REAL ESTATE

22 THE SUN REAL ESTATE

Pocket listings popular for privacy

When you purchase a home, it’s inevitable that you lose some privacy. Property purchases become public record and most counties in the United States make databases of these purchases available on their local websites.

This is the reason that celebrities and high-profile buyers like politicians and the very wealthy frequently purchase their personal property in a limited liability company. LLCs aren’t foolproof in shielding personal identities because of new laws designed to disclose who the actual buyer is in an attempt to curb money laundering. But for the average curious neighbor, it does make it a little more difficult to determine who, exactly, is the real owner.

So how does the desire for privacy impact the current shortage of available properties to purchase? Well, an old real estate tool called a pocket listing is becoming very popular again. A pocket listing is a property listing that is not placed in the local multiple listing system for any broker to show to their clients; rather, the listing agent and their broker keep the listing in-house, showing it to a small group of potential buyers.

Although there is nothing illegal about this way of marketing a property, because of the increasing number of brokers using this method, the National Association of Realtors adopted a rule last year aimed at discouraging its use. The new NAR policy requires agents to add a listing to their local listing service within a business day of publicly advertising the listing. However, listings can still be kept off the database if they are only shared within one brokerage, essentially an office exclusive.

Small, independent brokers argue that this gives a huge benefit to big brokerages that can make properties available to a larger number of in-house agents.

This is starting to affect the number of properties available for sale in an already low-inventory market. In Tampa, for example, the proportion of estimated pocket listings rose to 6.1% from 4.4% two years ago.

The argument against pocket listings is, of course, that buyers do not have all of the properties on the market available to them, pushing the prices up even more for the remainder of listings.

The argument for pocket listings is that sellers who prefer a more private choice when selling their home have the option of pre-qualified buyers who have already been screened. Pocket listings also eliminate some of the frenzy that is defining this market with bidding wars and dozens of showings.

The National Association of Realtors reports that home sales fell 2.7% in April from March and that April was the third straight monthly decline - the longest since last spring. In addition, the median singlefamily home price nationally jumped to $341,600 in April, the highest on record. Manatee County also experienced the highest median sale price on record for the month of April at $405,000.

I see it both ways. Sellers should be entitled to list their personal homes any way they want in order to maintain their privacy and sanity. However, when you look at the numbers, you can only feel for the poor buyers who are not only working against cash buyers, low inventory and high prices, but now with private listings increasing, having even fewer properties to tour.

Unfortunately, things will only get worse before they get better. Sellers want to maximize the profit in their property while still keeping their privacy, and buyers are at a loss of what to do next. What a year. Stay safe.

Castles in the Sand

LOUISE BOLGER

New concierge business offers a one-stop shop for visitors to plan any adventure or activity.

BY JASON SCHAFFER

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA - A new business in the heart of Gulf Drive in Anna Maria is helping Island visitors spend less time booking activities and more time enjoying their vacation.

Whether it’s a family that wants a golf cart and some personal watercraft rentals or a wedding party that may need an entire restaurant privately booked, Susanne Arbanas can make it happen. Her newlyopened business, Anna Maria Island Concierge Services, takes pride in alleviating the stress of booking multiple excursions and rentals, leaving guests more time to spend enjoying the Island and less headache researching what’s right for them.

“A newlywed couple may not want to book a sunset cruise on a boat with a lot of excited children, they may want something a little more quiet and romantic. I know which charters meet their needs, so rather than call and research to find exactly what they want, they can just come to me, so they can relax and enjoy the honeymoon and let me take care of the details,” said Arbanas.

Arbanas is no stranger to the hospitality industry. She worked for Continental Airlines from the 1980s to around 2000 before moving to Australia in 2000 to work in the airline industry for Sir Richard Branson with Virgin Atlantic, as well as Qantas Airways. Arbanas returned to the U.S. in 2008 where she settled on Anna Maria Island. Certainly not a stranger to AMI, Susanne had been coming here every year since age 3 to visit her grandparents, who had a home on the Island.

“After heading up concierge for Compass by Margaritaville, I saw the change here. The Island had gone from 90% locals and 10% tourists to exactly the opposite. The visitors were now the 90%, so I thought this may be a great time to take my talents and my 13 years of networking and put them to good use,” said Arbanas, speaking of her decision to leave Compass and start AMI Concierge Service.

“Because of my passion for the Island, all things Anna Maria, I just love the fact that people are coming to explore the Island. It’s even better when you can help with their adventures and them not have to take those precious days that they have here figuring everything out. You can tailor a vacation for them and guide them in the direction of what it is exactly they want to do,” Arbanas added.

