Current Planned Developments In Greater Estero

​As you will see from the following summary, considerable development is taking place in our community, with more to come! Exciting times indeed!

Verdana Village on East Corkscrew.

Verdana Village, a new master-planned development on east Corkscrew Road, has announced that Publix will anchor the coming shopping center in the community. When completed, The Shoppes at Verdana Village will encompass over 78,000 square feet of grocery, retail, medical, and dining and will have additional space for lease, the release adds. The new Publix and adjacent Publix Liquor store will occupy 49,500 sq. ft. Heartland Dental and other tenants will join Publix, and the community itself will encompass 2,400 single-family homes on a variety of homesites with lake and preserve views.

Stock Commercial to Provide the First Retail Buildings in its mixed-use project in Estero Crossing.

Located on the south side of Corkscrew Road, between Three Oaks Parkway and I-75, Estero Crossing (east of Lowes) will feature 60,000 square feet of retail space. It will be positioned closest to Corkscrew Road and include six three-story luxury apartment buildings for a total of 306 residences positioned behind it.

“We are targeting starting construction on the retail buildings later this summer,” stated Keith Gelder, President of Stock Commercial and Stock Luxury Apartment Living. “We have received a significant amount of interest in the property now that site work has started.”

“As of today, the majority of the 42-acre site, for both the commercial and residential buildings, has been cleared, and fill is being imported to balance the site,” noted Gelder, who confirmed Stock is focusing on the retail space first and then the luxury apartments.

The New Estero Fire Rescue Station on East Corkscrew Road

SchenkelShultz Architecture has designed the Estero Fire Rescue Station No. 45 and Training Facility on East Corkscrew Road. The new 19,200 square-foot facility on five acres features an open layout for rapid response, a biodiversity garden, a training area, and a fitness trail. The fire station will include three drive-through bays and two back-in bays, a dayroom, a kitchen, bunk rooms, a fitness room, a public lobby, and A multi-purpose training room for community use. Several design strategies were incorporated to promote the health, safety, and wellness of first responders. The project also includes a multi-building training area with structures designed to simulate real-world scenarios for first responders.

Corkscrew Crossing

The applicant is requesting approval of a development order for phase one of their project, which consists of 141 lots at the north end of their site and their entry feature and gatehouse.

There are three phases to this residential community, with 554 single-family homes and a common recreation area. This property is located at 12840 Corkscrew Road between Wildcat Run and The Preserve at Corkscrew.

Edera

This development (a four-story, 180-apartment community) on Williams Road and Via Coconut is nearing completion. The development is on 13 acres at the southeastern corner of Williams Road and Via Coconut Point, just east of the Hertz Global Headquarters. The project is being developed by Miami-based 13th Floor Investments.T.

Genova

An amendment has been submitted to construct single-family homes and townhomes instead of condominium buildings 5 and 6. The request reduces the height and changes the multi-family to luxury single-family residences and townhomes, replacing 74 units with 40 units, 14 of which are single-family homes. Genova is on the southeast corner of Via Coconut and Corkscrew Road.

The Colonnade (on Corkscrew Road, opposite Genova)

The Colonnade will be a multi-family development proposed on Via Coconut across from Genova. It will be the first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Estero.

Via Coconut (on via Coconut on the west side of Genova)

This is a new 20-Acre development on the West Side of Via Coconut, to the south of Corkscrew Road.

The development proposed includes 330 multifamily dwelling units, 29,600 square feet of commercial use, and a 10,000-square foot church or alternative commercial use.

The commercial development is likely to involve an Animal Clinic, Banks & Financial institutions, a Bar, a Broadcast Studio (Commercial Radio & Television), cinemas and theaters, Community Gardens and a public dog park on the south side of the property is also included in the plans.

Other options being considered for the development include restaurants, a convenience food and beverage store, a Cultural Facility, Day Care Center, Drugstore, Grocery store or food market, Hardware Store, Household and Office Furnishings, Insurance Companies, Dry-cleaning & Laundry Services, Library, Post Office, and Medical or Dental Lab.

