Rebuilding one’s home after tragedy. . .
On September 26, 2024, as the light began to fade, the fury of Hurricane Helene was intensifying. Julie stubbornly remained in her home, anxiously looking out the window but ignoring orders to evacuate; clinging to the hope that her sturdy brick ranch home and beautiful gardens would somehow withstand anything Helene could give out.
At 9 pm, sparks started flying off the transformers and suddenly, as if released from a dam, water began gushing down W. Davis Blvd, transforming the normally idyllic treelined street on Davis Islands, Tampa, into a surging river.
Julie knew it was time to go. She collected her most prized possessions and hurriedly left 110 W. Davis Blvd, never dreaming that she would not step foot in her beloved home again.
This is an endearing story about my client, Julie, who has resided on Davis Islands, Tampa, for over a decade. Following a family tradition, she re-joined her parents who have lived on the Island for 60 years.
Julie called me in late 2024 and asked if I could create house portraits of both her home and her parents, which were now scheduled for demolition. She tearfully told me about the beautiful garden oasis and wild-life menagerie she had created, and the loss of her pet squirrel, Sparky. She also told me she had decided to stay on Davis Islands and rebuild both her house and garden as well as her bird and butterfly sanctuary. She expressed how she wanted the original painting of her home to serve as a constant memory and inspiration moving forward.
I have been truly touched by her story as well as her resilience and determination and wanted to share this with you. Julie’s interview is below, so you can hear it directly from her. But to set the stage for this story, here are the paintings I created of Julie’s home as well as her parents so you can see what was there before that fateful night when everything was sweep away.
Julie’s story in her own words. . .
How long has your family lived on Davis Islands?
My dad bought their home spring/summer of 1962 after he finished law school at University of Florida. Mom finished up her ungrad studies in Gainesville that summer and they got married up there on Sept 3, 1962 then moved to Davis Islands.
Was 110 W. Davis the only home you have owned on the Island?
Yes, 110 was my only home that I owned on the island and I moved in the fall of 2011. While married, I lived in a different part of the city.
What finally made you decide to demolish the home and start anew?
Looking at the extreme weather conditions that are happening all over the world, I honestly feel this is the beginning of storm surges in the Tampa area. The forecasters say this was the 100-year storm and I know I won’t be alive if this happens in another 100 years, but just in case it does, I’ll have a home built to code to withstand storm surge.
Your parents’ home on Danube Ave was also damaged beyond repair and has been demolished. What are their plans now?
They are in their late 80’s and physically/mentally do not want to go through the evacuation process again so they purchased an older home that is miles away from the flood zone
You created a well-loved nature oasis on your property including plants and trees as well as wild-life. Tell us about that and what inspired you to create this.
Bottom line, I love animals! When I can afford to retire, I would like to be a docent at our local zoo. The butterfly garden was something I always wanted to have, but in the home where I lived while married, there wasn’t enough sunshine in the yard due to Oak trees, to grow the host plants.
My home on the island was full of sunshine for a huge variety of plants and trees to prosper so I created a butterfly garden and incorporated the host plants in a raised garden in the backyard. The brick walls of the raised garden were high enough to sit on and hang out by the firepit. The backyard birding started years later when I spotted a hummingbird back there so the feeders went up, never saw a hummingbird again (I guess it was just passing through the area) and I had a backyard menagerie of blue jays, cardinals, morning doves, brown thrasher, and migratory birds would pit stop too.
Tell us about your pet squirrel, Sparky, and why it was important to include him in the painting?
Oh my little fun furry friend I named Sparky was such a character. He was a curious squirrel who would pop up on top of the shed and would watch me put seed out in the feeders then go and raid the feeders. I decided to get peanuts for him and it was an instant bond. He took unshelled peanuts from my hand as he stayed on top of the shed and would munch away, tossing the shells in the yard. He knew my schedule of filling the bird feeders early in the morning and would come out from the trees waiting for his treat, right up on the shed. As months went on, I worked with him, and he would come down trees or to the ground to get a peanut. I’m pretty sure he knew his name because whenever I went outside at a random time, he’d show up when I called him
Some people like to try to forget when they have lost something so special, what made you decide to have me create a painting of the property?
This home was existing (built in the 1950’s) and a mess when I moved in because it was a rental property. I moved here after my divorce with a vision to create this cute cottage vibe, just for me. Everything I couldn’t or didn’t do while married and raising 2 boys, I chose to create at this address…dinner parties for friends, because I love to cook for company and the backyard bonanza of flower, birds, squirrels and butterflies…my own little oasis and I truly spent more time outside than on the living room couch.
Tell us your plans for rebuilding and how you plan to re-create the beautiful nature sanctuary as well.
The new home will be a little wider than the original footprint and a lot taller. We have to be 12′ above sea-level when rebuilding on the island, that is the city code. The entire airconditioned living space will sit on top of the garage. But I am not boxing in and maxing out the structure to the property limits. I have an extension on the master suite that’s like an L-shape which will create a backyard lanai underneath. The vibe is a craftsman design with a porch along the entire front. The front yard will be smaller but I feel the backyard will be a little larger since the shed is gone, this way I can recreate the menagerie again. Oh, and my main kitchen window, over the sink, will be 6 feet wide and give me a wonderful view of the backyard, so I can see nature at work and all the ongoing activities.
Thank you very much Julie for your heartfelt answers.
Epilogue
As scheduled, the demolition of both homes took place last month.
Life moves on. . .
Thankfully, Julie is part of a loving family, with a long history on Davis Islands and this will never die. I will leave you with this delightful family photo.
I trust you have enjoyed this inspirational story and I wish Julie and her family the very best with their ongoing Davis Islands adventures!
Cheers, Leisa
