Gulfshore Business July 2023

With Florida Blue and Truli for Health, you can offer employees access to quality coverage, with less administrative work for you and lower costs for everyone. Our group health plans offer benefits like $10 copays for virtual visits for general medicine, plus access to 8,000+ doctors,* 180+ hospitals, and most major pharmacies.

NEWS BITES P. 10

ICYMI! Top stories from Gulfshore Business Daily

TRENDLINES P. 14

SWFL remains a prime retirement destination

SPACES P. 16

A New Look for Quarles Naples

MAKERS P. 20

Royal Scoop’s crowd-pleasing ice cream empire

IN THE 239

JULY 2023

ENTREPRENEURSHIP P. 24

PR pro Samantha Scott on strategic connections

ECONOMIC COMMENTARY P. 26

Diversity and dynamism make Florida exceptional

NEWS

LEGISLATION P. 62

HB 837 draws objections and defenses

LOCAL GOVERNMENT P. 66

Input sought to decide use of recovery funding

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE P. 70

Top sales in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties

NEW & EXPANDING P. 72

Top leases in Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties

HORSEPOWER P. 76

Genesis impresses with the new GV60

WELLNESS P. 78

NeuroKinetic Therapy retrains the brain to correct dysfunction

WEEKEND GETAWAY P. 80

Tempting rewards for a cruise up the coast to Sarasota

GUEST LIST P. 85

Women in Business 2023

BACKSTORY P. 88

Time and tide haven’t defeated the Sanibel Island Lighthouse

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Heidi Rambo Centrella

Senior Editors Tim Aten, David Dorsey

Digital Editor Adam Regan

Associate Editor Kaitlin Regan

Assistant Editors Katiuska Carrillo, Samantha Roesler

Copy Editor Steve Gill

CONTRIBUTORS

John Guerra, Artis Henderson, Justin Paprocki, James Raia, Aisling Swift

ART

Creative Directors Scott Glick, Jerry Pomales

Photo Editors Elizabeth Bankmann, Stephanie Broad

ADVERTISING

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MARKETING

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CIRCULATION

Director of Audience Development Kerri Nolan

PRODUCTION

Production Manager Martha Leavitt

ADMINISTRATION

Advertising Services Manager Subscriptions & Distribution Kathleen Hill

READER SERVICES

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COME RAIN OR COME SHINE

This month is our annual “state of the season” retrospective, and I don’t think many of us were expecting to top the record numbers of visitors and tax revenue generated by the 2021-22 tourist season. And we were right. As David Dorsey lays out in “A Season of Rebuilding” on page 28, this year’s results are sobering: double-digit percentage decreases in the number of passengers flying into Southwest Florida International Airport compared to last year, the lowest spring training attendance numbers in a decade for the Twins and Red Sox and a nearly 50% drop in tourism tax revenue in Lee County—plus the untold ripple effects on businesses struggling to reopen and stay open. There are other factors to point to besides the hurricane, but having nearly a third of Lee’s hotel rooms wiped out at a stroke isn’t something the region can bounce back from immediately.

But what’s striking to me about this story isn’t just the numbers, grim though they were this year; it’s the appreciation voiced by practically all parties, from hoteliers to tourism directors to baseball execs, for the community’s response to Hurricane Ian, and the optimism they expressed for next season. Growth and new development are still very strongly in Southwest Florida’s future. We won’t be setting new records for a little while yet, but it might not be too long.

Growth, meanwhile, requires guidance, and where that shaping influence comes from is an ongoing ques-

From the editor.

tion. Several bills passed in the recent session of the Florida Legislature addressed varying aspects of this issue, and the collective effect is a weakening of local control over planning decisions. The issues involved are high-stakes balancing acts: multimillion-dollar developments versus established community character. The immense and intense demand for affordable housing set against longtime residents’ concerns over density and sprawl (and traffic). Measures intended to prevent substantial projects from being bogged down by bureaucratic roadblocks may inadvertently become exploitable by political interests. As John Guerra writes in “Who Shapes the Cities’ Future?” on page 42, the results of this legislative session are likely to be that residents have less time and fewer legal tools to object to and potentially block construction projects in their neighborhoods.

Of course, in order to express a community voice, members of the community must share their opinions when opportunities arise. Case in point: The Resilient Lee task force is working to compile recommendations for what to do with more than a billion dollars in federal funding for Hurricane Ian relief. As you’ll read on page 66, public meetings are ongoing and the results will affect all of Southwest Florida. The shape of the future is up to each of us.

