CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- An article on a popular national news website questioned Cape Coral's sustainability, Friday.
National news site Politico published an article which explained how Southwest Florida's largest city came to be. The headline reads, "The Boomtown That Shouldn't Exist."
The article continued,
"It was built on total lies. One big storm could wipe it off the map. Oh, and it's also the fastest growing-city in the United States."
The author raised questions about how flood prone the city is, despite an extensive canal system. The author called the canals, "an ecological disaster."
One Cape Coral Councilman said the article was not flattering. "It really doesn't highlight all the great stuff the city has," said Richard Leon, Cape Coral Councilman for district 4.
The article further commented on poor planning on behalf of the Cape's original creators.
"Cape Coral was a planning disaster, too, designed without water or sewer pipes, shops or offices, or almost anything but pre-platted residential lots. But people flocked here anyway," the article states.
City managers recognize the history of Cape Coral and acknowledge poor planning. Dana Brunett, Cape Coral's economic development manager, stated the city has worked hard to diversify existing development and attract business to the area.
The city will present a long-term economic development plan to city council, Monday. Brunett called it a roadmap to where city leaders envision Cape Coral in the future. "It doesn't drill down into real specifics, but it's a framework," Brunett said. "Saying we want to bring in new business, we want to help existing businesses grow, we want to support entrepreneurship, we want to make sure we support workforce development."
This year, Forbes named Cape Coral one of the fastest-growing cities in America. Read the full Politico article here.
