Artists rendition of completed Yacht Club rebuild.<\/p>\n
The city of Cape Coral will look at partnering with private enterprise on its plans to rebuild the Yacht Club park.<\/p>\n
A request for information is being crafted for the multi-million dollar project. The RFI will be released by the end of the month to see if there are potential partners.<\/p>\n
City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said the RFI is a \u201cfishing expedition\u201d to see if there is any interest for a private capital business to participate in the project to include new resort-style amenities at the riverfront acreage on Driftwood Parkway.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know what we are going to get,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat would it take from the private sector to help alleviate some of the capital to construct it. It\u2019s open. You\u2019re dragging a net and don\u2019t know what you are pulling in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ilczyszyn said there are sidebar discussions, a reason for the RFI, but he has an obligation to move forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RFI is going to give Council and the community an opportunity to look at alternative delivery methods that we are not contemplating right now. We are designing it, bid it and award it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ilczyszyn said his role, as well as his staff\u2019s, is to carry forward the previous City Council\u2019s action, which was authorized by resolution to make sure the project is driven to completion. Contracts have been issued for design with what has been gathered through the master plan, and community input sessions.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe and my staff are carrying forward completing the design for the concept that was reviewed in the community,\u201d Ilczyszyn said.<\/p>\n
Mayor John Gunter said with almost $6 million tied in the Yacht Club project, they wanted to see if there are any developers that want to partner with the city to take some of the burden off the taxpayer to pay for the total rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Ian.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is just the baseline. Then we will come back and evaluate what was brought back and see if there were any valuable proposals,\u201d Gunter said, adding they could switch course and find ways to lower the cost of the project now estimated to cost $197 million.<\/p>\n
An update on the project was also presented during the workshop. <\/p>\n
Facility Projects Manager Jon Osterstock said parks maintenance continues at the Yacht Club for regular maintenance and care of the beach, and portable restroom trailers.<\/p>\n
Staff, he said, is working with procurement to develop a request for proposals to secure qualified food truck vendors to provide on-site food service.<\/p>\n
The design of the Yacht Club has reached 100% completion for the harbormaster structures, parking garage, maintenance building, resort-style pool, lifeguard building, and beach restroom plans. The completion of the community center plan is due Friday.<\/p>\n
The next step for the Yacht Club, pending Council approval, is constructing the second portion of the marine aspect \u2013 permanent docks, fuel tanks, and the harbormaster building.<\/p>\n
The first phase for the Yacht Club Marine had a limited notice to proceed on Dec. 18, which allowed the contractor to get in line to secure their spot for fabrication for steel sheet piles, Osterstock said. The direct purchase order for the steel sheet piles was issued on Jan. 7.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe official notice to proceed will be issued in late January,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The fishing pier at the Yacht Club is still a work in progress. Osterstock said. The city applied for the permit back on May 21, 2025, and the city is asking for updates from the Army Corps of Engineers every two weeks trying to nudge the process along which, to date, has been unsuccessful. <\/p>\n
The design for the fishing pier is 100% complete.<\/p>\n