HEIDI RAMBO CENTRELLA EDITOR IN CHIEF

NEWS BITES / TRENDLINES / SPACES

in the 239

MAKERS / ENTREPRENEURSHIP / ECONOMIC COMMENTARY

[ ENTREPRENEURSHIP ]

KEEP PUSHING

PR pro Samantha Scott on strategic connections

p_24

By Artis Henderson

[ LEE COUNTY ]

RESILIENT LEE TASK FORCE TALKS RECOVERY

Lee County will be receiving more than $1.1 billion from the federal government as a boost to continue recovering from Hurricane Ian. The funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, with 70% earmarked for median-income level areas and 30% for other uses, amount to about $1,338 per person in the county, per the 2022 U.S. Census.

This led to the creation of Resilient Lee, a task force with 13 elected officials and community leaders. Those leaders will work with branch leaders covering eight subtopics, including planning and capacity, economic recovery, infrastructure, housing, education and workforce, natural resources, health and social services and cultural resources.

Over the course of 39 meetings, public input and data was gathered, which will be compiled into an action plan.

Read more about Resilient Lee on pg. 66.

[ LEE COUNTY ]

FGCU SELECTS FIFTH PRESIDENT

Aysegul Timur was chosen to become Florida Gulf Coast University’s fifth president in a 7-6 vote by the school’s board of trustees, making her the first female president selected to lead the university. Following the retirement of FGCU’s fourth president, Mike Martin, Timur took over presidential duties July 1.

She was previously the university’s vice president and vice provost for strategy and program innovation. Timur moved to Naples 25 years ago and earned a doctorate from the University of South Florida, and holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from the University of Istanbul.

At FGCU, she launched the micro-credentialing and digital badges initiative, and recently led the university to receive a $22.9 million grant from the Department of Commerce—Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Talent Grant for workforce development in Southwest Florida.

[ LEE COUNTY ] NEW DEVELOPMENT COMING TO FORT MYERS

LEE

COUNTY ] LEE COUNTY’S BED TAX REVENUE PLUNGES

After a record-setting March 2022, one year later, bed tax revenues dropped by 49.5%, from $11.3 million to an estimated $5.7 million. That estimated gap of about $5.6 million means Lee County will have less money to restore beaches, maintain sports facilities and market tourism.

There were downward trends across the board. Number of visitors (34.6%), visitor days (28.6%), room nights (30.6%), direct expenditures (31.4%) and total economic impact (31.1%) all sustained drops with similar percentages from a year prior.

Bed tax numbers were even greater because of the 31% of rooms that remain out of commission due to hurricane damage or destruction, with the bulk of available rooms bringing in more bed tax revenue because of higher room rates.

Read more about Southwest Florida’s 2022-23 Season on pg. 28.

Alessio Development released renderings for the Terraces at Royal Palm, showing 40 townhomes and a 15-story condominium tower being placed for land currently occupied by Royal Palm Square in Fort Myers. Alessio bought the 14-acre site for $12 million last year.

“The point is to have a walkable, mixed-use community with dining, entertainment and shopping, with a luxury lifestyle in Fort Myers,” says Sawyer Smith, a Fort Myers attorney who is representing Alessio Development.

Renderings show a resort-style pool, green space, a wave pool and a condo tower with rooftop dining.

[

[

COLLIER COUNTY

NAPLES PIER DESIGN CONTRACT AWARDED

Naples City Council awarded Turrell, Hall & Associates a contract to provide design and engineering services for the repair of the Naples Pier. The firm will receive just less than $1.5 million.

The city in collaboration with Naples Youth Council conducted a public survey, which received more than 10,000 responses, to learn what is most important to locals about the pier and what they would like to see in the future design. Those surveyed were asked to list the top three reasons they visit the pier, with more than 70% stating they use it for sunset viewings, about 50% for sightseeing and just less than 50% for entertaining guests. In addition, 25% listed fishing as a use for the pier.

Although it is difficult for locals to see progress being made with the Naples Pier, county staffers assert that things are moving quickly behind the scenes.

COLLIER COUNTY

COLLIER COUNTY HAS NEW SUPERINTENDENT

New Collier County Public Schools Superintendent

Leslie Ricciardelli, who was appointed in May, is gearing up for the school year. Her agenda includes improving academics, bringing in a new student advisory council and connecting with parents, students and teachers.

Ricciardelli is a Naples native and has 28 years of experience in education, including serving as Collier interim superintendent and deputy superintendent. Early in her career, she worked in Broward, Orange and Seminole counties, where she served as a teacher and at Lely High School as an Exceptional Student Education specialist and dean of students. She also worked at Palmetto Ridge High School for six years as assistant principal of attendance and discipline, and returned to Lely as assistant principal of curriculum and instruction. Ricciardelli was later chosen to be principal at Golden Gate Middle School and later returned again to Lely to serve as principal before taking a position in district leadership.

