Cape Coral ‘town center’ project planned for northwest
More than 1,000 apartments and a new entertainment hub are headed to Northwest Cape Coral.
Cape Coral Grove is a "town center" project that will bring more than 1,234 multi-family apartment units, two public parks, a hotel, and parking spaces.
L&L Development Group and Claure Group are developing the project, with Design 3 International PLLC creating the master plan and architecture.
"Our proposal for Cape Coral Grove envisions an outdoor town center animated by new residences, offices, public open spaces, and retail/restaurant options that will serve the needs of this vibrant and growing city," said L&L Development Group spokesperson Justina Lombardo in an email statement.
Lombardo said she is currently unable to share the timeline for completion.
The 150-acre parcel is next to Bubba's Roadhouse on Pine Island Road and will be 767,000 square feet. The development will include a 125-room hotel, grocery store, fitness center, and townhomes.
Councilmember Keith Long said the scope and size of the project are not typical for the area.
"Anytime that you get an opportunity as a city to bring something like this to the residents, and in particular, in an area of the city, the Northwest, that's lacking some of these amenities and commercial offerings to a large portion of residents in that area, of course, you're going to be excited," Long said.
The development will be divided into "districts" surrounded by 5,412 parking spots.
These districts include a town center, containing ground-level retail and restaurants with upper-level residential and office space, a residential district with multi-family housing above retail space, an office district one level above more retail, and an entertainment district, which will hold a multi-purpose outdoor plaza.
According to its website, Cape Coral Grove will host up to 200 events annually and is touted as a place where residents can live, work, and play.
John Smart, the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association's development review member, said members are excited about the planned amenities.
Cape Coral Grove "will be a defining project for the city. It will bring an array of amenities to a part of the city that has few but is on the verge of exploding in residential development," Smart said.
"With shopping, food, entertainment venues, and a hotel, it will stand as an attraction for tourists, a gathering place for locals, and a hotspot for entertainment," he added.
Several project permits have been waiting for review from city staff since December 2022, according to the city's interactive project map.
Cape Coral spokesperson Kaitlyn Mullen said the city hopes to provide a construction update on the project at a committee of the whole meeting on July 19.
Long said the parcel is zoned for commercial use, so there's no need to appear before the city council for a hearing or approval.
He awaits further updates on where the project is at and for the groundbreaking.
"Based on my discussions with the developers, I have every confidence in the portfolio and their ability to follow through with the project," Long said. "I'm looking forward to being able to put some shovels in the ground."
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral ‘town center’ project to bring over 1,000 apartment units
