Four Florida Communities Prove Hurricane-Resistant Construction Works
Originally published on December 17, 2025
Several Florida communities built with hurricane resistance as a top priority have proven their designs work after facing multiple major storms in recent years. From solar-powered towns to elevated developments with advanced drainage systems, these neighborhoods offer insight into how construction standards and planning can reduce storm damage and protect property values.
Babcock Ranch: Solar Power and Elevated Design
Babcock Ranch, an 18,000-acre planned community outside Fort Myers, gained national attention when it emerged largely unscathed after a direct hit from Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The community, developed by former professional football player Syd Kitson and Kitson & Partners, was designed with hurricanes as the primary engineering concern.
All homes in Babcock Ranch are built above the flood plain, and the community features a stormwater drainage system that moves floodwaters through roads without reaching homes. The development runs on 687,000 solar panels backed by battery power, which allowed residents to maintain electricity while surrounding areas lost power during Ian’s 150 mph winds.
“During Ian, we never even had the lights flicker,” says Benjamin Board, a real estate agent who lives and works in Babcock Ranch.
The community’s performance during Ian created strong demand. Babcock Ranch is currently ranked No. 7 in fastest-selling master-planned communities, up from No. 12 in 2024, according to consulting firm RCLCO. Homes in the development range from the upper $200,000s to $4 million, with builders including D.R. Horton and Lennar.
“Every time we have a hurricane, we have an influx of buyers,” Board notes.
Hunters Point: Concrete, Steel, and Elevation
Hunters Point in Cortez, which opened in 2022, has faced four major hurricanes: Ian, Idalia, Helene, and Milton. The 86-home community was built on 16-foot manmade elevation to place homes above the flood plain. Construction features include solid concrete homes with steel straps connecting each floor and steel roofs with vertical beams.
Marshall Gobuty, founder and president of builder Pearl Homes, told Realtor.com that the only significant damage after Hurricane Milton was to coconut trees. The community also runs on solar power with battery backup designed to function for up to 10 days without sunlight.
Homes in Hunters Point are priced above the local median, with a three-bedroom townhome listed at $1.67 million compared to the October 2025 median list price in Cortez of $1.59 million.
Las Olas Isles: Underground Infrastructure
Las Olas Isles, a neighborhood near Fort Lauderdale, maintained power during Hurricane Helene while at least 25,000 surrounding homes lost electricity. The community completed a 12-year project to move all utility poles and power lines underground, a resident-led effort that required approval from 90% of homeowners.
The project cost about $1,700 per household per year over 30 years. The median list price on Las Olas Isles is $7.2 million, compared to Fort Lauderdale’s median list price of $636,500. However, the island’s location surrounded by water means flood risk remains a concern despite the underground infrastructure.
Medley Club: Microgrid System
Medley Club at Southshore Bay, a 55+ community in Wimauma near Tampa, uses a microgrid system powered by solar panels and batteries. The 37 homes in the community maintained full power during Hurricane Ian while almost 3 million people across Florida lost electricity.
The system is part of a Tampa Electric Co. pilot program evaluating whether to expand the technology into other areas. Homes in the community are priced below Wimauma’s median list price of $384,473, with a two-bedroom listed at $347,500.
What This Means for Florida Real Estate
These communities demonstrate that resilient construction is possible and that buyers are willing to pay for it. Babcock Ranch’s sales performance shows that homes built to withstand hurricanes maintain stronger demand than surrounding areas, even during broader market slowdowns.
For developers and investors, the examples provide a roadmap for construction standards that reduce risk and protect property values. Elevated construction, advanced drainage systems, backup power, and hardened building materials all contribute to resilience, though they come with higher upfront costs.
The performance of these communities during recent storms also highlights the long-term financial implications of hurricane damage. Properties that require less repair and maintain power during storms face lower insurance costs, reduced vacancy periods, and stronger market appeal.
Financial Planning for Resilient Construction
Building hurricane-resistant properties requires upfront investment, but the long-term financial benefits include lower insurance premiums, reduced repair costs, and stronger property values. For developers and investors evaluating projects in Florida, resilient design is becoming a competitive advantage.
At James Moore, we work with real estate developers and investors to address the financial and tax implications of construction decisions. From cost segregation studies to project accounting and cash flow analysis, our team helps clients make informed decisions that protect their investments and support long-term profitability.
Connect with our real estate team to discuss how we can support your development projects.
Source: Kiri Blakeley, Realtor.com, December 7, 2025
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