A Business Timeline

Road builders complete expansion of I-75 to four lanes all the way south to Alligator Alley.

The Deltona Company settles a multi-year legal battle with environmentalists and the US Army Corps of Engineers, giving up its claims on may development prospects in the Marco island area. By the mid-1980s, Deltona sells off much of its remaining Marco properties.

1980s

Downtown Fort Myers revives as a government center and financial district.

1983

Southwest Florida Regional Airport opens for business on May 14 in Fort Myers.

1985

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, opens for business. The hotel, Florida's only five-star, five diamond resort, marks a new era of luxury living in Naples.

1988

The city of Fort Myers acquires the Ford Estate.

1989

The Philharmonic Center for the Arts opens in Naples with Myra Janco Daniels as leader.

1992

The Lely Development Corporation begins its Lely Resort in south Naples. With future capacity for more than 6,000 units, The development is potentially the largest in Collier County.

1993

Southwest Florida Regional Airport is renamed Southwest Florida International Airport to reflect its emerging international status.

The town of Fort Myers Beach incorporates.

A dramatic revitalization plan is initiated for Naples' sagging 5th Avenue South business/retail district. Developer Jack Antaramian steps up to the plate by refurbishing the Colony Court building in 1995.

1994

Mega-developer Al Hoffman and a group of investors purchase WCI Communities from the Westinghouse Company. Hoffman later merges the company with his Florida Design Communities.

The State of Florida adopts a ban of marine net fishing in Florida waters. Many local fishermen give up their businesses or switch to other forms of fishing.

1997

Florida Gulf Coast University opens its doors to students.

Bonita Springs and Estero become the new hot spots for residential and commercial development, drawing massive projects such as Miromar Outlets and The Brooks residential community.

The United States Army Corps announces it will form an Environmental Impact Statement. Local developers worry it will prohibit projects. Environmentalist worry it won't be comprehensive enough.

Sparks of redevelopment begin in downtown Fort Myers as entrepreneurs begin to buy historic buildings and remodel them into bars, cafes and nightclubs.

Aubrey Ferrao, president and CEO of Gulf Bay Communities, opens his newest project, Fiddler's Creek on SR 951 on the way to Marco Island. The project is estimated to be the largest in Collier County upon completion.

After five referendums, the city of Marco Island incorporates.

1998

The US Census Bureau estimates Lee County's population at 392,895 and Collier County's at 199,436.

The Everblades Arena opens, home to minor league hockey team the Everblades. The arena is later named TECO arena when natural gas company TECO Peoples Gas secures naming rights.

Cleveland Clinic Florida and NCH Healthcare reach an agreement allowing Cleveland Clinic clearance to open a hospital. The Clinic begins construction on an acute care clinic with future plans for an adjoining 70-bed hospital.

1999

US Census admits it has underestimated Collier County's 1998 population. The new number: 218,818 residents.

The Lee County Port Authority unveils its plan to build a new $386 million Southwest Florida International passenger terminal by approximately 2005.

Miromar announces it has purchased more land to add to its massive residential and retail development projects in Estero.

Plans are announced for two mega-malls that will dwarf those in existence: a project by the Rouse Company at Alico Road and I-75 and Simon Property Group (owners of Edison Mall) on the Sweetwater Ranch property in Bonita Springs.

The City of Bonita Springs incorporates.

2000

US Census estimates the population of Florida at 15 million, with a projection of 20 million by the year 2025. The numbers represent a more than 40 percent increase from 1995.

The Army Corps of Engineers releases its final version of the Southwest Florida Environmental Impact Statement.