Bimini Basin East project approaches demolition stage
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The city of Cape Coral's Bimini Basin East project continues to progress with some pre-demo work being done to the South Cape site, Cape Coral City Council was told Wednesday.
The completion date for the economic development initiative is spring 2026. Expenditures to date are $41,414,989.
The city, late last year, awarded a demolition contract with Honc Destruction, Inc.
The scope of work, according to the presentation, calls for the demolition of 43 parcels, covering approximately 18.73 acres the city purchased. The cites are located at the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Cape Coral Parkway and Coronado Parkway in the South Cape Community Redevelopment Agency's Bimini Basin District.
The demolition of the properties is to prepare the parcels, many of which have houses, duplexes and other structures, for future development and use.
CRA Project Manager Zac Gogel said they are trying to expand the city's entertainment district with this property. He said a significant amount of the exiting structures were unoccupied due to Hurricane Ian, and many were full of mold.
He said they have upped their patrol in the area with walks taking place through the buildings daily.
"We brought in some supplies -- plywood and large screws to make sure these structures cannot be occupied by any inhabitant," he said.
Gogel said they have 24 tenants occupying 14 structures, while 29 others are unoccupied structures. Permits were submitted last Friday and a preconstruction meeting was held on last Thursday with a notice to proceed assigned.
"The plan is to move from Tarpon Court through Coronado Parkway. Honc Construction won the bid for that project," Gogel said.
Gogel said they are ensuring the buildings are being numbered by parcel number and a letter associated with them to make sure checks and balances are done to ensure the correct buildings are being demoed.
Some pre-demo work is being done with landscaping put in by residents taken out.
"We have gone through the buildings and found a significant amount of appliances damaged from the flood of (Hurricane) Ian. Some of the appliances we are looking to donate as well. In the next few days, we will work to have those donated," Gogel said, adding that freon from the refrigerators and AC units is being recovered as well.
In addition, sidewalks are being torn up around the perimeter of the property, but not in the right-of-way.
"Those sidewalks will remain," Gogel said. "The driveways, we are making saw cuts to ensure walkable path remains."
Small items such as sheds are currently being removed as well.
An update was also provided for Cove at 47th -- a mixed-use multi-family private development that has 290-units, 18,000 square feet of retail space and a 525-space parking garage, 125 which are reserved to public.
Gogel said the parking garage has opened to tenants, but has yet to open to the public due to difficulty with their parking equipment.
"With our system it is to allow their tenants to go through it. If they can't lock down their area, then we can't allow public parking. We are waiting on them. Our equipment is in and ready to go," he said.
The Cove at 47th is at 870 S.E. 47th Terrace in the South Cape.