of concrete or cinder blocks fared much better.  Most things built in the past 10-15 years did pretty well.  

The beach is looking great!  I was surprised how great it looked!  We walked north and south of Cornerstone on the beach and saw no dangerous debris (glass, nails, wood, tile).  To stand on the beach and look north or south was beautiful!  If I had never been to Ft. Myers Beach, I wouldn't really notice much.  Those who have been there, will notice many houses and some resorts missing.

Shelling was great!  We found shells I was never lucky to find in the past!  The only thing we really missed, was not having a pool to cool off in.

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Estero Blvd. is a different story.  Walking up and down the sidewalks gave us our best look at the work still to be done and showed the unforgiving side of Mother Nature.  There is smaller debris almost everywhere except the street.  As we walked I saw mirrors, tiles, dishes, sheets, shoes, flatware and things I'm not sure what they were.  Homes and buildings waiting to be demolished, condo buildings needing to be repaired.  I was surprised at the lack of activity on many properties.  In talking with the locals they seem to be in the same situation as Cornerstone and Seaside.  Waiting for insurance to pay and waiting for permits to be issued.  Insurance being the bigger problem.  Contractors will not start the work without deposits and without the insurance money it's hard to get the deposits together.  As we all sit waiting for these two things, the homes and businesses and condos sit waiting.

It was strangely quiet, not much construction noise. 

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What's open?  We found many of our favorite places to eat open!  We ate wonderful meals at Pinchers, Dixie Fish Co., Coconut Jacks, Yucatan Bar and Grill.  Times Square has many food trucks serving ice cream, Mexican food, sandwiches and smoothies.  Wahoo Willies, Snug Harbor, Junkanoo, Fresh Catch Bistro, Bonita Bill's, Parrot Key at Salty Sam's are all open.  Across from the Lani Kai hotel is Yo Taco and a shrimp food truck.  Liki Tiki has relocated to the other side of the bridge and The Whale has a large tent bar on Estero Blvd.  The pink movie theater has been repainted a bright blue and is being turned into a restaurant.  Publix is open and we enjoyed some great sandwiches, key lime pie, fresh fruit and did our regular grocery shopping.  For those of you who like to venture out to Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island, we went to the Mucky Duck which looks exactly the same as it did pre-hurricane.  Bubble Room is under construction and will reopen, Island Cow is totally gone, but they are rebuilding.  Mudbugs is open.  Pine Island and Matlacha is a little bit of a drive up north.  The Matlacha are is still quite devastated, but Pine Island Tarpon Lodge restaurant did not disappoint!  You can really feel the hope and love of the beach in every employee, the gratitude was undeniable as we talked to people.  They are so happy to have people back at their business.  The island has a long road ahead, there is still so much to be done.  It is a very mixed feeling of loss for the old beach life as we knew it, but an excitement of what's to come.  The locals have been very clear about not wanting high rise condos taking over.  They do not want it to look like Clearwater or Miami.  They put a high priority on the environment and keeping the wildlife safe and cared for.  Only time will tell.

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When will Cornerstone and Seaside reopen?  That is the million dollar question.  As mentioned previously it depends on permits and insurance monies.  Cornerstone has been ready for months to have work begin.  It has power and water, all debris is cleared out.  The brick in pool area was supposed to be started Wednesday.  The owners have decided to go ahead and begin work not requiring permits.  I was last told permits were supposed to be issued this week.  I have learned to not count on these timelines.  Everything seems to take twice as long as we expect.  I was able to go into several of the condos and was very happy to see minimal damage.  They look a mess mainly because the furniture is moved to the center of the rooms and covered in plastic, but the areas needing repair are mainly the bathroom drywall.  Some water came in through vents causing the lower four feet to be removed in the bathroom and some bathroom ceilings drywall removed, but everything else held up fantastic!  No funky smells, carpet looked good too.  Screens and railings in several condos will need to be replaced but the units themselves did well.  The elevator should be installed end of July.  The fence around the grounds and pool will be replaced, bathrooms will be renovated, storage rooms need doors and a wall rebuilt.

 

After meeting with the property managers we feel confident we will be open October 1.  I hope sooner, but feel the October 1 date is a safe estimate.  I was so hopeful we would be open this summer, but glad to have a real target date.  Once we have an actual reopening date, we will begin taking deposits.  If you have contacted me about a reschedule for 2024 because your 2023 reservation was cancelled, I will continue to hold your dates.  If you would like to confirm your 2024 date please don't hesitate to contact me. If you have not contacted me, please do as soon as possible.  Email, text, call, voicemail would be great! 

 

I will be able to start taking new reservations very soon!  No deposit needed at this time.  Once we get the payment system up and running again, we will contact everyone and request deposits.  

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Thank you again to everyone who has sent an email, a call, left a message!  I have appreciated every single one of them!  It means a lot to me knowing you are thinking of us.  Below are the photos I took over last week, June 1-7.  They should help you visualize where things are at. 

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February 4, 2023 

February!  Everyone in the midwest is wishing they were in Florida right now!  The good news is we have had both power and water restored to the building after several delays!  The general contractor is ready to go and things should start progressing much faster now!  I can't wait to get some photos once the work has been done!  We do not have a firm reopening date yet because many things still need to happen, but we are hoping to get the first three floors open roughly May/June and add the fourth floor at the end of June or July.  We can not open the fourth floor until the elevator is installed and ready to go.  The expected elevator installation is end of June or July.  We are still working on getting our offices repaired and online.  Once we have them ready to go we will be able to start taking new reservations and deposits.  If you had a 2023 reservation which was cancelled, please let me know as soon as you can, if you intend to reschedule it for 2024.  Only reservations cancelled and coming back the following year, for the same time frame are being put on the calendar as holds.  Once we are up and running in the office, we will contact you for a deposit on the 2024 dates.  Anyone who had a 2023 reservation between our reopening date and December will be allowed to rebook that time as well, before we open the calendar to new reservations.  If you have any questions, please contact me.