Cape Coral City Council approved an incentive package for a new Marriott TownePlace Suites that will support city emergency operations during hurricanes and other disasters.
Evan Williams
Cape Coral City Council on Oct. 22 voted 5-2 to award an economic incentive package worth $2,783,270 to Continental Properties Company Inc. Â
The developer is set to invest $29.1 million to build a 13,500-square-foot, five-story, 112-room Marriott TownPlace Suites hotel at 1475 NE Eighth Terrace. Â
As part of the deal, Continental will partner with the city’s Emergency Operations department to equip the hotel with a $350,000 generator and backup system to be paid for by the city in addition to the incentive package. During hurricanes or other emergencies, the city will be able to reserve up to two floors or 37 rooms at current market rates for staff who are asked to work through disasters. That would provide a place for at least part of the roughly 800 workers that the Cape is expected to need on hand during a disaster. Â
The hotel also is located outside the city’s flood hazard zones. Â
Cape Coral approved an incentive package for Continental Properties to build a Marriott TownePlace Suites that will include backup power and space for city staff during emergencies.
Evan Williams
Cape City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said that the deal is a unique opportunity to save the city millions of dollars on building a separate emergency operations center. Â
Council members Keith Long and Mayor John Gunter cast dissenting votes, arguing that the city could explore other options for its emergency needs and potentially amend Continental’s incentive package. Â
Ilczyszyn and other officials argued that the incentive would be worth it even without the emergency operations agreement. Â
In addition to one-time construction costs, ongoing hotel operations are expected to generate $6.6 million in direct and indirect economic output, including creating 21 full-time jobs. Â
Construction is expected to begin next month and be complete by April 2027.Â