Getting ‘the scoop’ on the next phase of Skyplex

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Submitted by Karen P. Moore, Publisher

We’ve been hearing about Skyplex at the regional airport in Fort Myers, and how it is going to change the region, for the past 10 years.

What we’ve actually seen is a few office buildings by major players going up there, like Neogenomics and Gartner.

So when I got the opportunity to hear from Ben Siegel, executive director of the Lee County Port Authority, as well as Gary Tasman, head of the local branch of the national commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield, that is helping with what is being called the re-visioning of Skyplex, I knew I needed to be there.

“Skyplex, for those of you that don’t know, is basically the 1,800 acres on the north side of the runway where the old terminal was so it’s basically between the runway and Daniels Parkway,” Tasman explained. “It goes out to Treeline and east way past the Red Sox Stadium.”

Siegel framed the situation.

“With the board’s vision, we decided we wanted to team up with a firm to really help us move Skyplex along and we recognized Skyplex needed a little bit of re-vision as well. And that’s really the point we’re at right now.

“It needs to be more than an office complex. This first phase that we’ve taken on and wrapping up just shows that there’s just tremendous opportunity for Skyplex. So we’re really excited.”

Tasman shared the roll-out of the plan.

“We broke it down into four phases...We’re done with Phase 1.”

The four phases include: 1) looking at existing conditions, including the market, 2) studying local economic factors, 3) a real estate market analysis, and finally, 4) recommended positioning.

He then talked about the region’s

Seagate completes complex for ABC Supply

Seagate Development Group’s Commercial Division announced completion of Phases One and Two for American Builders and Contractors Supply – completing and turning the project over to the company. ABC Supply is the nation’s largest wholesale distributor of roofing supplies and one of the largest of siding, windows and select exterior and interior building products, tools and supplies.

Phase One, the spacious 60,000-plus square-foot warehouse on Commerce Parkway near the Punta Gorda Airport was completed and turned over two months ago. Besides warehouse space, the structure includes over 6,000 square feet of office space, a large customer product showroom and customer sales and distribution center. The six-acre development also features a high-security fenced outdoor yard.

Phase Two is now complete with the addition of a two-acre lay-down storage site to bring the total area ABC Supply covers to nearly 9 acres. ABC Supply will service area construction businesses and contractors with a bevy of outdoor building supplies and much needed services such as covered ground drops, express pick-up and rooftop delivery. The mega-wholesale supply company is heavily stocking up on roofing and exterior supplies to accommodate Southwest Florida’s post-Hurricane Ian and future needs.

Site work was completed on both phases by Earth Tech Enterprises, a Seagate Development Group Company.

“ABC Supply has served companies like ours for 40 years, so it’s our pleasure to serve them,” said Matt Price, CEO & Partner of Seagate Development Group.