A project that could transform part of downtown Cape Coral cleared a major hurdle on Wednesday night after a lengthy City Council meeting.
City Council approved the $500 million Bimini East redevelopment despite some neighbors raising concerns about noise, traffic, and the impact on Four Freedoms Park. It was the final public hearing for the project.
North Dakota-based Crown Development plans to build apartments, townhomes, a marina, police substation, and bandshell in downtown Cape Coral. The project will be located just south of Cape Coral Parkway and west of Coronado Parkway.
The city previously spent $45.2 million to purchase land for the project, forcing out some families in the process. Cape Coral did offer up to $6,000 in rental assistance for those who qualify.
City leaders hailed Bimini East as a transformative project that would bring massive economic development. City staff estimated that construction alone would generate $750.9 million in economic output and more than 3,000 jobs.
“The [Community Redevelopment Agency’s] purpose is to remove bight, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” Councilwoman Jennifer Nelson-Lastra said.