| Celebration marks “Boat House”
opening |
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| Hundreds came Thursday evening to mark the grand opening of the Boat House in the Marina at Cape Harbour. The facility will house as many as 161 boats in a “high and dry” environment. Its construction was a challenge for developer Will Stout of Realmark Group, who also is responsible for Cape Royal, near Pine Island Road and Veterans Parkway, Burnt Store Marina and the current development of Entrada off the Del Prado Boulevard Extension. “Here is the man who can put an industrial use in a residential neighborhood and make it compatible,” said Cape Coral Mayor Arnold Kempe of Stout. “There are few who can do that. He said he was going to make it compatible, and he did.” Simply put, the building just does not look like a place where boats are stored. “What we are so proud of,” Stout said, “is that it does not look like a boat house. It looks like a hotel. We have done that with the colors, the landscaping and offset of different roof lines.” The building and another nearby feature the same pink and yellow towers seen at the entrance of The Entrada, but Stout does not take credit for the design. “We have done this through the talent of a Cape Coral designer, Steve Turner,” he said. “He does the colors, the proportions and the design work, and that is one of the reasons it looks so nice.” Turner even created a “pond” illusion on the side, by the large door where the boats enter. The water scene painted on the cement has several fish in it. During the celebration from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Stout also committed $50,000 to the construction of a new home for the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral at its present location at the foot of the Cape Coral Bridge. A check for $10,000 was presented Thursday, and the other $40,000 will be in the form of matching 25 percent of contributions made by other members of the community. “I want to make sure the community contributes,” Stout said to explain why the entire amount was not handed out at once.
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The celebration also marked the “topping off” – the roof being completed - of the Marina View Condominiums,” according to managing broker Laura Straus. The structure will have 58 units ranging from 1,500 to 4,000 square feet. Only seven remain to be sold, Stout said. The commercial tenants also were present. The businesses are Boaters Landing, a boat dealer; Tow Boat U.S. and Classic Electric Boats by Duffy. Today, Cape Harbour kicks off its “Parade of Homes.” Saturday and Sunday, boat tours of the community will be given between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to Straus. Many people living nearby were present for the celebration. “I live by Tarpon Point, and we look at it every morning,” said Don Kirste. “It is very well built. I was a contractor myself; just looking at it, it is excellent.” His wife, Marilyn, also liked the new neighborhood sight. “I think this building is absolutely beautiful for a high-and-dry – and it is a beautiful party,” she said. Inside the huge building lined on both sides by levels to store the boats, enough room remained for vendors serving food of all kinds, as well as wine, beer and other beverages. Between the two rows of vendors, high tables covered with white table cloth were placed throughout for standing dining. The crowd was shoulder to shoulder and they were entertained by Tim Casey and the Blind Pass Band. To add to the festivities, a bubble machine showered the celebrants. Among them was Wally Morrow, captain of the “Marion L. Boswell” a 1927 motoryacht anchored there. “I received an invitation,” he said. “I know Will Stout, and we share the same thought about wooden boats.” Stout said he and Morrow “have the only two wooden boats here.” |