I received an e-mail from JMC Communities, an upscale development company, stating that none of their developments were touched by recent Florida hurricane developments. Here's a snippet straight from their e-mail to me:

Just a quick note to report that Hurricane Frances, which created havoc across Florida last weekend, spared Belle Harbor on Clearwater Beach. While some newly planted landscaping was uprooted, there was no damage whatsoever to any buildings, construction site, amenities or docks.

Other JMC communities under construction also fared well during this two-coast storm.

Minorca on New Smyrna Beach received 18 hours of heavy winds and rain, leaving some uprooted landscaping and downed fencing, but no exterior harm to any buildings. We are continuing the process of surveying the impact of the hurricane. At initial glance the amenities, grounds and marina are, indeed, a bit messy, but undamaged.

And The Bellamy on Bayshore in Tampa - located on one of the highest elevations along the famed boulevard - experienced no wind or water damage to the construction site, sales center or existing oak trees.

It's a good thing, too. I've been getting a lot of phone calls on Belle Harbor, lately, and luckily the resales available in Phase I weren't damaged, as those and the resales in Phase II, also undamaged, are the only ones left for sale. Thank goodness for modern building codes. Also, Mandalay Beach Club, a condo that was built two years ago by JMC Communities, located right on Clearwater Beach, and across the street from Belle Harbor, managed to come out completely unscathed from the recent wind and rain brough by Frances. We were fortunate enough to not be affected at all by Charley. Sorry, Charley.

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-John Mudd
"Mr. Real Estate"