In addition to being an expert in the hospitality industry, Arbanas truly loves being a part of the AMI community and gets satisfaction out of seeing other people find enjoyment in the Island she calls home. She is involved with multiple charities and organizations on the Island, including being an Ambassador for the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m involved with her because her energy level is so high, I couldn’t imagine meeting her briefly and not having a good time. If she’s going to help plan your weekend, or plan your week, you’ve got the right person for it,” said Bob Slicker, who owns Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez.

The self-proclaimed “Director of Contagious Enthusiasm” is available weekdays; walk-ins are welcome at 9805 Gulf Drive in Anna Maria, or you can call 941-4047575 or visit amiconciergeservices.com.

JASON SCHAFFER | SUN Susanne Arbanas stands in front of her new business, Anna Maria Island Concierge Services.

City leaders consider swap with Seaside Gardens HOA

Commissioners are seeking a compromise to take over a parcel of land owned by Seaside Gardens residents that holds a city stormwater pond.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Several representatives from the Seaside Gardens homeowners association are trying to work with city leaders to find a resolution to save homeowners money and get some needed cleanup work done at a city stormwater drainage location.

The narrow piece of land located between the Seaside Gardens neighborhood and city field is only about 32,950 square feet, but Tom Potter, the current president of the neighborhood HOA, said property owners are tired of paying stormwater fees on a piece of property that is partially used for the city’s stormwater drainage system.

Potter said that a portion of the property is used by the city for a stormwater pond and swale. The people he represents wants the city to take responsibility for that portion of the property and abate the stormwater fee paid for it to the city. He added that the part of the property used by the city has stagnant water and other concerning issues that are adversely affecting the neighbors and needs to be cleaned out.

Though city leaders were presented with the proposal as a land donation, Potter said that’s not the case and that some parts of the land need to be retained by the homeowners association. Mayor Judy Titsworth said that some of the property is used for home access for the community.

Titsworth said that the stormwater facilities on the property are there to help prevent flooding in Seaside Gardens and that it wouldn’t be wise for commissioners to give up the stormwater fees collected from the property if the city wouldn’t be getting the property to count towards its flood insurance rating.

City attorney Patricia Petruff told Potter that she would attempt to locate the easement agreement she believes exists between the city and the HOA for the use of the property for stormwater facilities.

Commissioners agreed that there needs to be more discussion on developing some sort of trade agreement between the city and the HOA that is beneficial to both parties. Potter said he would speak to the members of the HOA and see what feedback he can get.

“We’ll work with you,” Titsworth promised.

SUBMITTED | CITY OF HOLMES BEACH A narrow strip of land owned by the Seaside Gardens homeowners association between city field and the Island Real Estate office may soon be traded, at least in part, to the city of Holmes Beach.

FROM PAGE 1

The new ordinance is an amended version of the original Ordinance 20-516, adopted in May 2020, which allowed the temporary expansion of outdoor dining spaces but prohibited live music in those expanded areas. The live music prohibition was never enforced.

With its approval, the commission reversed its stance on the May 20 first reading of Ordinance 21533, when it agreed that the live music prohibition contained in the previous ordinance would be enforced if the new ordinance was adopted on second reading.

The live music prohibition did not apply to live music performance areas used before the pandemic struck; the expansion of outdoor seating areas was first allowed in 2020.

NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT

On Friday, May 28, Bradenton Beach Building Official Steve Gilbert and members of the Bradenton Beach Police Department crafted a written notice that was distributed to impacted and potentially impacted establishments prior to Thursday’s meeting.

The notice of prohibition stated, “Ordinance 20-516, adopted on May 21, 2020, provided for an expansion of outdoor dining due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ordinance provided for a number of regulations pertaining to the expanded areas allowed. The ordinance also provided for several prohibitions. Section 5 expressly prohibits live entertainment and bands in the expanded outdoor dining areas.”

The notice included an acknowledgment form for the business owner or manager to sign which said, “I hereby acknowledge that I have read this document and agree to cease live entertainment and bands in my expanded outdoor dining area.”

“The city has received complaints of live entertainment and bands in those expanded outdoor dining areas and is responding to these complaints. Be advised that effective June 4, city police and code enforcement officers will begin enforcement of this prohibition. Violations will result in the loss of any expanded outdoor dining areas,” the city notice stated.

BUSINESSES OPPOSED

The Bridge Tender Inn, the Drift In and the Wicked Cantina feature live music in their expanded outdoor seating areas. During Thursday’s commission meeting, Drift Owner Joe Cuervo, Drift In manager Doreen Flynn and Bridge Tender Inn owner Fred Bartizal asked the commission to reconsider its position on prohibiting live music in the expanded outdoor seating areas.

