The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #72985   Message #1264166
Posted By: Bee-dubya-ell
04-Sep-04 - 10:31 AM
Thread Name: BS: Facing Frances
Subject: RE: BS: Facing Frances
As a native Floridian I've often thought that some areas, particularly barrier islands, should be "build at your own risk" zones. Fifty years ago nobody built anything but inexpensive, expendable cottages on the beach. Nowadays the typical single-family beachfront home is a multimillion-dollar extravaganza worthy of inclusion in "Architectural Digest". And when that valuable home gets blown away (and please note that I said when not if because it will happen eventually) the rest of us, through higher insurance rates or higher taxes, get to foot the bill for replacing it. I'm not saying that no one should be allowed to build on the beachfront, but if they had to do it at their own risk there'd be a lot more beachfront still around for the rest of us to enjoy.