[ COLLIER COUNTY ] COLLIER COUNTY RECEIVES $700M IN ROAD PROJECTS

More than $700 million of the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative is going to projects in Collier County, with the goal of improving traffic.

The initiative will invest $7 billion to prioritize 20 critical infrastructure projects. With Florida’s population projected to grow by 600 people every day over the next 30 years, the initiative will help relieve congestion, enhance safety, facilitate trade, promote economic growth and provide more resilient transportation infrastructure, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

Of the 20 projects across the state, four are in Collier County. Those projects include $23 million for Interstate 75 at Pine Ridge Road interchange, $578 million for I-75 from Golden Gate Parkway to Corkscrew Road, $85 million for State Road 29 from County Road 846 E to New Market Road and $44 million for SR 29 from New Market Road to SR 82.

[

COLLIER

COUNTY ] CCSO USING AI TO IMPROVE SAFETY

Collier County Sheriff’s Office is using artificial intelligence software as a new way to prepare for dangers Southwest Florida may face. Rapid SOS is an intelligent safety platform that links more than 500 million devices, apps and sensors to various responders and agencies. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is one of them.

Michael Martin, CEO of Rapid SOS, said the region received a 3,000% spike in 911 traffic as Hurricane Ian struck SWFL. Even the best response systems in the world wouldn’t be able to handle that kind of spike, he said.

Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said combining 911 requests with the ability to geolocate enables his office to respond much more quickly and efficiently. The software will help them prepare for the next hurricane, and for unpredictable situations, such as school shootings.

To learn more about AI in the workplace, read “Rise of the Machines” in the August issue of Gulfshore Business

GOLDEN YEARS

SWFL REMAINS A PRIME RETIREMENT DESTINATION

By Justin Paprocki

There’s no sign that Southwest Florida’s reputation as a retirement haven is going to change anytime soon.

The median age in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties has steadily risen, even outpacing the rate seen statewide and nationwide, according to U.S. Census data from 2017 to 2021. In fact, the median age in Charlotte County (60.4) is the second highest in the state, behind Sumter County in central Florida.

Statewide, about 20% of the population is 65 and older, the highest percentage out of any state in the nation, according to Census data.

A NEW LOOK FOR QUARLES NAPLES

INSIDE THE LAW FIRM’S JUDICIOUS REDESIGN

By Aisling Swift

Quarles & Brady’s recent rebranding as Quarles provided a finishing touch for the law firm’s Naples office, which has been transformed from a traditional, darker wood-paneled look into a contemporary, brighter design that better fits the firm’s nationwide clients.

Quarles engaged lawyers, staff and clients for input, which was provided to interior designer Pat Algiers, of Milwaukee-based Chemistry in Place. She’d redesigned the office before, as well as the 130-year-old firm’s other 11 offices nationwide.

Gates Construction worked with David Poorman Architect LLC and OFDC Commercial Interiors to complete the 17,000-square-foot renovation and buildout at 1395 Panther Lane. The first-floor buildout created a new reception area, kitchen and conference rooms, while the third-floor renovation provided offices with a contemporary look, including an employee hub, multipurpose room and collaborative spaces for meetings, training sessions and trial preparation.

“It looks a bit like hospitality, more so than a law firm, and it’s more universal than Naples because the client base is,” Algiers says of finishes and furniture. “The wood was used judiciously, kept for warmth, and the marble also was used judiciously, for a point of elegance.

“I chose white (paint) because it captures the bright light from outside and holds it … and if it’s not bright outside, it’s a universal color,” she adds.

The marble entryway is nonslip for unpredictable Florida weather. Conference rooms feature carpet tiles, so one can be replaced if a client spills coffee, and nonslip luxury vinyl tile flooring provides a quiet, work-friendly environment. Algiers kept wood frame doorways and a few walls, such as the

TRANSFORMATIVE RENOVATION Going from a traditionallooking space to a contemporary space, Quarles’ Naples office now has a brighter design that better fits the firm’s nationwide clients.

main entryway, where warm wood panels flank the lobby.

“My job as the interior designer was to listen, ask the right questions and get the right answers,” Algiers says.

Before the redesign, client areas weren’t separated enough.

“It was a little awkward because attorneys were walking past clients in the sitting room, and we wanted to improve the client experience,” Managing Partner Benjamin Brown says. “We wanted to give clients an optimal curated experience because they often can be stressed out.”

The new design allows clients to

park and take a short walk on the ground floor to enter the building and conference rooms without stairs. Clients are greeted, offered refreshments and led to conference rooms with opaque glass windows or electric blinds for confidentiality.

