CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A new commercial development aimed at meeting the demands of a fast-growing Southwest Florida city. Victory Park is scheduled to break ground later this year, and could be a one-stop shop for veterans, too.
The empty lot on NE 24th Avenue will soon be home to what developers are calling a medical campus for veterans. Blue Waters Development Group will transform the 140 acres of land into Victory Park, adjacent to an Army Reserve center and Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Danny Aguirre with Blue Waters Development Group says it’ll accommodate veterans near and far.
“When you look at the statistics for the VA Medical center, it’s currently bringing in more than 350,000 vet patients per year,” he said.
That includes veterans who travel to Cape Coral for medical treatment.
Aguirre says Victory Park will have 125 rooms inside of a new Wyndham Garden Hotel for locals and vets who travel to the Cape for medical services. They’ll also add more medical space to expand care for all veterans.
“We’ve met with the VA administration. They told us they provide services A, B, and C. It’d be great if we can provide services X, Y, and Z to give the vets a campus feel,” he said.
Aguirre says the new commercial development will also accommodate the state’s fastest growing cities.
According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Fort Myers ranks 4th in the state for fastest growing city within the last decade. Cape Coral made the top ten list for fastest growing city in the country from 2010 to 2018.
Aguirre says that makes it the perfect time for more development in Lee County.
“Really create a hub for quality jobs, which the city is in need of right now,” he said.
Cape Coral's Economic Development Manager says this could bring 100+ jobs to the city and this will be Cape Coral’s largest privately funded development ON 140 acres of land within the last five years.
Aguirre says the total project could cost $400 million. Developers are scheduled to break ground on the project later this year and the grand opening for the new hotel and medical building could happen two years after that.
