Cape condos' first phase is completed

The News-Press, November 17, 2004

By Angela Hill

The first phase of condominiums in one of the few waterfront districts in Cape Coral is completed and residents are ready to move in.

Marina View, a 58-unit, six-story condominium building, should start seeing residents in December. It is part of the $450 million commercial-residential waterfront project called The Marina at Cape Harbour.

"The building is completely sold out except one unit," said Laura Strauss, director of sales and marketing.

The unit still on the market is the $2.3 million penthouse, which is just under 4,000 square feet with a 1,000-square-foot balcony and a private three-car garage.

Amenities of Marina View include a private pool, grilling area and covered parking.

The original name for the waterfront district was Meta, meaning turning point in Greek. The name did not acquire the acceptance developer Will Stout had hoped, so he changed the name, which turned out to be much more popular.

"We used the name internally within the company and on legal documents to the city, but it just didn't stick," Stout said. "We found it wasn't popular in the community so we changed it, going just about as opposite as you can with it, but it works.

"We hope people will say, 'See you down at the marina.' That is what they say anyway."

The second phase of The Marina at Cape Harbour, Marina South, is already under way and is expected to be completed in about two years. The waterfront district is part of the 145-acre Cape Harbour development, which also has
single-family homes and the restaurant Rumrunners.

Marina South consists of 110 condominiums with a two-story building in front of the condominiums filled with various shops and Realmark Group's corporate offices. The Realmark Group is not releasing any information on what kind of shops are interested in purchasing space in Marina South until the models have been moved out and the project is close to completion.

Stout wanted to achieve a welcoming waterfront atmosphere when developing The Marina at Cape Harbor in the southwest region of Cape Coral off Chiquita Boulevard near the Gulf.

"It is important that people know it is open to the public. It is not some private club no one is allowed to go into," he said. "We want the community out enjoying The Marina at Cape Harbour just as much as our residents."