The first days of 2025

Southwest Florida started out 2025 with a flurry of new projects, new deals and other new development news in Lee and Collier counties and other parts of the region.

Here’s 10 things to know from the first 10 days of January, as reported by In the Know.

1. Gateway office space conversion to 256 apartments in SWFL

A $9 million deal engineered by Cushman & Wakefield | Commercial Property Southwest Florida was wrapped up this month. The transaction puts into motion the conversion of office space at 12600 Gateway into 256 apartments more than 15 miles from the Lee coast.

2. $20M local grant for workplace housing at old Sanibel Outlets

On the affordability front, Wendover Housing Partners has secured a $20 million local grant as part of the former Sanibel Outlets project that In the Know first reported last year known as Helm's Bay Landing. The 200 units targeted as workforce housing would be carved into the Calusa Grande mixed use development near Summerlin Road and McGregor Boulevard, replacing the shopping center mess Hurricane Ian left behind.

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3. New data shows Collier house construction hit 10-year low

New data this month shows Collier County house construction has hit its lowest point in a decade while Southwest Florida overall continues on a downslide, according to Florida Gulf Coast University researchers. With three hurricanes in three years causing extensive Southwest Florida damage, insurance is a major concern, and that's part of what is "reducing local demand," the research showed.

4. While coastal building drops, inland Hendry County sees surge

As opposed to coastal counties, Hendry County, part of the Unbuilt Triangle that we first reported in 2024, saw a 23% increase in November house permits, as compared to a year ago, new FGCU data found this month. In the Know has been reporting on a trend of more residents wanting to live inland, further from the beach and the potential hurricane damage that has been coming fast and furious from storms in recent years.

5. Gated community concept makes Saturday debut in LaBelle

Benefiting from that inland thinking, a gated single-family community concept was officially debuting Saturday in LaBelle in the form of Caloosa Cove, which is slated to have 137 abodes starting at about $290,000.

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https://www.news-press.com/story/money/2025/01/14/hot-southwest-florida-start-to-2025-in-a-cold-month-10-things-to-know/77626314007/

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