Office Manager Leann Miljus worked with 20 staff and 20 lawyers to gather input. “We had a contest and wanted to include elements from the habitat and community,” Miljus explains.

First-floor conference rooms are named after local sanctuaries and swamps, such as Corkscrew and

Rookery Bay, and feature woodframed nature photos by Clyde Butcher and Dan Cunningham that also are displayed in hallways. Third-floor conference rooms are named after palm trees, including Royal Palm, a large multipurpose room. All the building’s plants are live and native, providing color and a natural air filter.

Different tables (rectangular, round, square) and chairs (with legs or wheels, with and without arms) serve different purposes.

“The arms allow someone who is weaker or compromised to push their

hands down and easily get out of the chair,” Algiers explains. “All those considerations were given because of the large trust and estate practice.”

The varying designs enable lawyers to match clients with the right mood. Algiers chose Brisa®, a faux leather that wears and feels like leather, breathes and is sustainable. The Tiffany Room, which features sterling blue chairs, has a more relaxed vibe than rooms with neutral gold chairs, a corporate look.

There’s a main kitchen and “Café Q,” where employees can eat lunch at a bar-height table, drink coffee and

watch TV. There are refrigerators, microwaves, a coffee maker, toasters and a vending machine. A side door leads to a stairwell, enabling employees to avoid client areas.

The third floor was separated to accommodate practice areas, including commercial litigation, construction and real estate law, employment and health care law and tax and business law. Ergonomic workstations feature height-adjustable desks and fully adjustable monitors. There’s even an area for an electric typewriter and fax machine. The elevator once opened out to a reception area lob-

by, but it’s now a gathering area with a kitchen, beverages, a bar-height counter and abstract LED lights.

Quarles also offers clients the capacity to host group meetings—the Royal Palm is equipped with three large monitors that can be reconfigured for internal or remote meetings and continuing education programs. Cameras can be positioned to focus on different areas.

“Everything is on wheels so we can reconfigure this and turn it into a teaching area,” Brown says. “We wanted the most useful workspace possible.”

REDUCING STRESS Quarles Managing Partner Benjamin Brown says they wanted to improve the client experience with the redesign, creating more separated space to provide more privacy for those clients, who can often be under stress.

in the 239

THE SWEET TASTE OF SUCCESS

By Justin Paprocki

The Zimmermanns were fans of Royal Scoop Ice Cream before they even bought the business. “We loved ice cream. We actually went to that store all the time,” says David Zimmermann. “I said to my wife (Sarah), ‘This is the type of place we should buy.’”

At the time, another husband-and-wife team owned the Bonita shop. The Zimmermanns approached them about a deal—and as it turned out, the couple was struggling to pay rent on their shop. They jumped on the opportunity to sell.

That was in 1994. Now, Royal Scoop is arguably the most recognizable ice cream brand in Southwest Florida: There are five locations and a manufacturing facility that produces ice cream for vendors across the southern part of the state.

The Zimmermanns have proven to be an effective team in building their business. He had a background in accounting, and she had a background in marketing. Aside from the original Bonita Springs location, the other stores are independently operated through a licensing agreement with each owner.

Part of the brand’s success is finding ways to get ingrained in the community, whether that’s donating ice cream for nonprofit events or hosting family activities, such as its Easter egg hunt that ended in 2019 after 25 years. “It’s just been great being involved in the area as it grows and prospers,” Zimmermann says.

ROYAL SCOOP’S CROWD-PLEASING ICE CREAM EMPIRE

Christina Bankson

SWEET TIMING

David Zimmermann and his wife always loved Royal Scoop Ice Cream in Bonita Springs, and in 1994 they asked the owners about selling. It was perfect timing, and the owners jumped on the Zimmermanns’ offer.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Royal Scoop consistently adds new flavors with its annual flavor creation contest, where new flavors are crowdsourced. The winner gets free ice cream for a year and a chance to have their concoction featured in all Royal Scoop stores.

But what’s made Royal Scoop truly thrive is the quality of its product, he said. The ice cream has been recognized in nationwide competitions; Death by Peanut Butter won best new flavor from the National Ice Cream Retailers Association in 2012. Experimentation is key—who knew that a Thanksgiving-themed sweet potato ice cream would be a hit? But some of its best flavors are crowdsourced. The winner of its annual flavor creation contest gets free ice cream for a year and the chance to have their original concoction featured in all its stores. The popular Bonita Beach Bum (coconut ice cream with a caramel swirl, dark chocolate chunks and almonds) has been a mainstay since it won in 2015, for example.

