Estero Goodwill holds grand openingDestroyed and distressed: properties on Sanibel facing code enforcement
ESTERO Estero Goodwill holds grand opening Lynn Watts, a longtime Goodwill shopper, found herself in the midst of the bustling scene.
SANIBEL Destroyed and distressed: properties on Sanibel facing code enforcement Sanibel, a city known for its resilience, is now facing challenges as some of its beloved landmarks remain in disrepair.
NAPLES Collier County first responders extinguish brush fire near golf course A brush fire in Collier County threatened the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples on Wednesday, but quick action from first responders helped prevent disaster.
Naples embraces new mobile gym for dogs A unique mobile gym for dogs is making waves in Naples, offering a convenient way for pets to exercise without leaving their homes.
EVERGLADES Florida sugar firms lose lawsuit; Everglades restoration moves forward The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Army Corps, marking a significant victory for Everglades restoration efforts.
Charlotte County school start times may shift with new legislation A new bill passed by the Florida Senate could shift the power to officials in Charlotte County and elsewhere to decide school start times.
FORT MYERS Canadian anti-tariff billboards come to Southwest Florida Canadian anti-tariff billboards that read “Tariffs are Taxes” started appearing in Southwest Florida.
FDOT to conduct concrete pour for Little Pine Island Bridge Construction delays on Little Pine Island Bridge are frustrating local drivers, and FDOT said the cause is concrete supply issues.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach debates plastic straw ban as state bill looms A new bill making its way through the Florida Legislature could overturn the ban on plastic straws in Fort Myers Beach.
SANIBEL Sanibel residents learn about prescribed burns to protect homes Sanibel is taking measures to protect homes and the environment through prescribed burns.
FORT MYERS BEACH Clearing a path for the future of Fort Myers Beach Crews in Fort Myers Beach are working hard to clear debris left by past hurricanes from local canals.
COLLIER COUNTY United Soccer League implementing promotion and relegation FC Naples will soon be playing in the promotion and relegation system, a staple in European soccer, once its implemented by the United Soccer League.
ESTERO FDEP conducts prescribed 40-acre burn in Estero Bay Preserve A prescribed burn took place at Estero Bay Preserve State Park on 40 acres of land Wednesday and Thursday, sparking discussion among neighbors about the safety and need of such fires.
FGCU FGCU searching for next women’s basketball coach A national search is on for FGCU’s next head women’s basketball coach after Chelsea Lyles resigned from the position at her alma mater.
FORT MYERS March Madness spurs vasectomy surge March Madness has become more than just a basketball tournament; it’s also a popular time for men to undergo vasectomies.
ESTERO Estero Goodwill holds grand opening Lynn Watts, a longtime Goodwill shopper, found herself in the midst of the bustling scene.
SANIBEL Destroyed and distressed: properties on Sanibel facing code enforcement Sanibel, a city known for its resilience, is now facing challenges as some of its beloved landmarks remain in disrepair.
NAPLES Collier County first responders extinguish brush fire near golf course A brush fire in Collier County threatened the Tiburon Golf Club in Naples on Wednesday, but quick action from first responders helped prevent disaster.
Naples embraces new mobile gym for dogs A unique mobile gym for dogs is making waves in Naples, offering a convenient way for pets to exercise without leaving their homes.
EVERGLADES Florida sugar firms lose lawsuit; Everglades restoration moves forward The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Army Corps, marking a significant victory for Everglades restoration efforts.
Charlotte County school start times may shift with new legislation A new bill passed by the Florida Senate could shift the power to officials in Charlotte County and elsewhere to decide school start times.
FORT MYERS Canadian anti-tariff billboards come to Southwest Florida Canadian anti-tariff billboards that read “Tariffs are Taxes” started appearing in Southwest Florida.
FDOT to conduct concrete pour for Little Pine Island Bridge Construction delays on Little Pine Island Bridge are frustrating local drivers, and FDOT said the cause is concrete supply issues.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach debates plastic straw ban as state bill looms A new bill making its way through the Florida Legislature could overturn the ban on plastic straws in Fort Myers Beach.
SANIBEL Sanibel residents learn about prescribed burns to protect homes Sanibel is taking measures to protect homes and the environment through prescribed burns.