The developer has dedicated a Public Park on the overall site to the Village and will maintain it in perpetuity. They are also planning pedestrian and road connections to the railroad right-of-way and Happy Hollow Lane. The need for a crosswalk will be determined at the time of the development order. They will examine the situation in Happy Hollow Lane to determine if a turnaround or cul-de-sac is needed.

This major development will add a wide variety of additional commercial businesses to our location and has the potential for being a major attraction to our area.

Coconut Landing

The proposed development will be located off Coconut Road ¼ mile from the Coconut Point Hyatt Resort next to El Dorado Acres. Coconut Landing will feature 25 single-family homes with a private pool. The homes will have a VIP membership to the Coconut Point Hyatt Resort.

West Bay Club

A public hearing was held regarding the request for a new high rise at West Bay to increase the height from 20 stories over parking to 23 stories over parking (approximately 270 feet) plus 20 feet for rooftop equipment for a proposed 88-unit high-rise building on Pod 5 at the West Bay Club. The four units per floor with two penthouse levels would provide 88 units over one level of parking. The glass on the building will be non-reflective. West Bay Club is located at the end of Williams Road, west of U.S. 41. The Board recently approved the amendment with conditions.

The Tides at Pelican Landing

The applicant is in the process of repainting their apartment buildings and is requesting the Board to review five new exterior color schemes. The Tides at Pelican Landing is located on the west side of U.S. 41, south of Coconut Road. The applicant is in the process of repainting their 11 apartment buildings and was requesting the Board to review five new exterior color schemes as demonstrated in their presentation. They visited neighboring communities to review the existing color schemes to come up with the proposed paint palette. The request reduces the height and changes the multi-family to single-family residences and townhomes, replacing 74 units with 40 units. The application was recently approved.

Brightwork Real Estate, Estero Town Commons Place

The applicant proposes providing a convenience store with a gas station at the Estero Town Commons to service traffic heading to the interstate. They request a zoning amendment to include a deviation to allow a Wawa convenience store and fast-food restaurant with gas within 500 feet of an existing gas station to the north on Corkscrew Road.  This property is located on the south side of Corkscrew Road on the parcel previously occupied by Ruby Tuesday close to Stoneybrook.

The New School Planned for Three Oaks near the Post Office.

New pre-K – 8 schools will be built on the East side of Three Oaks, close to the Post Office. The school will accommodate 1600 students and include common areas such as a media center, cafeteria, and gymnasium. New community recreational opportunities will also be made available as the Estero Council voted $100,000 to augment the facilities. Tennis, soccer, track, basketball, outdoor restrooms, and more will be available to residents outside school hours. Traffics concerns will be addressed with a new traffic signal, crosswalks, turn lane, and stacked parental waiting lanes within the school grounds.

AS OF NOVEMBER 16th THIS DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD BY THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.

The development of the 60+acre land parcel on the Estero River

As it may be called, Estero on the River is the wooded land at the corner of U.S. 41 at its western edge and Corkscrew Road at its south. The meandering Estero River bisects the property. The options for the property, which were slowed by the COVID virus, are still being considered. This development is essential for the Village of Estero and is likely to be a blend of carefully selected developments and the retention of the natural beauty surrounding the river, especially to the south side. Much of the property is undeveloped, though it encompasses a few buildings and a former orange grove.

The Lee Health Development on the Northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Coconut Road 

The Plans for Lee Health’s 40+acre development have not yet been finalized. To date, there has been an opportunity for input from residents, and the outline suggestions for the property look very exciting. Suggestions for the property put forward include housing, a hotel, medical offices, health & wellness facilities, entertainment venue, restaurants, and open areas for public gatherings. The plans will likely take a few more months before they are ready to be submitted for approval.