The couple has modest expansion goals—they’re always scouting new locations and hoping to improve their production process. But, as David says, their overall plan is pretty simple: “We’ll just keep making good ice cream.”

KEEP PUSHING

PR PRO SAMANTHA SCOTT ON STRATEGIC CONNECTIONS

By Artis Henderson

In a single four-week stretch, Samantha Scott turned 21, graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University and started her own business. That was nearly 20 years ago. Today, her public relations and digital marketing firm Pushing the Envelope is one of the most successful PR agencies in Southwest Florida. But Scott admits that entrepreneurship didn’t come naturally at first.

“I’ve always been really driven,” she says. “I’m a planned person—that part came natural to me. But I have a low risk threshold, so being an entrepreneur was odd at first.”

Yet once she took the leap, there was no going back.

Scott began by offering her PR services to the clients in the direct mail business she owned with her husband. “But within six months, I was so busy doing my own work that I didn’t have time for the direct mail business,” she says.

The key to her success? Hard work, of course, but also her savvy connections within the industry. While she was at FGCU, Scott had worked at local PR firms, and after she graduated, she was deliberate about joining industry associations.

Christina Bankson

TAKING THE LEAP At the age of 21, Samantha Scott started her own PR agency right after graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University. Nearly 20 years later, her public relations and digital marketing firm Pushing the Envelope is one of the most successful PR agencies in Southwest Florida.

She got her name out as someone who provided services that many of the established firms didn’t offer in-house; at first that was public relations then, in 2009, it was social media marketing. The larger firms would hire her to do those services, and then white-label the products under their own agency names. It was a system that worked well for everyone.

“I wasn’t a threat to them,” Scott explains. “And I made sure to look for these kinds of horizontal connections in my networks. I didn’t see the other companies as competition, but more as collaboration.”

For entrepreneurs, Scott said, networking is key. But she doesn’t suggest that people go to every cocktail mixer on the books. Instead, focus on creating strategic relationships. “Industry associations are really fantastic if people are willing to be vulnerable and connect,” she says. “It’s about creating a friendship and a rapport, not making small talk.”

BEYOND THE WIDGET

“When you own a business, you’re in your business,” Scott says. “That means you’re busy producing widgets. But sometimes you have to pause and take the time to look outside of the day-today running of the company and work on the business itself.”

Once a month, for an entire day, Scott meets with her peer group from Vistage, an international coaching and peer-advisor organization that’s reserved exclusively for CEOs. The group discusses their industries, the economy and where their individual businesses are headed. “It’s a scary time investment,” Scott says, “but one that’s fantastically valuable.”

ADVICE FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

“It shouldn’t be any different than being a male entrepreneur,” Scott says. “If someone is making you feel that it is, turn off that noise.”

“Sometimes you have to pause and take the time to look outside of the day-today running of the company and work on the business itself.”

—Samantha Scott

THE MAGIC OF ‘WHERE ARE YOU FROM?’

DIVERSITY AND DYNAMISM MAKE FLORIDA EXCEPTIONAL

By Victor V. Claar

One of the most remarkable things to me about Southwest Florida, and Florida in general, is that most of the people I meet usually aren’t from Florida. Of course, the snowbirds aren’t from Florida—their primary residence lies elsewhere—but most of us who call Florida home are not originally from the Sunshine State. We moved here either because of a new opportunity for ourselves and our families or in search of one.

The fact that most of us weren’t born in Florida makes it easier for even the most introverted among us to strike up a conversation with strangers. And economists like me are among the most introverted of all. Here’s an old joke: How can you tell when an economist is an extrovert? He stares at your shoes.

But in Florida, there’s a magical question you can ask anyone that is almost always a sure-fire conversation starter, whether you are an introvert or not: Where are you from?

If you don’t believe me, try it out the next time you need to make small talk with a stranger—whether at a coffee shop, a bar or a restaurant counter—or even with a customer or client when you are trying to break the ice.

It’s magical because most people residing in Florida weren’t born in Florida; they moved here.

The numbers bear out this observation: According to the most recent American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, just 35.8% of Florida residents were actually born in the state. The rest of us moved from another part of the

country or another country altogether. So if you ask someone where they are from, about two-thirds of the time they’ll tell you someplace besides Florida. And usually they are delighted to go on to tell you what drew them to Florida. Sometimes the stories are matter-of-fact, but sometimes they are tales of danger, heroism, broken families, romance or entrepreneurship. You never know until you ask, and the people I meet are mostly glad that you cared enough to ask.

It’s rare indeed that a random stranger will reply by telling you something like, “Why, I was born in Fort Myers, and I have lived here my whole life!” It’s such an unusual reply it usually becomes its own topic of conversation—precisely because it’s so remarkable. And as you listen

to our lifelong residents speak, you’ll receive the gift of hearing firsthand how Fort Myers has evolved, from a perspective they alone possess.

