cape coral yacht club update

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Watch video: cape coral yacht club animation rendering released.

The plans include a two-story, 47,000-square-foot community center. They also feature two resort-style pools, an additional pier, and a 500-space parking garage.

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The city of Cape Coral has released an animated video simulating their latest master plan of what the yacht club will look like when construction is complete.

Renderings unveiled for Cape Coral Yacht Club

Cape Coral Yacht Club Renderings

PHOTO: City of Cape Coral

Demolition kicked off on Wednesday, April 10.

The yacht club buildings were some of the first ever built in Cape Coral.

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Demolition of Yacht Club moves forward

By meghan bradbury - | may 4, 2023.

File photo The beach at the Cape Coral Yacht Club is a popular year-round attraction.

The buildings at the Cape Coral Yacht Club may be demolished as soon as August, according to city staff.

Director of Capital Improvements Paul Clinghan provided an update to City Council Wednesday on the historic complex, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian.

Regular progress reports are to come.

The Boat House is on track to open at the end of May. The sweep and cleaning for parking is also expected to be finished by the end of May. Clinghan said they also are working on parking lot lighting and, if need be, they are prepared to do temporary lighting as needed.

“As far as gas sales, public works is working on making sure the tanks to the pumps are ready to go by the end of May,” he said, adding that the pumps are a responsibility of the Boat House.

The boat ramp remains closed to general public use, with the exception of personal boat recovery. Clinghan said there is a two- month extension, if approved by the city, past the deadline of Aug. 31 to remove boats.

Lee County is using the boat ramp repairing navigation aids, with the same time table of Aug. 31 with the possibility of a two- month extension, if approved.

The beach at the Yacht Club also remains closed. Clinghan said the city is trying to work with FEMA for reimbursement for the sand refurbishment.

The pier will also be inspected by scuba divers to make sure nothing is loose, which is currently tied up with FEMA.

“We still have to have a specialist come in and look at the sand portion,” he said.

The marina, as well as all other amenities, remain closed in the wake of the Sept. 28 storm.

The demolition of the existing buildings was also discussed. The city is putting together a bid package for the demolition, which will possibly go out in June, or July, with the demolition starting in August or September.

Councilmember Tom Hayden said the public needs to be kept up to speed on when the buildings will be demolished as they are two of the oldest buildings in the city.

“I am hoping we are keeping our citizens informed,” he said. “We have got to keep our residents informed as best as we can every time there is a change. That will be critical with these buildings. We know the damage caused there, and we know they need to be demolished and a new plan in place.”

Hayden said it’s about making sure the residents have the right information of why and how the city is moving forward.

Interim City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said Wednesday night’s meeting was the start of trying to get that information out to the public.

An update was also provided on the canal cleanup efforts.

Solid Waste Manager Terry Schweitzer said debris removal in the salt water canals, which began on Nov. 11, has made all its passes.

“They have been released from the project,” he said of the contractors.

If debris is still found in the canals, residents are encouraged to use 311 and report where and what they have found.

As far as freshwater canals, Schweitzer said there still is work left to be done, as they had to temporarily suspend the efforts, as they work through the NRCS grant guidelines.

“We are looking at 3,300 feet of freshwater canals that fall under NRCS grant guidelines,” he said, adding that there is a cost sharing with that arrangement.

The remaining freshwater falls under FEMA. The hope is to pick up what is left within the next month, with it taking about two weeks to finish.

Mayor John Gunter also asked how things were going with the removal of boats forced ashore at the Yacht Club. The effort runs until Aug. 31, unless extended.

Ilczyszyn said the state has a list of the vessels and they will look at how many are from Cape Coral, so they have an idea of what is out there.

Ilczyszyn also provided an update on a Pine Island Civic Association meeting he attended concerning the planned removal of the Chiquita Boat Lock. The goal was to inform them how the permit, which islanders oppose, is different this time than the last.

“Unfortunately, the vote did go by the way of them providing financial support for the petitioners,” Ilcyszyn said. “They did not join the petition. They are going to be supporting $2,500 against the initiative.”

He said he offered to match the $2,500 to do a project to help the environment together.

“Rather than fighting each other, much better served putting that money into a project to help the environment,” Ilcyszyn said.

In other business:

The City Council approved ordinance 38-23, organ donor and recipient leave, unanimously. An employee is eligible to receive up to 40 hours of leave time when absent due to the donation, or recipient of bone marrow. Up to 160 hours of leave time is eligible for employees when absent due to a donation, or recipient of an organ.

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