WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THIS ACCIDENT CLEARS. >> THE BIMINI BASIN, EAST DEVELOPMENT, CAPE CORAL, KICK PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES IN THE NAME OF BRINGING CAPE CORAL INTO THE FUTURE. NOW THE QUESTION CITY LEADERS NEED HELP WITH WHAT SHOULD BE BUILT ON THIS PRIME PIECE OF LAND NEAR DOWNTOWN CORNERED BETWEEN CORONADO PARKWAY AND VICTORIA DRIVE. THIS IS ALL JUST OFF CAPE CORAL PARKWAY. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER KENNEDY MASON IS THERE LIVE WITH DETAILS ON WHAT LIES AHEAD. >> IDEAS ARE STORING FOR WHAT COULD BE AT THIS EMPTY LOT OFF OF CAPE CORAL PARKWAY. THE CITY IS ASKING FOR IDEAS, IDEAS THAT COULD TRANSFORM THE AREA. >> ONCE A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE FAMILIES LIVED IS NOW EMPTY. LOTS. THE CITY DEMOLISHED DEPARTMENTS ON 22 ACRES SOUTH OF CAPE CORAL PARKWAY AT CORONADO PARKWAY TO REDEVELOP THE AREA. THIS AREA DOWN HERE. 65 YEARS OLD. AND IT’S STARTING TO GET TIRED. WHILE THE CITY SEEKS PROPOSALS FROM DEVELOPERS, THE CITY ALREADY HAS A VISION IN MIND. A VIBRANT WALKABLE DISTRICT WITH STREET-LEVEL SHOPS, APARTMENTS ABOVE OUTDOOR RESTAURANTS AND OPEN GATHERING SPACES. BUT NOT EVERYONE IS ON BOARD WITH THAT VISION. NO, WE DON’T NEED ANY MORE APARTMENTS. WE DON’T NEED ANY. >> WAR. >> RESTAURANTS ARE GAS STATIONS AND BANKS. JUST A NICE OPEN SPACE WHERE PEOPLE COME WITH THEIR KIDS. RIDE BIKES. JUST KATHY STEVEN LIVES IN THE CAPE. SHE WISHES THE CITY WOULD INCLUDE RESIDENTS MORE IN THE PROCESS. THEY SHOULD ALSO WITH THE PEOPLE NOT JUST DEVELOPERS. THERE’S ALSO CONTROVERSY AROUND ANOTHER PART OF THE PLAN. THE CITY MAY RELOCATE 4 FREEDOMS PARK, WHICH IS RIGHT ON THE WATER. YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT. >> PARK ON THE WATER HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, CONNECTED TO URBAN CORE, GET PEOPLE. TO COME DOWN TO CAPE CORAL AND AND 2, 2, >> INVESTING ITSELF IN THE CITY. REALTOR, ELMER TABOR SEES VALUE IN THE CHANGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE WATERFRONT VIEWS. IT’S GOOD INCREASE THE VALUE ALL THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE ON BOARD. >> SO IF SOMEBODY WOULD LIKE TO LIVE THIS KIND OF ENVIRONMENT, BUT THEY CAN’T GET IT HERE. THEY CAN WALK RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. EVENTUALLY THESE CONDOS ALL GET SOLD INDIVIDUALLY. SO THEY’LL BE ABLE HAVE THE LUXURY OF OUR GREAT WATERFRONT PROPERTY AND THE EXCITEMENT OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT, THE ENTERTAINMENT DINING EVERYTHING THAT’S GOING TO GO WITH IT. >> QUALIFIED FIRMS HAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH TO SUBMIT THEIR PROPOSALS. >> SO AGAIN, A DAY AFTER THE CITY GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS, PICKS A FROM HOW LONG UNTIL WE ACTUALLY KNOW SEE SOMETHING BUILT THERE. >> WELL, TABOR SAYS THAT THE CITY SHOULD PICK A FARM PRETTY QUICK, THEN ITS ENGINEERING AND PERMITTING, WHICH COULD TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS, THEN BUILDING WHICH HE SAYS WILL BE THE FASTEST PROCESS. HE SAYS HE THINKS IT COULD ALL TA
Cape Coral Bimini East revamp: Vision for vibrant urban living meets push for green spaces
Updated: 7:19 PM EDT Oct 16, 2025
Cape Coral city leaders are asking firms for proposals to redevelop the Bimini East area, located near downtown between Coronado Parkway and Victoria Drive, into a vibrant, walkable district. The city envisions street-level shops, apartments above, outdoor restaurants, and open gathering areas for the 22-acre site, which was previously a neighborhood with apartments that have been demolished. “This area down here, 65 plus years old, and it’s starting to get tired,” said Elmer Tabor, a longtime Cape Coral realtor and developer. While the city has a vision for the area, not all residents agree