According to the same census survey, the remaining 64.2% of us—including me—that weren’t born in Florida come from all over, including the 22% who arrived in Florida from a different country. I love the fact that, in Southwest Florida, a question as simple as “Where are you from?” can generate such a diverse array of answers and stories.

My closest friends and neighbors come from Michigan, Brazil, Alabama, France, North Carolina, the Philippines and West Virginia, to name a few

places. And I met all of them because, just like them, I relocated to Southwest Florida. As I reflect on Florida Gulf Coast University’s 25-plus years of history, I’m thankful for all the people—administrators, faculty, staff and students—who took a chance and joined us here, from all over the world, to be part of our collaborative journey. Whether it’s FGCU’s outgoing president, our incoming one or just about anyone else you happen to meet, everyone came from someplace. And most of the time it wasn’t Florida.

But once new Floridians arrive, they stay. The U.S. Census Bureau, once again, confirmed Florida leads all other states in net migration each

year—a trend already in place before the pandemic. New Floridians bring new ideas with them. They bring fresh perspectives on old problems, and they make us even more productive as a consequence.

What are you doing for lunch next week? I have a question I’d love to ask you.

Victor V. Claar is associate professor of economics in the Lutgert College of Business at Florida Gulf Coast University. He serves as the George Gibbs Center for Economic Prosperity at the James Madison Institute adjunct director, and chairs the Freedom & Virtue Institute board.

FLOCKING TO FLORIDA

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Sunshine State leads all other states in net migration each year, a trend that was already in place before COVID-19.

A SEASO OF REBUILDING

N

REBUILDING

HURRICANE IAN AND OTHER FACTORS LEAVE SWFL

SCRAMBLING TO CAPITALIZE ON TOURISM

BY DAVID DORSEY

A SEASON OF REBUILDING

Tourist season wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Coming off a record-setting year for air traffic flowing into both Southwest Florida International Airport and Punta Gorda Airport, plus a record-setting year for generating tourist tax revenue in Lee County, 2023 seemed poised to break those records again.

The country had largely relearned how to live under the backdrop of COVID-19, and by many metrics tourism had exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

The Boston Red Sox were supposed to get back on track with their first uninterrupted and normal spring training season since 2019. They were hoping to renew their sellout streak at the Fenway South complex. The Minnesota Twins were supposed to pack their own stands across town at Hammond Stadium.

Spring breakers would be flocking back to the Lani Kai Island Resort on Fort Myers Beach once again. Other hotels and restaurants would be full, from Marco Island and Naples on north to Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda and all parts in between.

Hurricane Ian blew away those expectations over an eight-hour stretch on Sept. 28.

With thousands of hotel rooms and dozens of restaurants no longer existing, Southwest Florida tourism took on a different tone following Hurricane Ian. The storm wiped out more than 30% of Lee County’s hotel rooms.

“We have to be realistic,” says Tamara Pigott, the executive director of the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau. “We had a major hurricane. The rebound is happening. The visitors want to come. The visitors who have come back, want to come back again. That’s the good news. How people feel when they come here—

PLUNGE IN AIR TRAFFIC Passenger percentages dropped at Southwest Florida International Airport during a six-month span, a statistical rarity only seen during the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, in the months following 9/11 and at the peak of the Great Recession in 2008-09.

how it feels to them, the experience that they have—is what drives them back.

“But the majority of the rooms that are gone were on a white, sandy beach. That’s a challenge for us.”

FLIGHTS NOT SOARING

Air traffic at RSW plunged during tourist season. For the first time in 40 years, when the record book opened, air traffic declined from September to October during the same year. It also dropped by 16% from one year prior, from 515,077 to 432,667 passengers.

Year-over-year passenger percentages dropped at RSW during a six-month stretch, a statistical rarity only seen during the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, in the months following Sept. 11, 2001, and at the peak of the Great Recession in 2008-09. In 2022, November (-18%) and December (-20%) saw double-digit yearover-year percentage decreases. In 2023, the same held true for January (-11%), February (-16%) and March (-23%).

The Punta Gorda Airport fared much better in the immediate months after Hurricane Ian. In 2022, November (-17%) and December (-3%) saw much lower percentage decreases than RSW. In January (+16%) and February (+1%), PGD actually had percentage increases in passenger counts from 2022 before being hit with a decrease in March (-6%).

Yet James Parish, the chief executive officer of the Punta Gorda Airport, still expected 2023 numbers to slightly surpass last year’s record.

