Ft. Myers Development News

[MIAballinboi]

good news landier, cant wait for the pics

[smiley]

Great demand leads to Marina South II

Developers move up construction for second high-rise condominium

By PETE SKIBA
PSKIBA@NEWS-PRESS.COM
Published by news-press.com on April 19, 2005
A Cape Coral high-rise sold out so quickly that developers have pushed up plans for a sister building by about 18 months.

The Marina South at Cape Harbour began construction and demand was so great that plans now call for Marina South II.

Cape Coral residents could see other projects started earlier than expected because of the demand for housing in a city that is growing at 10,000 a year and a new zoning plan that is becoming attractive for developers.

The condominiums are part of a zoning plan, which allows various types of buildings in the same housing development, including homes, shops and offices, said Cliff Reppenger, vice president of Avalon Engineering, which is the engineer on the project. This type of zoning is called compound use.

The buildings will vary in height from one or two stories to four condominiums in one building on up to the Marina South's 15-story structure and 110 homes. The area promises to be both boat- and pedestrian-accessible.

At first, the developers were concerned about the acceptance of the concept, but are no longer.

"We are the first compound-use project in the city of Cape Coral," Reppenger said. "The acceptance has just been wonderful."

The acceptance and sales drove the companies to rev up their plans.

"Because the market is so good we decided to start the second building within four months of the first one's sales," developer Will Stout said. "We had enough interest when we sold the other condominiums."

Housing demand pushed Stout's company to change its plans from 2003. Back then, the Marina condominiums were planned to begin in 2008.

Both 15-story buildings will be built in the city's southwest section near the intersection of Chiquita Boulevard and El Dorado Parkway West.

Plans call for the first four floors to house parking and the other 11 floors to house 110 condominiums.

The homes could cost more than an estimated $300,000 to $500,000 depending on size and views, said John Jacobsen, chief executive officer for Intergraphic, a marketing firm.

The condominiums are planned in the 1,200- to 1,800-square-foot range. One side of the buildings would have a marina view and the other side would have a view of the Gulf of Mexico.

The development will include shops and a hotel to be open to the public.

One of its public properties, the restaurant Rumrunners, has opened and has been well received.

Marina View, a 58-unit, six- story condominium building, was finished last year and residents began moving in during December.

The Cape Harbour development with the waterfront condominiums, a boathouse and other amenities stretches along about 150 acres. The marina area has a public boardwalk for strolling.

"The first seven people who came into the marina asked where the boathouse was," Stout said. "The boathouse looks so good they didn't know they were next to it."

The development also contains single-family homes and Stout's company, Realmark Group, has offices there.

Twenty-four coach homes were sold out easily at prices ranging from $290,000 to $340,000 in 2003 when they were offered for sale. The company broke its own record by selling $40 million worth of homes and condominiums on March 19 of that year.

The coach homes are a lakefront condominium project adjacent to the marina. Each coach home is in a four-unit complex.

Shops are planned to be built alongside the condominiums. They will be open to the public. The marina area already welcomes visitors.

Plans also call for a more than 100-room hotel to be built near the waterfront site.

"The hotel will be done in-house," Stout said. "If boutique means well done then that is what it will be."

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs....504190342/1008

[SDK4]

What a city!!!!

[Jasonhouse]

So, we don't have anyone down there to give updates and pics?

[SDK4]

What's been happening with the buildings along the waterfront that were being protested against?

[leglace]

Unincorporated Lee county is gettings some 4-story condos in 06' from Pulte homes. While this product isn't going to light up the skyline, it is going to be a very popular project. There will be about 12-15 40 unit condos ranging between 1200 to 1800 sq. ft. Not permitted just yet, but will be within the next month.

[Landier]

There's 100s of those around being permitted and/or under construction - nothing new.

[Landier]

I went by downtown last week, still only the one set of towers under construction, although there should be some others breaking ground soon.

High Point Place is rising, but very slowly, I'll have to take some picture updates next time I take a trip downtown.

[Landier]

Centennial Park to feel The Vue's effects

By BY ALISON KEPNER
AKEPNER@NEWS-PRESS.COM
Published by news-press.com on June 2, 2005

Centennial Park visitors soon will notice changes to the Fort Myers riverfront park as a developer begins construction on a neighboring 27-story high rise and public amenities.

Throgmartin Company executives will celebrate The Vue's ceremonial groundbreaking at 10 a.m. today. The work's actual start, however, has been delayed as the developer awaits South Florida Water Management District permits.

When it begins, parkgoers will be affected. Most noticeable change will be a construction fence that will cut off a small section of the 10-acre community park. Construction of bathrooms and playground equipment and razing of the current bathrooms and playground also are in the first phase. The entire project will take two years.

Throgmartin leaders hope residents will see the work affecting Centennial as a minor hassle worth a better park.

"It's just a temporary inconvenience," said Kerry Steeno, vice president of development and construction. "All we're doing is going over 50 feet from the existing fence.

"When we're finished, (the park) will be more than 2,000 feet larger," he said, noting total public access will increase even more thanks to the privately-owned areas the developer will open.