“It’s nonsense to me that you can’t have a tent and you can’t have a band,” Flynn said. “You guys are the ones that promoted Bridge Street to be a destination of fun and nightlife. Why do you want to take that away from us, and take that away from Bridge Street? Most people don’t want to sit inside. They want to be outside.”

Cuervo said most of the Drift In’s live music occurs indoors and their outdoor music usually takes place on Saturday afternoons. He said his establishment has never been cited for a noise ordinance violation and the additional outdoor seating is helping him rebuild his bank account.

“I’ve lost over a million and a half dollars in those seven to eight months. I took all my savings out to keep things going. You tell me what I need to do to keep my tents and have my band in the daytime, from two to six. Anything you all can do to help me I would appreciate,” Cuervo said.

Bartizal said he’s loved Bridge Street since 1953 and it’s become a highlight of Anna Maria Island.

“I really don’t appreciate people who move here lately who try to change it. It doesn’t make any sense. The places we put our bands have always been there. They’re going to stay there. We have gone through thick and thin to keep this thing going,” Bartizal said.

During Thursday’s meeting, Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said, “I think we should do everything possible to help our businesses. They’ve gone through a lot.”

Commissioner Ralph Cole said he sees no reason to prohibit live music in the expanded outdoor areas

Commissioner Jake Spooner noted the city’s noise ordinance still applies to live music.

“I’m all for continuing the expansion of outdoor dining. If there’s a noise ordinance violation, there’s a noise ordinance violation,” he said.

Lt. John Cosby said the Bradenton Beach Police Department only has two decibel meters, which the officers currently share. Cosby said the department plans to purchase additional meters so each officer has one.

The only public comment against live music in the expanded outdoor seating areas was at the May 20 meeting, when Old Bridge Village condominium resident Mary Bell expressed opposition to the Bridge Tender Inn continuing live music in its expanded seating area.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN The Drift In can continue using its expanded seating area for live music.

OBITUARIES

Thomas R. Sprenger MD

Thomas Robert Sprenger, MD of Bradenton and Holmes Beach, Florida passed away May 29, 2021 at age 89. Tom was born in Seymour, IN on August 22, 1931. His parents, Robert Daniel and Margaret Myron Sprenger, moved their family to Paintsville, KY in 1934 and to Ashland, KY in 1936. The Ohio River Flood of January 1937 was a poignant childhood memory that Tom spoke of often during his life. He was baptized in the First Baptist Church in Ashland. He was a 1949 graduate of Ashland High School, attended Marshall University, and received his MD degree in 1956 from Indiana University. That year he married Justine Gambill Stinson in Ashland. They lived in Indianapolis during his first three years of postgraduate training. He continued orthopaedic training in New Orleans and Tampa prior to starting his practice in Bradenton in 1961. Their daughter Rebecca was born in Tampa and son Michael in Bradenton.

Tom’s work and outcome studies in fracture treatment and adult reconstructive surgery have been documented in published papers. He was one of the founders of Blake Hospital, served as Chief of Staff of Manatee Hospital and was Chairman of the Board of Blake Hospital. He retired from surgical practice in 1998. He was a member of many medical and surgical associations including the American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, International College of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (SICOT). He was a charter member of the Eastern Orthopaedic Association and the Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons. He served on many committees of the Florida Orthopaedic Society and was president in 1989-90 and journal editor 1999-2002. He also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training physician from 1969-1987.

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Indiana Army National Guard in 1956 and retired as a Brigadier General of the Line in the Florida Army National Guard in 1991. He was branch qualified in infantry and medical and completed the Command and General Staff College, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the Army War College. He proposed a hearing conservation program for use on the firing ranges in the Florida Army National Guard that was put in use prior to the one instituted in the active army.

He was elected to the Manatee County School Board from 1967-1971 serving as chairman of the board from 1967-68. He was active in the Hernando de Soto Historical Society starting in 1969 and served in many capacities, including general chairman, president, Hernando de Soto and was awarded an Honorary Life Membership. He was also a founding director of Community Bank of Manatee. His hobbies included the violin, photography and military history.

Tom was proud of his formative years growing up in Eastern Kentucky, attending college in West Virginia, and jokingly called himself an “Appalachian American.” He was elected to membership in the Order of Kentucky Colonels in 1982.

He and Justine became members of Palma Sola Presbyterian Church in February 1962. He served terms as a deacon and an elder. He edited and helped with the layout for publication of the booklet marking the 50th Anniversary of Palma Sola Church in 2007.

