Recent hurricanes and flooding events prompted some Charlotte County homeowners to either demolish or elevate their homes.
John and Cynthia Beane elected to elevate their 1950s historic cottage at 413 W. Ann St. in Punta Gorda. A crew from Davie Shoring general contractor lifted the house 6 1/2 feet from the ground Feb. 15-17.
John Beane’s daughter, Jennifer, lived in the house and was forced to live with friends after the home received 2 feet of flooding from Hurricane Helene and 4 feet from Hurricane Milton two weeks later.
Rather than demolish the house and rebuild, a two-year-long project and at a much higher cost, Beane paid approximately $150,000 for the elevation work.
In addition to the elevation fee, Beane must pay for the stairs leading up to the first floor and new impact windows, as he can’t install hurricane shutters at the new height. Plumbing hookups and new toilets and sinks also were needed after the house was gutted and new drywall was installed.
Had he not elevated his home, his flood insurance would have increased to $6,500, he said.
Davie Shoring has lifted thousands of homes for more than three decades in Florida, Louisiana and Texas.
At the job site were general contractor Mark Kemeny and Kathy Kemeny, owners of Punta Gorda-based Just Counters & Other Stuff Inc., who have partnered with Davie Shoring owner Warren Davie. Mark Kemeny met Davie through Donna Barrett, CEO of the Charlotte DeSoto Building Industry Association.
Davie’s operations are in the former Juvenile Detention Center in Arcadia, where the company is storing three hydraulic lifts and other heavy equipment.
“The owners love their community and wanted to preserve their home’s unique character while protecting it from future floods. This was an opportunity to safeguard history and their way of life,” Kathy Kemeny said.
But the elevation project wasn’t without its complexities, Barrett noted.
The house was designated by the city of Punta Gorda as a home of historical value. The project “required careful collaboration with the city’s historic review board. Additionally, Davie Shoring will use its patented Permalock Pile System and state-of-the-art hydraulic lifting techniques to elevate the structure without compromising its structural integrity or authenticity,” Barrett said prior to the project.
The process involved advanced systems, such as unified hydraulic jacks, to lift the home evenly and securely, ensuring that the storied structure is preserved safely, Mark Kemeny said.
“The cottage’s transformation has already drawn interest from other residents in the area, many of whom are considering similar projects to preserve their homes. The elevation also aligns with Punta Gorda’s goals of preserving its historical neighborhoods while creating safer, sustainable housing,” Barrett said..
