SOUTHWEST, Fla. — A new state law is helping to spur housing development in some blighted areas of southwest Florida.
On the way to Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach, demolition crews are tearing down the iconic Sanibel Outlets.
For nearly three decades shoppers looking for deals came to the Sanibel Outlets.
But Hurricane Ian severely damaged much of the mall.
New plans call for a 23-acre mixed-use development, including 200 workforce housing units.
Plans submitted to replace Sanibel Outlets with nearly 500 residential units
“By providing the housing, basically, at the front door of both Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, that certainly provides a great place for the daily commuter to live nearby and get to their jobs,” said Ryan Von Weller, Chief Operating Officer of Wendover Housing Partners, which was just chosen to build Helm’s Bay Landing.