A once-vibrant canal off Santa Barbara in Cape Coral has become a scene of controversy after a car wash opened and then abruptly closed.
Tommy’s Express Car Wash, which opened in January, is now closed just months later. This location replaced what was once roughly 80 feet of open canal. Neighbors in the area, including Nancy Cavanaugh, say Cape Coral is becoming oversaturated with car washes.
Cavanaugh expressed frustration with the impact Tommy’s had on her residential neighborhood.
“Nobody wants to live in a neighborhood on top of a car wash,” said Cavanaugh. “And in the six months, it’s been loud and bright and noisy.”
Cavanaugh shared her concerns about the environmental impacts and the lack of communication from both the city and the company.
“Who’s up there?” she said. “Who’s paying attention to the chemicals and what’s in those containers in the ground? And are they empty? Are they full? Is anybody paying attention? We don’t know. And nobody tells us anything.”
WINK News reached out to Cape Coral officials for clarification on the future of the property. They referred inquiries to Tommy’s Express Car Wash. A staff member from Tommy’s only said that the location is temporarily closed.
Residents remain eager for answers about what will become of the now-empty facility, especially with the looming threat of hurricane season.