His parents predeceased him, as did Justine, his wife of 52 years, and Carole, his wife of 8 years. Survivors include his daughter Rebecca (Mitchel) Belis of Bradenton; son Michael (Lynne) and their children Jacob, Sophia and Nathan of Valrico, FL; nephew Shawn May (Anna Jo) of Ashland, KY; and niece Kimberly May Vazquez (Ben) of Scotch Plains, NJ.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 from 5-7 p.m., with a memorial service on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Palma Sola Presbyterian Church, 6510 Third Ave. W., Bradenton, FL. A Celebration of Life will be held following the memorial service until 3 p.m. at the Bradenton Country Club, 4646 Ninth Ave. W., Bradenton, FL. Private family internment will take place on Thursday, June 10, 2021 at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Palma Sola Presbyterian Church, 6510 Third Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34209 or Sarasota Orchestra, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL, 34236.

The memorial service will be streamed live Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 11 a.m. EDT (GMT-4) at https:// sprenger.tv/DrTomSprenger on Palma Sola Presbyterian Church’s YouTube channel.

Arrangements are under the care of Shannon Funeral Homes. Condolences may be made to the family at www. shannonfuneralhomes.com.

BEACH BEAT

HOLMES BEACH

5/28, alcohol violation, 100 51st St. Police caught individuals with beer on the beach. 5/28, possession of marijuana, 600 Manatee Ave. A female involved in a car accident had pot in the car. She was cited and the officer seized the evidence. 5/29, 10:56 p.m., underage driver. The officer stopped a golf cart driver for a traffic offense and found he had a learner’s permit with no licensed driver 21 or older in the vehicle. 5/29, 3 a.m., trespassing, 500 block of 70th Street. The homeowner discovered an intoxicated male sleeping on his couch, who called his parents to drive him home. 5/29, found property (loaded firearm), 208 67th St. A renter left a Smith & Wesson 380 pistol with a magazine and holster when he checked out. The police notified him he could retrieve it at the police station. 5/30, fraudulent use of a handicap placard, Manatee Beach parking lot. The officer noticed young people with children load their car with no apparent disabled people around. The Holmes Beach Code Enforcement Officer was called to the scene to seize the placard and issue a parking ticket. Police later looked at cars in handicap parking spots and found another violator.

TRAM: Old Town Tram picks up steam in Bradenton Beach

FROM PAGE 12 would cover approximately 85-90% of the tram program’s total monthly operating costs. If that happens, The Old Town Tram program would be close to achieving the financial selfsufficiency envisioned by the CRA members when they approved the pilot program.

“Congratulations CRA board,” CRA member Ed Chiles said of the progress being made.

CALL FOR A RIDE

LaRose said the direct phone line available for those seeking rides generated 1,045 calls hailing rides in May. That’s in addition to the riders who simply grab a ride when a tram passes by every seven to 15 minutes or so. To arrange a free ride within the CRA district, call 941-404-6240.

The Old Town Trams operate from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, the service stops at 9 p.m. The route map and more information can be found at the Old Town Tram website, www.oldtowntram.com.

BANNER CRITICISM

During Wednesday’s meeting, the CRA members briefly discussed a text message Mayor John Chappie and others received from Bradenton Beach resident and business owner Mike Norman. Norman’s text pertained to the tram banner installed earlier this year at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Cortez Road. Additional banners were placed near the Cortez Beach parking area and near the east end of the Cortez Bridge.

In his text message, Norman referred to the banner design as “stupid.”

“It says ‘park and ride.’ Park where? Ride where?” Norman stated in his text message that also questioned who came up with the banner design.

Norman’s text message included a sketch for a sign he feels would be more informative. His sketch features the words “Plenty of free parking” with an arrow pointing south. Below that, appear the words, “At Coquina Bch. Ride the Free Tram to Bridge St.”

The trams are authorized to travel all the way to Coquina Beach, but the demand for rides that far south has thus far been low, according to LaRose.

Regarding the banners, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said she, LaRose, BridgeWalk resort owner Angela Rodocker and Rodocker’s husband worked on the banner design at no cost to the city. She also noted Rodocker placed that same design and information on a billboard along Cortez Road at no cost to the city.

“This was the decision the board went with based upon on all of that labor,” Perry said of the banner design. “We have at least one individual who feels it’s not directing folks to where the tram is actually located, and he does not care for the look of the banner that’s out there.”

Perry referenced Norman’s proposed sign design and said his suggestions could be taken into consideration if and when the CRA members decide to install permanent tram signs.

“If it’s working right now, we need to just leave it, and down the line maybe something more permanent,” CRA Chair Ralph Cole said.

JOE HENDRICKS | SUN This Old Town Tram banner is located at the Cortez Road/Gulf Drive intersection.