Some waterfront neighborhoods are designed with boating in mind. One such community is San Remo Shores in Bradenton. Located on the southern shore of Palma Sola Bay, it offers superb salt-water canal anchorage and easy access to the Intracoastal Waterway, Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Gagne Construction has just completed this house in San Remo Shores. Staff photo / Harold Bubil
The entrance off Cortez Road, next to Bantam Plaza and the Cortez Clam Factory, is marked by two low stone walls on either side of a divided road. The attractively landscaped median strip is lined with palm trees. The interior has an old-Florida waterfront feel. Most of the homes are painted white. There are no sidewalks, and in many of the yards, grass has been replaced with white, tan or brown gravel.
Five canals run north-south from the bay along the four streets in the subdivision — Bamboo Terrace, Coconut Terrace, Plumosa Terrace and Royal Palm Drive — that end in cul de sacs. As a result, all 185 homes have docks, making San Remo a paradise for maritime enthusiasts.
Many residents kayak, scuba dive, paddle board or simply enjoy a laid-back lifestyle right on the water. But the greatest number are avid boaters.
“There are a lot of serious fishermen here,” says Tyce Clark, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker. “Almost everyone in the neighborhood has a boat.”
He continues, “You can catch a lot of redfish, trout and grouper. Snook like to hang out under the boats.”
Clark doesn’t hide his partiality. He has lived in San Remo Shores for 12 years and loves it. He owns two boats, a 26-foot Grady White and a 17-foot Nautica Inflatable. “I try to go out on the water whenever I’m not working,” he says.
Like many of their neighbors, Clark and his wife lead an active lifestyle. “We kayak, bike or run every morning,” he says. “There are manatees and dolphins. It’s like living in a nature movie.”
Homes in San Remo Shores come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Staff photo / Harold Bubil
In the 1960s and early ‘70s, when San Remo Shores was developed, the land was part of an expanse of agricultural land in western Bradenton. The subtropical woods and vegetable fields next door, between the bay and Cortez Road, harkens back to a time when Bradenton was primarily home to a thriving farm industry.
Most of the homes are 1970s-vintage, two- and three-bedroom Florida ranches and beach cottage-style houses. They typically sell from the low $300,000s to $500,000. There also million-dollar mansions at or near the end of the cul de sacs directly on Palma Sola Bay. Many of them are two and three stories tall and command panoramic views of the water and the spectacular evening sunsets.
Because most of the homes were constructed more than four decades ago, there is a lot of renovation going on now. Clark’s listing at 4103 Plumosa Terrace is a three-bedroom home, built in 1970, whose many upgrades include a resurfaced swimming pool, a paver driveway, and a brand-new A/C unit. The exterior was repainted in 2012. The list price of $469,900 also includes the boat docked at the back door.
There is new construction, as well, replacing tear-downs with bigger houses. “Someone just bought two lots and built a 9,000-square-foot mansion — a beautiful home,” says Clark.
As a neighborhood without deed restrictions, San Remo Shores offers casual, relaxed living. The homeowners’ association is voluntary. Annual dues of just $85 go toward landscaping the entrance. Owners take care of their own docks and sea walls.
A typical bayfront landscape in San Remo Shores, west of Bradenton near Cortez. Staff photo / Harold Bubil
According to Clark, residents are a mix of snowbirds and year-around retirees, blue-collar workers, professionals and families with children. About 40 percent are second-home owners. “People are very friendly here,” says Clark. “They’ll offer help before you need it!”
Another attraction is the convenient location. Historic Cortez Village is just down the road, and Anna Maria Island, with its picturesque shops and Gulf beaches, not much farther across the bridge. There are plenty of shopping and eating opportunities along Cortez Road, as well. Downtown Bradenton, the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport, the Ringling Museum and the Asolo Theater are all within easy driving distance.
While sales have been steady, inventory in San Remo Shores is low, as it is in many local communities. Over the past 12 months, there have been few property transactions, ranging in price from $302,500 to $1,060,000. Currently, only Clark’s listing is on the market, along with a pending sale for $585,000 and one house active with contract at $449,900. A large newer house on Royal Palm is temporarily off the market, but SaraBay Realty expects to reactivate the listing soon at $1.15 million.
“If you’re a fisherman, you couldn’t find a better place than San Remo Shores,” says Clark.