But Fort Myers Councilman Warren Wright, who became involved in city politics when he started a campaign against The Vue, said he continues to worry about residents losing access. And he is worried about how the tower, which he said will cast a shadow, will affect the park.

During his spring campaign for his Ward 1 seat, Wright learned many residents share his fears, he said. "I think people are starting to really catch on that 'Wow, we're really going to lose something special.' "

The project, which incorporates a new home for the nonprofit Edison Sailing Center, requires a land swap with a section of Centennial Park. Throgmartin paid nearly $1.4 million for one acre of riverfront property, where it will build a residential tower and office building. The first floor will be a 7,500-square foot office and storage facility for the sailing school.

To have room for the offices, the company needed part of the park, where a paved access road is now. In exchange for this 16,712 square feet of park, the city received 18,804 square feet of the current sailing school parking lot, where the developer will build a public plaza.

Throgmartin also is paying for a list of other public amenities including: a riverwalk, a city maintenance and storage building, new park bathrooms, upgraded playground equipment and an interactive children's fountain. Those features added to the $1.3 million sailing school site will cost the developer more than $3 million.

[Landier]

High Point Place construction photos:

[leglace]

thanks for the pics. i love Ft Myers. Its no longer that Place for old people. You can't buy a 2,000 sq. ft house these days for under $250,000 down there. Lucky if you buy one $300,000.

I think Ft Myers will develop parallel to Naples and at some point spill into one another with Miromar in between. Possibly major cities by 2015.

[SDK4]

How long has High Point been under construction?

[Landier]

I think they went to construction in January, but they took a long time on all the foundation stuctures. We'll see how long now that they're going vertical.

Some of the other tower developments are ready to go, but to date they only have cleared pads.

[Jasonhouse]

Originally Posted by leglace

thanks for the pics. i love Ft Myers. Its no longer that Place for old people. You can't buy a 2,000 sq. ft house these days for under $250,000 down there. Lucky if you buy one $300,000.

I think Ft Myers will develop parallel to Naples and at some point spill into one another with Miromar in between. Possibly major cities by 2015.

Not that soon, unless your definition of 'major' is quite low. But in time, yes that area will go apeshit with development on a much larger scale. In 30 or so years, that should be basically the size that Tampa/St Pete is now IMO.

[leglace]

In Florida terms, a mjor city is above 150,000 people. Yes, i know Ft Myers and Naples is very far from that. Mostly because the size of their cities. But it could be considered legit metro area by then.

Yes I think they can become somewhat what Ft. Lauderdale was 15 yrs ago. I think the escalating housing prices and rising taxes will drive off retirees. That would be both unfortunate though prove to be beneficial for the cities.

Look at what Cape Coral was 10 yrs ago, and look at it today. Regardless of their crooked building dept, they are growing exponentially.

As far as nightlife and things to do, I'm sure they can create a Bay Walk, or to be original, call it "Shore Walk".

[SDK4]

Once Charlotte County and North Port fill in, the area from Pasco county through Tampa, Sarasota and Ft. Myers to Naples will be one giant megacity. Although my thinking is that it will take the actual cities of Sarasota and Ft. Myers a long time to reach the 150,000 pop. mark because of the growth of suburbs east of the interstate.

[Landier]

The Fort Myers metro area is now over 500,000 people growing at an insane clip - the downtown has been basically abandoned until about a year and a half ago. Just wait, it will happen fast.

[SDK4]

Has any one in Ft. Myers heard any new news on the I-75 toll expressway? The commisioners here in Sarasota are "weighing" their options on whether to join the authority.

[jim09091]

I live part time (nope, not retired... only in my 20's) in Bonita Beach (just south of Fort Myers and north of Naples). We have just purchased a unit in the Cypress Club (32 story set of towers on the Caloosahatchee) and a unit in the Rapallo (Estero - by the new Coconut Mall).

I have pictures of the Fort Myers downtown area from the river (by boat) and they can be found at: http://community.webshots.com/album/338726267HGXqOZ

You can see pictures of The Beau Rivage and the Marriott (which used to be the tallest building). This place is slated to change a lot.

In the past few days, there have been numerous news reports that WCI communities (a major builder here in this part of FL) has reduced the height of their proposed buildings to better stick with the Duany (Andres Duany, planner for places such as Stuart, West Palm Beach, 5th Avenue area of Naples, Miami's South Beach, etc) plan. An article from the local news site can be found here: http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readar...id=3716&z=3&p=

Andres Duany's site (which is the company he and his wife Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk co-founded can be found at: http://www.dpz.com

When I come across more information and pictures, I will be glad to post. These are interesting times in this area.

[Jasonhouse]

^Am I the only one who thinks Duany is a total assclown? Yeah, make an urban setting "vibrant" by seriously crimping supply and building only high end anywhere near town, thus ensuring that the workforce serving the rich and retired, have to live 30 miles away in exurbs so that they can afford to put food on the table.

btw, he's actively behind the fouling up of Dt Sarasota presently underway.