7 Islands Update - June 2022

Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village

It's been over 3 months since the City Council received a presentation on February 23^rd from Forest Development, the city's first choice developer for the Seven Islands project.

The mixed-use project, now known as the "Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village," will include a hotel, restaurants, and commercial and residential units, all in line with the city's concept plan which restricts construction to 995 residential units with a maximum building height of 8 stories.  

All's quiet on the information front, but we do know the city's timeline in their February presentation put the purchase contract agreement timeframe as June/July 2022.

Council liked what they heard from the developer in February but wanted commercial and hotel construction to be in the first stage of development along with some residential.  Lawrence Zabik, project manager for Forest Development, said they would make adjustments to accommodate Council.

We are including, below, a timeline chart that was presented by Forest on February 23^rd.  It will give you an idea of how this project could play out over the next 10 years, but keep in mind that this is an initial timeline and, as in many projects, things could change.  So, keep flexibility in mind as you review.  

Since the timeline puts marina design and plans first, it would be interesting to see if hotel and commercial aspects either surround or lay next to the marina.  Plans would run along the lines of Nautilus 220, Forest's project in Lake Park, FL though restrictions on building height here would apply.  Roads and infrastructure could start as soon as late 2023. 

Despite references to their Nautilus project, Mr. Zabik said, in his presentation, that Gulf Gateway will have its own identity.

• Forest will work with Cape Coral to implement the D-1 Legacy Development Plan
• Burnt Store Corridor is the city's opportunity for a legacy destination resort
• Gateway to a waterfront lifestyle with full access to the area's waterways
• Smart, environmentally responsible development
• Plan will add over 2,500 new residents, increase visitors and tourism to Cape Coral
• Plan will be complimentary to existing neighborhood development

So, for now, we're waiting for the agreement to get hashed out and then, soon after, we should be able to get our first glimpse of what's coming to the Seven Islands but we're not quite there yet. 

In the meantime, repeat until it sinks in:

Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village

Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village

Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village…

View from above of Forest Development's Nautilus 220 in Lake Park, FL