Commercial Construction Surge

DRIVE AROUND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, YOU CAN'T HELP BUT NOTICE ALL THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S UNDERWAY. SOME OF IT AS NEW HOUSING. BUT NOW A NEW RETAILERS ARE MOVING IN ANXIOUS TO SET UP SHOP FOR OUR POPULATION. BOOM, THE RAPID POPULATION GROWTH HAS LED TO A MASSIVE REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND IS RESHAPING OUR LOCAL COMMERCE. SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN FOR YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE? WGCUS MIKE WALTER FINDS US THOSE ANSWERS. >> IT'S A NEW RESTAURANT HERE. HOME. FIX UP STORIES THERE AND SHOPPING PLAZAS PACKED WITH NATIONAL BRANDS. EVERYWHERE. OH. AND LET'S NOT FORGET THOSE FANCY CAR WASHES SPRINGING UP SOMEWHERE PROBABLY NEAR YOU. ONE CALLED A BUILDING BOOM, >> BUT I THINK WE'RE IN A PRETTY HEALTHY PLACE IN LEE COUNTY. THAT'S CHASE MAYHEW WHOSE FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT HERE FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY. >> SO THE PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING REALLY COMING ON THE GROUND NOW INFILL PROJECTS THAT ARE REALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. >> THANK YOU. SAYS THE NATIONAL RETAILERS HAVE CHECKED ENOUGH DEMOGRAPHIC AND POPULATION BOXES TO MAKE THIS REGION THE PLACE TO BUILD. SO A STAMPEDE TO FILLED IN POCKETS OF RETAIL NEED IS ON. >> ONCE ONE JUMPS AND IT'S FUNNY, THEY ALL KIND OF LIKE CATTLE. WE ALL FOLLOW SUIT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW. A LOT OF THE NATIONALS GOING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE NEED PRESENCE AND THE EYE. IT'S INCREDIBLE MARKET. THE CAPTURE OUT THERE. AND SO THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW. WELL, IT'S TOO MUCH TOO SOON. IT'S JUST DEFINITELY TOO MUCH TOO SOON. AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE, WE'RE ALL GONNA PAY FOR IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. THAT'S CAROLINE HUNTER. >> A HOMEOWNER IN SOUTH FORT MYERS, TOO MUCH TOO FAST. AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO CREATE SOME FLOODING ISSUES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY HERE. SOME OF US WHO ARE NOT IN FLOOD ZONES WILL BECOME IN FLOOD ZONES JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE ELSE FOR THE WATER TO GO. >> MAYHEW SAYS HE'S CONVINCED LEE COUNTY LEADERS ARE GUARDING AGAINST FLOOD THREATS AND THAT PROTECTIONS AGAINST TOO MANY HIGH RISES, TOO MUCH DENSITY. WE'LL ENSURE LEADERS NOT BECOME ANOTHER FORT LAUDERDALE OR MIAMI. >> BUT I THINK THE REAL STORY IS WHY PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS THE WEATHER. THE BEACH IS THE QUALITY OF LIFE. THE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THAT YOU CAN DO IN THE ENTERTAINMENT. THE BOATING WE HAVE HERE IS PHENOMENAL. BONITA SPRINGS ALSO WAS BENEFITING FROM NEW DINING AND ENTERTAINMENT A YEAR SAYS. >> AND ONE RESIDENT IS PLEASED. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY TWOFOLD. BETTER AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY YOU KNOW, JUST ADDING MORE RESTAURANTS AND DINING AND RETAIL THAT ADDING MORE HIGH QUALITY. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD CHASE BY YOU SAYS THE CONSTRUCTION IS CREATING LOTS OF JOBS BOTH NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. >> WITH BIG HOSPITALS, STORES AND RESTAURANTS TO OPEN SOON. HE ADDS BUILDING IN PLACES OF NEED COULD HELP TO EASE ANOTHER MAJOR PROBLEM. >> TRAFFIC CONGESTION IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM LEHIGH. >> AND THEY'RE HAVING TO TRAVEL INTO FORT MYERS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES. >> IT'S GONNA IT'S GONNA OBVIOUSLY ROADWAYS. SO IF WE CAN GET THOSE GOOD TO GOODS AND SERVICES CLOSER TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE HOMES, IT'S ALSO BEEN ALLEVIATE A LOT OF TRAFFIC. SO THIS NEW PHASE OF GROWTH IS BEGINNING UNLIKELY. >> WON'T GO AWAY ANYTIME SOON FOR WGCU NEWS. I'M MIKE WALTER.