‘Catch the Vision’ packs the house
Annual event highlights trends, tips & forecasting
The latest and greatest in future and ongoing Cape Coral projects were all laid out Monday night as part of an annual program.
The 14th annual “Catch the Vision” took place at First Cape Church, where project experts and public safety and health officials updated attendees on what they can expect to see in the city.
Put on for the first time by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, Catch the Vision touched on a myriad of projects that are nearly complete, to ones that are still in their infancy.
Hosted by Raso Realty’s Gloria Tate and the Horizon Council’s Bill Johnson Jr., the duo introduced each short video presentation and offered their insights as the event unfolded.
“This is one of my favorite nights of the year because we truly get to see what Cape Coral has, what’s in the works,” Johnson said. “You’ve seen with multiple projects over multiple Catch the Visions, to actually see shovels in the ground, projects being built, it’s so exiting. I think one of the highlights for us this year was we kind of focused on the city’s involvement, too. Looking out not only for the real estate agent or developer, but looking out for the resident of Cape Coral.”
So, what do all of these developments coming to Cape Coral mean?
“For me, coming from the construction industry, my biggest thing was looking at developers that are looking at Cape Coral as a home,” Johnson said. “I mean you look at the Seven Islands project five, 10, 15 years ago. No one would have ever thought. Cape Coral is a force to be reckoned with now in the state of Florida.
“I think the biggest thing is seeing developers taking a look at us now instead of us having to go out and get them. They’re coming to us. That just shows how great our leadership in our city has been to make Cape Coral a destination.”
Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Donna Germain was pleased with how the event ran.
“Everything that turned out great, and I’m just really appreciative of everyone who came out to support the event — the vendors, sponsors,” she said. “The trade show was great and the vendors got a lot of activity. We’ll be back next year at the same venue. We’re excited about everything coming to Cape Coral and really excited to grow this event.”
Projects discussed/topics touched upon included:
• Cape Coral Technical College expansion
– Project has been in motion for four years.
– 30,000-square-foot expansions with $25 million cost
– Projected to be complete by July with classes in the fall
– Offering classes on construction, HVAC, mariner, automotive, and more.
• Lee Health projects expanding and residency programs
– New convenient care locations downtown
– New bays in ER at Cape Coral Hospital and ICU beds
– More expansions possible
“Care is moving away from hospitals,” said Lee Health CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci. “Moving to facilities that are hospitals without inpatient beds. We’re looking to put a facility very much like that on Veterans Parkway that’s going to have multiple specialties including oncology, a heart catheterization, cancer infusion, along with a surgery center. We’re excited with that might mean.”
– 50 acres on Pine Island Road for a future development
“We want to continue to grow with the Cape,” Antonucci said.
– Residency programs at CCH in partnership with FSU. More programs coming.
“This is a way to train doctors and to bring them here and keep them here. We’re in dire need of physicians in our community,” Antonucci said.
• Cape Coral Fire Department adding more stations and additional training
– Three new fire stations planned for the northwest part of the city based on risk, number of homes, and vertical construction.
– Additional phases of training center to be built: special operations, burn facility, etc
• Cape Christian Worship Center
– State-of-the-art community center being built on the campus
• Cape Coral Police Department recruitment
– Need for police with growth in city, up 8% year-over-year
– 50 additional officers needed to meet growth (These are not 50 vacancies but projections.)
“Our recruitment is strong. Our onboarding is robust. People want to be here,” said CCPD Chief Anthony Sizemore. “We’re full, but we don’t have enough. We are still one the safest cities in Florida by any metric.”
– School Resource Officers drilling and training constantly
– Divided patrols into quadrants/precincts based on four sections of the city
– Working to get community hubs/precinct buildings in those areas
• Jaycee Park, Festival Park, Lake Meade Park, Yellow Fever Creek
– Mid April to late-April opening for Jaycee Park
– Festival Park has turf fields in, with grass and amphitheater to follow. Open possibly by June with programming in the fall
– New park in the northeast Cape in Lake Meade Park. Lots of amenities and features. At 30% design, at 60% in the next month.
– Yellow Fever Preserve hoping to be open by June.
– Focus on playgrounds at parks around the city
“This has been an amazing opportunity to continue to develop and build the park system here in the Cape,” said Parks and Recreation Director Joe Petrella. “We are moving forward and listening to the people and finalizing our master plan that will give us a 10-year vision.”
• Affordable housing
– Civitas of Cape Coral open one year
– Hermosa North Fort Myers coming — 62-years-old and above for residents. 160 units. Preference to veterans. Leasing has begun. Two-phase development.
– Avis Square: senior development for 55-years-old and above. To be located off Hancock Parkway south of Pine Island Road. 121 units (1, 2, 3 bedroom). For households earning up to 70% of the area median income and below. Only one member of the household needs to be 55-plus for 20% of the units. Breaking ground as early as April/May.
• New “next generation” Walmart Supercenter
– Supercenter coming to Pine Island Road
– “Future” of Walmart with expanded aisles, elevated fashion, fuel center, autocare center.
– Breaking ground this spring with hopes to open in late summer of 2027.
• Coral Grove
– Located on a 131-acre lot on Pine Island Road between Chiquita Boulevard and Burnt Store Road.
– Will feature a variety of retail spaces, entertainment venues, hotel, and luxury apartments and townhomes, with the economic impact expected to be $1.3 billion.
“We’re committed to moving this forward and working through this,” said Chief Executive Officer and Principal of L&L Development Group, Jim Zboril. “We’re encouraged with the leases we’re getting, the quality of the tenants, the offerings that are unique to Cape Coral.
“We’re executing at a high-level of quality. We’re getting people to come to Cape Coral that were not aware of the city.”
• Bones Coffee
– Breaking ground on 100,000-square-foot headquarters in Cape Coral to pack and ship worldwide.
• Town Home Suites by Marriott
– Broke ground in November of 2025.
– Vertical build coming soon. Expected completion in spring of 2027
• 7 Islands Gulf Gateway Resort at Marina Village
– Forest Development closed on property in Feb. 2026.
– Currently in civil engineering process. Nine months before first permits can be submitted. Groundbreaking expected in just over one year.
– Community Center on seventh island. A public space available to all with restaurant and space to be reserved for private events. Amphitheater, splash pad, food truck park on the island.
– 47 total acres. 995 residential units (two condos, apartments, single-family housing, hotel).
– Public-access marina with 180 boat slips for lease.
“For us, the project is so exciting,” said Managing Partner for Forest Development, Peter Baytarian. “To have grown with the city and having closed on the land…we’re really looking forward to breaking ground and moving forward.”
• Star Farms of Cape Coral (Hudson Creek)
– 1,700-acre gated community
– Mixed-use village
– 3,500 residences from single-family homes, to villas, town homes, and multi-family
– Pools, fitness center, sports courts, walking trails, more
– Bringing utilities and enhanced commercial land uses.
– Starting once permit amortization is obtained from city.
– Will roll out in phases and integrate commercial development including neighborhood grocer
When asked if he thinks these projects put Cape Coral in jeopardy of growing “too much” or losing its charm, Johnson said. “Cape Coral is unique to the fact that I think no matter how big we get, it’s always that ‘small-town feel.’ Growing up and raising my family here, I know big cities. We’re growing, but I think we’re growing at the right rate. Cape Coral is a predominantly residential community. What the EDO in Cape Coral is doing and doing smart, is finding the right commercial that will fit our commercial needs.”
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com