A new affordable housing project could soon be built in Estero if leaders in the village approve plans for the development near Coconut Point Mall and Hertz headquarters.
Developers want to build 180 new apartments - called Edera at Coconut Point - at the intersection of Williams Road and Via Coconut Point. The complex would offer a trolley service between the apartments and the mall.
In order to meet the village's zoning requirements, Edera would have to include paths for biking and walking.
Just of the proposed Edera site, another project, Genova, is still under construction. That project will feature more upscale, resort-style living.
In 2017, the U.S. Census Bureau listed nearby Fort Myers and Bonita Springs as two of the fifteen fastest-growing cities in the country. Some people living in Estero - right between those cities - think that means the village needs more housing that working professionals like teachers and police officers can afford.
"I don't know how they make it because rents are high, and salaries aren't that high," said Pam Conrad of Estero. "It's definitely a high cost of living down here."
If Estero's design review board gives Edera the green light, it will still need to pass the village's zoning board before any construction can begin.
