- May 4, 2024
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This wall on a bridge leading into the Bay Isles II subdivision was painted white, but residents were able to get it restored to the brick look. Photo by Wayne Grant
This is an installment in a series of articles on the various neighborhoods in Plantation Bay.
Bay Isles II, the subdivision surrounding Bay Lake Drive, is a changing neighborhood. Mary Lou Bercarich, who lives on Bridgewater Lane, said when the area was new, 20 years ago, there were a lot of young retirees in their 60s and it was an active area.
“It was a big party,” Bercarich said. She had Kentucky Derby parties for many years in a row. Some neighbors had Super Bowl parties and others had a St. Patrick’s Day parties.
Now, many of those people have moved back north to be with family, while some have passed away. It’s quieter now, but new are people are moving in.
“We expect a big turnover in the next 10 years,” she said.
“It’s been a marvelous 16 years.”
Mary Lou and Albino Bercarich, residents
Bercarich sees a good opportunity for buyers. While some people seek a new home, those who buy existing homes can take advantage of improvements made by the previous owners. For example, the Bercariches expanded their dining room as well as the back patio. It’s cheaper for a homeowner to expand a room than ask a builder to “go off the blueprint,” she said.
She and her husband, Albino, were both Realtors before retiring.
Bercarich also points to the mature trees and bushes, as opposed to new foliage on streets with new houses.
“Bay Isle has so much to offer,” she said. “It’s big enough but not too big.”
Bercarich serves as a voting representative in the Bay Isles II district, which votes once or twice a year to elect the HOA board, and also votes on issues that affect residents. The purpose is to give every subdivision a voice in decisions made by the HOA.
The only contentious issue she can remember is when the bridge at the entrance on Bay Lake Drive, made of old brick, was painted white. Many people were upset.
“That was a big to-do,” she said.
The residents took it up with the board and it was restored to the old brick.
The only issue Bercarich has with the neighborhood is the adjacent easement where power poles are located. When the newer houses were built, it would have been better to leave more trees to block the view of the wires that are visible for some residents.
“I hate seeing any tree cut down,” she said.
They moved to Plantation Bay after being invited by friends who had relocated here. She said that’s how a lot of people end up moving down because after seeing Plantation Bay, they don’t want to leave.
“We’ve loved it here,” she said. “It’s been a marvelous 16 years. We’ve met such wonderful people.”
