WINK News is committed to listening to the community and delivering answers. We heard your questions at our first WINK Listens event on Thursday, and now we are getting to work.
Viewer Brian Hook raised one question regarding the new Walmart along Pine Island Road in Cape Coral: When will it be fully built?
"If you go online, it shows what's going on in the area of the Cape," said Hook. "They were going to build a Walmart across from Bubba's Roadhouse. Don't see anything being done.”
We met Hook at the WINK Listens event at the German American Social Club located on Pine Island Road in Cape Coral.
The empty lot along Pine Island Road west of Chiquta Boulevard has not seen any movement. We made some calls and did some digging to check the status of the online permits.
Our investigation revealed slow progress, with the permit process only 4% complete. It could be a while before any construction begins on the lot.
Credit: WINK News
When asked about quality-of-life improvements by WINK News Anchor Lois Thome, Hook responded with, "Close and convenient, so that would make it easier for me and the residents who are nearby.”
Lauren Kurkimilis, a public information specialist in the City Manager's office in Cape Coral, issued this statement:
"A new Walmart Supercenter, planned for 2210 Southwest Pine Island Road, is under site development review. This project represents a significant step toward meeting the needs of our residents and building a more complete and connected community. The Pine Island Road Corridor is one of the fastest-growing areas in Cape Coral, and the need for a wider range of essential retail services continues to grow along with it. Expanding access to groceries and an assortment of merchandise, including household goods, clothing, electronics, and everyday necessities in this area not only supports daily convenience but also strengthens our community’s emergency preparedness and resilience. By delivering these much-needed products and services closer to residents in the Northwest, this project will provide new levels of daily convenience and improve quality of life for a part of Cape Coral with significant growth but limited retail choices. Bringing these services westward aligns with the City’s commitment to balanced, smart growth across all regions of Cape Coral."
The next WINK Listens event will be held on Aug. 27 at the YMCA in North Collier County from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.