Bonita Springs leaders want to reach out to the private sector to help make their vision for a vibrant downtown a reality.
The City Council asked city staff at a strategic planning workshop Wednesday night to work on requesting proposals for developing two city properties on Old 41 Road.
“I think it is time,” Mayor Ben Nelson said. “If you invited a bunch of really creative people to the party, leave it as wide open as possible, someone could come up with something really unique.”
The first site is the 5.3-acre former Bamboo Village mobile home park that straddles the Imperial River on the east side of Old 41 Road between Goodwin and Wilson streets the city bought for $2.6 million in 2003. After the economy tanked, the Antaramian Group of Naples in 2008 backed out of a $3.4 million project there with condos, shops and restaurants.