Long-Delayed Project Moving Forward

Stonewater Project

A project first approved by City Council in 2015, is now gearing up for development with the installation of sewer and water lines to its location at the corner of Tropicana Parkway and Nelson Road. Called “Stonewater”, the development will encompass approximately 200 acres of land that was a former mining site.

Plans include 327 single-family homes, an amenity center, and a future marketplace retail area. Much of the development space is designed for outdoor recreation on three lakes with a majority of homes having lake views. The project was delayed due to the North 2 UEP and the construction of a pump station on the property.

Stonewater is designed by Windham Development Inc., Inc., a Michigan developer with experience successfully building housing developments on sites of former mines, even winning the Michigan Building Association Development of the Year Award in 2002 for a similar reclamation project.

They have built several residential developments in Southwest Florida such as Magnolia Landings in North Ft. Myers and Solterra Resort in Davenport, FL. The developer says the development proposal for Stonewater could look like Coral Lakes or Sandoval community styles.

Is Matlacha Isles the next Millionaires Row?

Matlacha Isles may become the next hotspot for upscale redevelopment according to an article in the Ft. Myers News-Press on Sunday.

The article states that Matthew Sinclair, the owner of Sinclair Homes, hopes to transform it from a sleepy cluster of small homes to a popular place with new modern edifices. Sinclair said Matlacha Isles has all the benefits of a location near Cape Coral without actually being in a city with higher taxes.

“This is three minute Gulf access, and taxes are half the price because it is Lee County. Cape Coral is just seconds away, but it is Lee County (outside of city limits). I knew the whole subdivision is developed, so the only direction is to rebuild. So it will only take off. In 5-10 years it will be all bulldozed.”

Sinclair’s three-story modern home sticks out among the older ranch style homes, but he expects more and more teardowns since this waterfront community is so special. There are about 120 homes in the subdivision which was developed back in the early 60s for vacation and fishing. All the early homes are basically two-bedroom fishing houses.

Sinclair spent two years working on his home and finally moved in with his family in January. He uses his home as a model to show people some unique building styles.

The four-bedroom house has four full bathrooms, spans 4,700 square feet under air, and 7,131 square feet total. Solar electricity is used for the whole house.

Sinclair uses his home as a model. “As is about $2.7 million on your lot,” he said. “If you went to Naples to do this, it would be 5-6 million.”

Note: Matlacha Isles is not in the City, but it is adjacent to the westernmost edge of our boundaries.