with the proposed changes. Kathy Stephan, a Cape Coral resident, said she thinks the city needs more open spaces.”No, we don’t need any more apartments,” Stephan said. “We don’t need any more restaurants or gas stations or banks. Just a nice open space where people can come with their kids, ride bikes. Just enjoy.”Stephan also wishes the city would involve residents more in the decision-making process. “They should also ask the people, not just the developers,” she said.Another point of contention is the potential relocation of Four Freedoms Park, which is currently situated on the water.”You need to have that park on the water, have that, you know, connected to that urban core. Get people to come down to Cape Coral and to invest in itself in the city,” said Stjin Dhespeel, a Cape Coral residentDespite differing opinions, Tabor sees value in the redevelopment, particularly regarding waterfront views. “It’s going to increase the value of all these properties,” he said. “Eventually these condos all get sold individually, so they’ll be able to have the luxury of our great waterfront property and the excitement of the new development, the entertainment, the dining and everything that’s going to go with it.”Qualified firms have until the end of the month to submit their proposals. Tabor believes the city should choose a firm quickly, with engineering and permitting expected to take a couple of years, followed by construction, which he says is the quickest part. Based on his experience, he estimates the entire process could take about five years.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Cape Coral city leaders are asking firms for proposals to redevelop the Bimini East area, located near downtown between Coronado Parkway and Victoria Drive, into a vibrant, walkable district.
The city envisions street-level shops, apartments above, outdoor restaurants, and open gathering areas for the 22-acre site, which was previously a neighborhood with apartments that have been demolished.
“This area down here, 65 plus years old, and it’s starting to get tired,” said Elmer Tabor, a longtime Cape Coral realtor and developer.
While the city has a vision for the area, not all residents agree with the proposed changes. Kathy Stephan, a Cape Coral resident, said she thinks the city needs more open spaces.
“No, we don’t need any more apartments,” Stephan said. “We don’t need any more restaurants or gas stations or banks. Just a nice open space where people can come with their kids, ride bikes. Just enjoy.”
Stephan also wishes the city would involve residents more in the decision-making process.
“They should also ask the people, not just the developers,” she said.
Another point of contention is the potential relocation of Four Freedoms Park, which is currently situated on the water.
“You need to have that park on the water, have that, you know, connected to that urban core. Get people to come down to Cape Coral and to invest in itself in the city,” said Stjin Dhespeel, a Cape Coral resident
Despite differing opinions, Tabor sees value in the redevelopment, particularly regarding waterfront views.
“It’s going to increase the value of all these properties,” he said. “Eventually these condos all get sold individually, so they’ll be able to have the luxury of our great waterfront property and the excitement of the new development, the entertainment, the dining and everything that’s going to go with it.”
Qualified firms have until the end of the month to submit their proposals.
Tabor believes the city should choose a firm quickly, with engineering and permitting expected to take a couple of years, followed by construction, which he says is the quickest part. Based on his experience, he estimates the entire process could take about five years.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.