West End building boom continues, despite threat of future storms

07:27 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 6, 2005

By Dan Lauck / 11 News

Click to watch video

Galveston has dodged the path of a hurricane for more than 20 years. And despite the threat of future storms and no West End seawall for protection, a growing number of people are calling Galveston's West End their second home.

The beachfront building boom is growing with little concern about the next hurricane.

A beach vacation only seems to wet our appetite for life with sand between our toes.

The fact is, we just can't seem to get enough of the ocean.

"It's like being on vacation all the time," said Linda Thomas.

Those sun-baked desires and relatively cheap ocean-side real estate have precipitated a building craze like no other in Galveston's history.

"It is the cheapest area on any kind of a coast in the United States," said Sue Johnson, Sand 'n Sea Rentals. "The building boom is just phenomenal."

Everyone wants to be in the front row, especially the people in the third row. And they just might get their wish because if a big storm ever hit the island, the third row could become the first row.

"Every year is a gamble," Thomas said.

Frances didn't even qualify as a hurricane and she washed away part the front row on the West End. That was 1998.

Most of the residents who have arrived since have no idea of the destruction that a category 4 or 5 could bring. And to many, it doesn't really matter.

"They say that’s why they have insurance," Johnson said.

Sue Johnson and her husband moved to the island from Dallas and have reconciled themselves to the possibilities. "We're willing to take that risk and if we're hit, we'll rebuild and stay some more," she said.

As long as people can afford the insurance premiums, they'll keep building.