The flagship neighborhoods of Punta Gorda are often thought to be Punta Gorda Isles (PGI) and Burnt Store Isles (BSI). Both of these neighborhoods offer waterfront homes and golf course homes but there are many differences.
I often introduce both neighborhoods to my customers as they begin exploring the area and find some prefer one over the other. He are the primary differences between PGI and BSI.
- Let’s start with the distance to the heart of town. Yes, Punta Gorda has a center of town that is the focal point of all who live here. It’s a bit of an old fashioned kind of feel to this town and we love having a town that is easily recognizable where many fun things take place. I bring this up because that is one feature of Punta Gorda that people focus on and some choose Punta Gorda Isles over Burnt Store Isles because PGI is a couple of miles closer to the town center. In fact, I have many customers that bike ride from PGI to town which allows them to attend many cool functions, music concerts, flower festivals, sailing regatta’s, etc. and then bike ride back to home. Especially nice after a few adult beverages! However, not all of PGI is really close enough for a bike ride to town. So, PGI gets the edge over BSI on this consideration.
- Age and appearance of the neighborhoods is different in some ways. Burnt Store Isles was largely built in the 90’s and 2000’s and has a newer, fresher appearance overall than Punta Gorda Isles. This visual appeal tips the scales for some folks to desire BSI over PGI. However, PGI has a variety of appearances within the same overall neighborhood. First, let me explain that Punta Gorda Isles is a very large area. Within it, are sections that were constructed at different points in time. There is a lot of coverage on these sections elsewhere on my website with extensive detail, if interested. For instance, the oldest area is the original or old sailboat section with homes from the 60’s to current. The older construction architecture is obvious but these homes are still beautiful. The power boat section (see my blog on the power boat section for more detail) has a vast number of homes from the late 60’s and 70’s with newer ones mixed in. The area known as the “Bird Section” looks very similar to Burnt Store Isles because it was largely developed in the same time frame from 90’s to current and boasts the newer curb appeal. Other areas with in PGI also resemble BSI as well but don’t have a specific definition or name to identify but I could certainly tell you the streets. One example, is the area off of Suzi Street, very beautiful!
- Water Frontage, Canals, Boat Ride Times To Harbor and Other Considerations. I will try to keep this short as my website has a huge amount of specific information regarding this. The comparison of PGI to BSI in regards to boat ride times to open water is a very important consideration to the mariner! PGI has boat ride times that range from 5 minutes to 40 minutes to open water, now with the opening of Buckley’s Pass (see my blog on this). BSI has boat ride times that range from 17 minutes to one hour. However, I would say the average boat time ride out of PGI is well less than 30 minutes and largely the same can be said with BSI. Burnt Store Isles pathway to open water is through Alligator Creek versus PGI canals exit out of Ponce de Leon Park, Buckley’s pass to Alligator Creek and the original sailboat section exits into the Peace River. Exiting into Alligator Creek puts you significantly further south on the harbor which is the direction most boaters go (towards the gulf and islands). With that consideration a 10 minute boat ride to Ponce Park and a 20 minute boat ride to the mouth of Alligator Creek will land you both there relatively about the same time.
- Exposure to street noise and other extraneous unnatural sounds. Basically, both neigborhoods are very quiet and peaceful. An occasional plane may pass over but not an issue. Road noise is generally not a factor in a home buying decision.
- Proximity to shopping is great at both locations. Generally, you will be less than 10 minutes to most anything you can thing of!
- Golf courses. Both have their own course. Andrews South is the course in PGI and Twin Isles Country Club is the course in BSI. Both are very popular. BSI has a more extensive facility, with more amenities and thought to be a more challenging course. Both have social memberships and combinations of golf and social as well.
