/Business
Annual event highlights trends, tips & forecasting
1 / 5
Presenters Bill Johnson, Jr. and Gloria Tate listen as Chamber Chair Mick Sheldrake and Chamber President Donna Germain open the 14th annual “Catch the Vision” before a packed house at First Cape Church Monday night.
VALARIE HARRING
2 / 5
Linda Biondi, Eric Gundersen, Annette Warren and Lisa Barrella welcome attendees to the 14th annual “Catch the Vision,” held this year at First Cape Church. Organized for the first time by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, Catch the Vision focused on the numerous new projects and developments coming to the Cape.
VALARIE HARRING
3 / 5
Bil Steinke, director of Sales and Business Development for Aubuchon Homes and Cape Coral City Coubcilmember, and Barbara Leite, a custom home specialist for Aubuchon, greet attendees at “Catch the Vision” Monday. The event attracted numerous vendors.
VALARIE HARRING
4 / 5
Laurie Ragle, advertising director for the Breeze Newspapers, and Lynn McElhaney, senior account executive, are among the representatives from the more than three dozen vendors to participate in the 14th annual “Catch the Vision” event organized by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral. The Breeze was also among the event sponsors.
VALARIE HARRING
5 / 5
Seats fill up quickly as representatives from more than a dozen “vision makers” appear on video to provide updates on major projects in the works or in the planning stages including a new health care facility; multiple new mixed-use developments; a new “next generation” Walmart Supercenter and more.
VALARIE HARRING
[expand]
close
The latest and greatest in future and ongoing Cape Coral projects were all laid out Monday night as part of an annual program.
The 14th annual “Catch the Vision” took place at First Cape Church, where project experts and public safety and health officials updated attendees on what they can expect to see in the city.
Put on for the first time by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral, Catch the Vision touched on a myriad of projects from those that are nearly complete to ones that are still in infancy.
Hosted by Raso Realty’s Gloria Tate and the Horizon Council’s Bill Johnson Jr., the duo introduced each short video presentation and offered their insights as the event unfolded.
“This is one of my favorite nights of the year because we truly get to see what Cape Coral has, what’s, in the works,” Johnson said. “You’ve seen with multiple projects over multiple Catch the Visions, to actually see shovels in the ground, projects being built, it’s so exiting. I think one of the highlights for us this year was we kind of focused on the city’s involvement, too. Looking out not only for the real estate agent or developer, but looking out for the residents of Cape Coral.”
So, what do all of these developments coming to Cape Coral mean?
“For me, coming from the construction industry, my biggest thing was looking at developers that are looking at Cape Coral as a home,” Johnson said. “I mean you look at the Seven Islands project five, 10, 15 years ago. No one would have ever thought. Cape Coral is a force to be reckoned with now in the state of Florida.
“I think the biggest thing is seeing developers taking a look at us now instead of us having to go out and get them. They’re coming to us. That just shows how great our leadership in our city has been to make Cape Coral a destination.”
Projects discussed/topics touched upon included:
• Cape Coral Technical College expansion
• Lee Health projects expanding and residency programs
• Cape Coral Fire Department adding more stations and additional training
• Cape Christian Worship Center
• Cape Coral Police Department recruitment
• Jaycee Park, Festival Park, Lake Meade Park, Yellow Fever Creek
• Affordable housing
• A “new generation” Walmart Supercenter
• Coral Grove
• Bones Coffee
•Town Home Suites by Marriot
• Seven Islands
• Star Farms
When asked if he thinks these projects put Cape Coral in jeopardy of growing “too much” or losing its charm, Johnson Jr. said, “Cape Coral is unique to the fact that I think no matter how big we get, it’s always that ‘small-town feel.’ Growing up and raising my family here, I know big cities. We’re growing, but I think we’re growing at the right rate. Cape Coral is a predominantly residential community. What the EDO in Cape Coral is doing and doing smart, is finding the right commercial that will fit our commercial needs.”