Tear it down!
To the editor:
As a millennial homeowner in Cape Coral, I find many issues concerning such as the lack of sidewalks, hurricane resilience planning, and rising insurance costs, but restoring the Yacht Club is not one of those concerns. Cape Coral City Council members were correct in voting to take the first steps to demolish what remains of the building after Hurricane Ian. City leaders have done an excellent job in taking Cape Coral out of the past and into the future with many exciting projects such as the newly announced food truck park and The Cove condos and shops on Cape Coral Parkway. The freshly announced application for historical status on the club is a waste of time and a step backward in building the Cape Coral of tomorrow. The estimated $3.2 million that it would take to restore the club to its former self could be better spent elsewhere addressing more significant issues facing the exploding population of Cape Coral.
Gloria Tate is wasting taxpayer time and money with her attempt to halt the demolition and should cease all actions trying to reclassify the club as a historic site. Hurricane Ian was devastating to the city of Cape Coral and caused unprecedented damage as seen with the destruction of the Yacht Club. The city should continue its current path of building new for the future as the city continues to grow and leave old outdated buildings in the past. City leaders need to ensure that Cape Coral continues to evolve and grow in its hurricane preparedness as the state continues to feel the effects of climate change. Leaders should not waste their time worrying about an old outdated building that holds no significant value to many residents. In short, tear it down!
Barry Anderson
Cape Coral