The opening of the 785-room Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor in October should alleviate any room shortage problem in Charlotte County.

“We still had record numbers,” Parish says. “But we would have been well above those record numbers. We’re on pace to make up for

A SEASON OF REBUILDING

our losses this year. It’s the lack of hotel space, which is going to be resolved in a couple of months. And there has been a shortage of pilots and a shortage of crews.”

SPRING TRAINING FIGURES DROP

The Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins attendance figures mirrored the airport numbers.

The Twins had 17 Grapefruit League home games this year, drawing an average of 6,089 fans, the team’s smallest average turnout in 10 years, with about 35% of the seats empty on any given day.

“Attendance was down,” says John Martin, who as owner of the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels minor league baseball team, manages ballpark operations for the Twins during spring training. “When we looked at it through the scope of when we had full spring training, it took us back to 2017, ’18 and ’19.”

That’s because in 2020, COVID-19 cut the season short. In 2021, the pandemic prompted Major League Baseball to reduce attendance. And in 2022, MLB locked out players until a collective bargaining agreement could be reached, shortening the spring season.

“To get a real comparable, we’ve got to go back five or six years, and the world was a different place,” Martin says. “With my analysis, I was really pleased with spring training this year. Our average attendance per game was up. We got the entire schedule in. We had zero rainouts. It was an unmitigated success. It felt like this was a step closer to getting back to normal. With next year’s spring training, we would expect to get back to 2017, ’18 and ’19 numbers. Our experience was, it felt very successful and very much better than 2022 from my perspective.”

The Red Sox also had 17 Grapefruit League

home games, averaging 8,452 fans per game, which was the team’s lowest mark since 2011, the final year of the team training across town at City of Palms Park. About 22% of the seats were empty on any given day. From 2011 through 2020, when spring training games were canceled because of the pandemic, the Red Sox had sold out 145 consecutive games.

“There were some different economic factors all of us were facing here in the region,” says Shawn Smith, the new general manager of Florida operations for the Red Sox. “This was the first time in all four years that we had a ‘normal’ spring training. We were thrilled with the way the community responded.”

The loss of so many beach area hotel rooms clearly affected attendance, Smith said.

“It certainly has a trickle-down effect,” he says. “It affects the restaurants. It affects other businesses. It was devastating. It certainly had an effect on out-of-state visitors to be able to come here and have a place to stay. You have some Red Sox fans who couldn’t come down because it was a challenge to find hotel rooms or Airbnbs. And you had people who lost their homes and needed other places to stay.”

BED TAX NUMBERS NOSEDIVE

Hurricane Ian made its biggest impact on the tourist season by squashing the typical returns for bed taxes, especially in Lee County, where tourism tax revenue fell by almost 50% in the first March following the storm.

Revenue dropped from $11.3 million last year—the record for the month of March—to about $5.6 million this year, a gap of about $5.7 million. That 50% plunge was more than twice the 23% drop in airport passenger numbers. Robert Wells, the vice chair of the Lee Coun-

STRIKING NUMBERS The Minnesota Twins drew an average of 6,089 fans this spring, the team's smallest average turnout in 10 years, with about 35% of the seats empty.

Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties' bed tax collections have been down for the most part since Hurricane Ian wiped out many coastal hotels, especially in Lee. Here’s a month-by-month look of tourist season bed tax revenue and the year-over-year percent decreases (or, in a few instances, increases).

October

Charlotte County: $440,189 (+23%)

Collier County: $1.9 million (-6.3%)

Lee County: $1.9 million (-40%)

November

Charlotte County: $469,913 (+13%)

Collier County: $2.4 million (+4.5%)

Lee County: $2.4 million (-39%)

December

Charlotte County: $614,798 (+2.8%)

Collier County: $2.6 million (-9%)

Lee County: $2.9 million (-45%)

January

Charlotte County: $963,143 (+.05%)

Collier County: $3.7 million (-17%)

Lee County: $4.3 million (-45%)

February

Charlotte County: $905,395 (-7.8%)

Collier County: $5.4 million (-9%)

Lee County: $4.3 million (-46%)

March

Bed Taxes Falling Flying Not So High

Charlotte County: $1.1 million (-14%)

Collier County: $6.4 million (-1.6%)

Lee County: $5.7 million (-50%)

While setting records for passenger counts in 2022, managers of the Southwest Florida International Airport and Punta Gorda Airport had to contend with plummeting passenger counts during tourist season. Here’s a look at the year-overyear passenger count decreases (and increases) for both airports from November 2022 through March 2023, the 2022-23 tourist season.

