As workers tear down what's left of the Sanibel Outlets, new details are rising from the rubble about the mixed-affordable housing development that could take the shopping center's place.
Newly submitted plans to Lee County include 498 apartments with 200 affordable housing units for the property between Mcgregor Boulevard and Summerlin Road.
The dilapidated shops and gutted buildings have sat in shambles for nearly two years since Hurricane Ian, and many agree that the site is an eyesore.
"It looks like a mess. I mean, they're tearing down, but it's not coming down very fast," said Carol Kennedy, who remembers the Sanibel Outlets in its prime. "I do think it's a good idea to mix affordable housing with regular housing because that's how you build community spirit and feel."
Others aren't too happy to hear that more than 40 retail shops won't be returning, and some told ABC7 that more than 400 homes are too much.
"I'm more into going to restaurants and dealing with that kind of stuff, shopping and I'd rather see the space being used for that kind of stuff," said Robert Wetherill, who works on Sanibel.
Apartments and condos aren't all that's planned for the property. Edgar Wilson II, one of the project's investors, said they're also to include a 200-room hotel, a restaurant, a performing arts center, and office space in the development.
Wilson says the affordable housing is desperately needed in the area, and will supply Sanibel's workforce as more hotels and restaurants open up.
"We're designing for future storm surges, catogory 5 and even 6 storms," Wilson said." My family has lived here a long time and It's incumbant for people like me to do something about it. We're just not going to let Hurricane Ian knock us down."
Demolition of the Sanibel Outlets is slated to be completed sometime in August. The property owner still needs to finalize these plans, and the county will have the final say before any construction begins.