The Brooks Town Center Development Plans

Plans put forward by Long Bay Developers to demolish the former Winn Dixie building, to build a four story 150+ residential apartment property has been the subject of recent discussions with the Village Council. At a council meeting on October 27th the council voted to acknowledge vesting for the use of “multi-family low-rise” by Long Bay Partners LLC only. Although they indicated that there were no vested rights which exists for a specific number of units, nor for a staff final plan approval process. It remains to be seen what the next steps are likely to be regarding this proposal.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Shoppes at University Highlands

The Shoppes at University Highlands have applied for a development order to add a one-story, 7,300 square foot commercial building on a vacant parcel on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Parkway just north of Miromar Outlets. It’s the fifth building for University Highlands, which includes 14 acres of retail, hotel and office properties. The new building is proposed to have 6,000 square feet of retail space and a 1,300-square-foot restaurant.

Houck Dermatology

The new Estero Medical Center Serving Lee County, including Estero, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral, is located on the northeast corner of Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway, across the street from Lowes in the Estero Medical Center at 10201 Arcos Ave, Suite 203 Estero, FL 33928.

Clean Machine Car Wash

Clean Machine, a drive-thru car wash business, will build their latest car wash approximately 200 feet north of Aldi’s on U.S. 41.

Oak & Stone Restaurant

Oak & Stone restaurant proposed 1,000 feet west of the intersection of Corkscrew Road and Interstate 75 in Estero Crossing, a mixed-use project under construction by Naples-based Stock Development. A more than 5,300-square-foot restaurant and bar with a covered patio is proposed for an outparcel. It will be the first Lee County location of Florida-based Oak & Stone, an artisan pizza and craft beer dining concept that launched a location at Logan Landings in North Naples in early 2020.

True Fashionistas to Participate in FGCU’s Internship Program

True Fashionistas Resale, a designer resale and consignment store has been selected by Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) as a business participant in the FGCU Bank of America sixth annual Student Small Business Readiness Certificate Program. The program pairs approved students and participating businesses for an approximately month-long intensive internship, shadowing, and mentorship curriculum from October to November. Students assigned to True Fashionistas will have a learning project to create a marketing campaign or customer database and a final project. The program culminates with a reception on the FGCU campus on Nov. 17. True Fashionistas will also provide an optional remote program.

Lids at Miromar Outlets

Lids have opened a new location at Miromar Outlets, located in Suite 167, next to the Nike Factory Outlet. The store offers 2,330 square feet of officially licensed sports and branded merchandise, including hats and apparel for men, women, and children, accessories, and Florida Gulf Coast University gear. Lids at Miromar Outlets will also feature a customization and embroidery station, where guests can customize hats and purchase licensed professional and collegiate gear.

The Food Rock Cafe

The Food Rock Café had a grand opening on Jul. 9 in Suite 440 at University Village in Fort Myers. The restaurant overlooks a lake and fountain in a space previously home to “Get Fried.” The Food Rock Café restaurant offers salads and daily homemade soups, hamburgers with fries, tacos, gyros, empanadas, and more. Many of the dishes have an island twist, with flavors and influences from chef and owner JD Damas’s Haitian homeland and the Colombian heritage of his wife and co-owner, Jennifer Verbel Damas. Call 239-257-1176.

AutoZone

AutoZone will locate their building in the Plaza Del Sol Commercial Planned Development subdivision, 10250 Arcos Avenue, adjacent to Culvers on the southeast corner of Puerto Way and Corkscrew Road. It will be on a 1.86-acre vacant parcel with a monument sign located at Corkscrew Road and Puerto Way.

Pavich Realty

Plans to convert a small existing property on Happy Hollow & Corkscrew Road for their office and small café.

Fifth Third Bank 

A new Fifth Third Bank has been built on a vacant parcel at Miramar. The bank is now operational at the Miramar Square location.

Other Capital Improvements in the Village plans have been listed in the July 2021 Estero Life Magazine p14. (https://esterolifemagazine.com/estero-life-magazine-july-2021/)

This information was researched in November 2021, and is believed to be as accurate as possible as of that date.

Tight Inventory and High Demand Continues