FORT MYERS BEACH Clearing a path for the future of Fort Myers Beach Crews in Fort Myers Beach are working hard to clear debris left by past hurricanes from local canals.
COLLIER COUNTY United Soccer League implementing promotion and relegation FC Naples will soon be playing in the promotion and relegation system, a staple in European soccer, once its implemented by the United Soccer League.
ESTERO FDEP conducts prescribed 40-acre burn in Estero Bay Preserve A prescribed burn took place at Estero Bay Preserve State Park on 40 acres of land Wednesday and Thursday, sparking discussion among neighbors about the safety and need of such fires.
FGCU FGCU searching for next women’s basketball coach A national search is on for FGCU’s next head women’s basketball coach after Chelsea Lyles resigned from the position at her alma mater.
FORT MYERS March Madness spurs vasectomy surge March Madness has become more than just a basketball tournament; it’s also a popular time for men to undergo vasectomies.
CAPE CORAL, Fla.- Cape coral residents are making noise, both on social media, and within their community, as two modular homes pop up on their streets. “I would definitely like to see them put this one back on a traitor and pull it back down the road, obviously,” said Jeff Leonarczyk, a resident on Embers Parkway. He says he’s lived in Cape Coral for eight years, and just built his new home in July of last year. Now he worries his beautiful home may not be worth as much. “The first thing you’re gonna see when you come down the street is this modular home .. It’s just not a fit for the area. Residents including Leonarczyk have joined a Facebook group titled “Cape Coral Residents Against Modular Homes”, one that already has thousands of members, to express their concerns over the homes. So far, only two have been built. One on Old Burnt Store road, the other on Kismet Parkway East. “You’re surrounded by upper scale homes here, that are all block construction,” said Doug Malinowsky. “They’re built from the ground up, and [then] you bring in something that’s probably like 80 to 85 thousand dollars, built at a factory. It just devalues everyone’s property around here.” These community members are now taking their concerns to city officials, asking them to step in and stop construction. Modular homes are usually built and sold cheaper than Concrete Block Structured (CBS) homes, like many of the ones in Cape Coral. They’re wood based, smaller and built off-site. These homes are selling for between 120 to 200 thousand dollars, according to Golden Key Homes. A much cheaper price than the homes directly in front of it, which are valued close to 500 thousand dollars. The city of Cape Coral tells WINK News, per state law, they are not allowed to ban a specific type of home from being built in the area. State law also does not allow them to impose stricter regulations on modular homes, in comparison to CBS homes. A response, continuing to anger residents. “They could flood this area, there’s a lot of growth coming out here, and it’s a big area so there’s room for a lot of these out here.” Cape Realty Realtor Peter Davis agrees neighbors should be concerned, and the homes could in turn deter other buyers from the area. “I had a client who just closed on a home. I asked him if he would have purchased the home if this was next door, he said no.” He says the look of the homes alone stands out from the consistency of the neighborhood, and could paint a different picture. “You don’t have a lot of the articulation and design elements that you have in the typical homes in this area, you know, they kind of have the perception that they are low quality.” WINK News spoke to Spencer Raffel, an employee with J&S Construction, the company contracted to build the homes. He tells WINK News he’s aware of the backlash regarding the homes, but disagrees that it will affect other property. He says he and Golden Key homes, the company behind both these homes, provides customized homes, in any location the buyer chooses to purchase land. “They tell us where they wanna be, not us. We ask ‘where would you like to be? [they say], Well, I have family in Lehigh or North Fort Myers or North Cape, or what have you. We go there because they tell us to go there,” said Raffel. Cape Coral officials say as long as the home buyers and contractors have the proper permits, the city has no say in where they can or cannot build a modular home. Other cities like Jacksonville have created standards and added them to a city ordinance to help regulate the construction of modular homes in certain neighborhoods. City officials said that’s something they can consider. They are evaluating options to set certain architectural and design standards for the homes. In the meantime, residents are still left upset at the new additions to their communities, but emphasize it’s a concern for their entire community. “You know, we’re not rich, snobby people that we don’t want these homes in here. This is my life savings, this is everything I have I put into this area. I put it into this area because of the way the homes were, not because there were modular homes or trailers.”