KEY LARGO, Fla. – Key Largo residents Jason and Marketa Kendall are moving up.
In doing so, they’ve become the talk of the neighborhood.
“The only thing that made sense financially and for us as a family was to find a way to build on what we have,” said Marketa Kendall.
The family built a wood-frame house in their Pirate’s Cove neighborhood after Hurricane Irma, but soon realized they wanted more space.
They were also worried about the increased risk of flooding.
They eventually found a Tampa-based company called Unified Foundations that used special hydraulic jacks to pump up their three-bedroom, two-bathroom house a total of 23 feet into the air.
“I had seen this done in Hawaii when I lived there and thought this would be perfect for here in the Keys,” said Jason Kendall.
“We’ve had quite the following here,” added Marketa Kendall. “People taking pictures and they go, ‘Oh, I wish they could do it to my house!’”
Monroe County officials said elevating a house even beyond what’s already required is an option.
Emily Schemper, director of planning and environmental resources for the county, said certain homes can qualify for grant money.
“The entire Florida Keys is within a flood zone and most all properties are coastal,” she said. “People are looking forward and they’re trying to protect the investments they’re making in their homes.”
“I think this is the way of the future down here in the Keys,” Jason Kendall said.
For more information, visit Monroe County’s website.