CORTEZ, FLA.—A new recreational focused resort and marina is coming to Cortez from the developer behind Mirabella, the LEED Platinum certified, 160 home, adult community in nearby Bradenton, Fla. The 148 cottage community, named Hunters Point Resort and Marina, will also feature 49 boat slips, a public marina and community center, all designed to provide a modern, environmentally respectful and energy efficient fishing village style community to the historic town of Cortez, Fla. Of the 148 “Cracker” cottages, 62 are designed as hotel rooms for short term rentals.

The development seems to be in line with the long-time quest of the Thurell family to preserve the character of Cortez.

Cortez is one of the Gulf Coast’s oldest fishing villages, with 97 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and many being Florida’s historic “Cracker” style cottage homes from the early 20th century.

“Hunters Point is taking a long revered style of Florida architecture and updating it for 21st-century living,” said developer Marshall Gobuty. “After researching the history of Cortez we’ve adopted the look, style, feeling and approach to the early 20th century Florida Cracker cottage style home and modernized it for today, while going farther with the same environmentally friendly, energy efficient design approach we took with Mirabella.”

Constructed to Meet Energy Star, LEED Requirements

The coastal cottages, hotel buildings, and community buildings will be developed and constructed to receive EnergyStar certification and qualify to become LEED certified. In keeping with being environmentally conscious and energy conservative, Hunters Point will also use innovative green design techniques to conserve water, save energy and preserve the environment.

Cottages and the community center will feature EPA WaterSense faucets, toilets, showers and irrigation controllers, to reduce water consumption. By providing energy-efficient appliances, applying high-performance building techniques and thermally insulated construction, Hunters Point residents will see substantially reduced utility costs. Solar power charging of golf carts is also planned, with the property currently exploring rooftop solar photovoltaic energy for the cottages.

Marshall Gobuty

The modern day cottages will also feature low-VOC paints, finishes, and floorings to improve indoor air quality. The HVAC systems will feature advanced technology that further conserves energy while improving comfort and air quality inside the home by utilizing highly efficient air filtration to reduce dust and pollen.

“The best way to bring modern living to the fishing village was to reinvent the Cortez Cracker cottage of yesterday and construct them for today,” said Gobuty. “We also discovered that the active water sports enthusiast wants to have a place they can come home to. That meant taking a fresh approach to the traditional coastal style architecture. With Hunters Point we’ve blended the best of the classic style, with the best of the new, to deliver a nostalgic, yet refined, look to a style of home not updated in more than a century.”

Hunters Point will offer several model options available so that buyers can customize the cottage to their personal taste and style.

About Hunters Point

The rich history of Hunter’s Point provides the framework for Hunters Point Resort & Marina. While the property has had various uses over the years, in 2005 long time Cortez residents Peter and Eva Thurell had a vision for the property to relocate historic cottage style homes to the site.

Continuing with that vision, Hunters Point Resort & Marina will be developed with cottage style residences designed to complement the Village of Cortez, only newly constructed, so that the homes meet all current regulations, including flood zone elevation. The cottages will include all modern conveniences in a resort setting.

The History of Cortez Florida

In September of 1888, a post office was established in Cortez, Fla.? The area had been called Hunters Point by its early settlers. Stories have been told through generations about the origin of the name Hunter’s Point, varying from a man named Hunter who began homesteading the area, to some thinking the name referenced a place to hunt due to the wildlife that roamed the shores.

When the residents of this small village requested a post office, there was already another Hunter’s Point with a post office in Florida, which meant the proposed name of the village had to be changed. When the request for a post office reached Washington, rumor has it that someone there thought it would be fitting to name the area after the “Great Conquistador,” Hernando Cortez, despite his never having been anywhere near Hunters Point.