November

RSW: 812,305 (-18%)

PGD: 124,718 (-17%)

December

RSW: 862,368 (-20%)

PGD: 175,555 (-3.4%)

January

RSW: 932,896 (-11%)

PGD: 173,911 (+16%)

February

RSW: 967,416 (-16%)

PGD: 182,829 (+1%)

March

RSW: 1,166,442 (-23%)

PGD: 234,515 (-6%)

ty Tourist Development Council and also the owner of Cabbage Key and Tarpon Lodge, explained why.

“It’s almost dizzying looking at all the different numbers that you see out there,” Wells says. “But I think to the point as to why you are seeing such big factors, one is occupancy, and the other is what you’re actually charging for a room. If your room rate is going down, or if a property that charges more per available room goes down versus one that charges maybe a little less—the combined lack of occupancy and lower room rate will bring those tax dollars down at an even greater rate than what you first thought.”

The average daily room rate in Lee dropped by 15.4% to $246.51 in March. Occupancy fell by 6% to 80.2%. RevPAR, a metric that stands for revenue per available room, dropped by 20.5% to $197.69.

“In Lee County, unfortunately, so many of the coastal properties were out of service and continue to be in many cases,” Wells says. “That’s going to continue to weigh on the overall county results that you’re going to see in bed tax collection.”

In Collier County, about $6.3 million in tourist tax revenues were collected in March, for once more than neighboring Lee to the north. Those numbers were down, but just by 1.65% compared to one year prior.

“We did see some significant slippage during the month of March,” says Paul Beirnes, the tourism director for Collier County. “Everybody in March saw an interesting sort of wobble. There’s no one silver bullet; it’s a combination of a lot of things.”

Those things weren’t just related to Hurricane Ian damage, either, Beirnes said. Only about 750 rooms were still down in March in

OUT OF SERVICE In Lee County, many of the coastal hotel properties had to close temporarily due to Hurricane Ian, and some are still closed, which continues to affect the overall county bed tax collection, says Robert Wells, vice chair of Lee County Tourist Development Council.

HELPFUL IMPROVEMENTS In Charlotte County bed tax collections were down in March by only 15%. In October through January, revenues rose from one year prior because the hotels built post-Hurricane Charley weathered Hurricane Ian well.

Collier County, but they were luxury hotels and big revenue generators.

“During March, we had red tide that was knocking on our door,” Beirnes says. “There was also a tremendous amount of random things that were going on that we have determined certainly took away from that Florida positivity. We referred to it as Florida fatigue. There were a lot of boycotts going on. We have an open carry law that’s emerging in Florida. There are some very politically incensed individuals. The month of March was just a weird wobble.”

In Charlotte County, bed tax collections went down in March, but only by 15%. And in October, November, December and January, revenues actually rose in each of those months from one year prior, because the hotels, built post-Hurricane Charley, weathered Hurricane Ian well and were busy with those in need of shelter.

Charlotte County lost about 20% of its rooms to Ian, as compared to Lee County’s 31%.

“Recovery workers are leaving the area more and more each month,” says Sean Doherty, the tourism director for the Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast, which includes Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach. “The cancellation of several sporting events, including Tampa Bay Rays spring training—we’ve seen a drop in TDT [Tourist Development Tax] in both February and March. Having said that, I’m not overly concerned at this point, as we are back to having our second-highest year on record for collections, and we’re expecting a significant portion of the nonoperational rooms back online fairly soon. And on top of that, Sunseeker Resort is on track to open this fall, which will be a huge game-changer for us.”

Crunched by the Numbers

BY KATIUSKA CARRILLO

While significant progress has been made since Hurricane Ian, the future of Fort Myers Beach remains uncertain. Despite a steady pattern of businesses in town reopening, Ian took more than structures and icons; it took away stability of the tourism industry, which drives the area’s economy.

As of March 7, 9,825 hotel rooms, which is 68.6% of the pre-Hurricane Ian inventory, are open in Lee County, according to the Lee Visitor and Convention Bureau. The remaining 32% of hotel rooms can be attributed to the loss of inventory on the barrier islands, including Fort Myers Beach.

Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina is one of the few to reopen, housing both FEMA families and vacationers.

So far in 2023, Pink Shell is 50% operational and has experienced a 70% decrease in revenue. General Manager Bill Waichulis said the revenue decrease translates to more than a $25 million loss.

In comparison, Pink Shell experienced a 17% decrease in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Waichulis has managed Pink Shell for nearly 20 years, seeing the effects of COVID-19, the BP oil spill and the red tide event of 2018.

“I went back and looked at all the events,” he says. “I can tell you Ian was the worst by far. If you took all three islands and that magnitude of impact on jobs [and] income, it's just a tremendous hit.”

The hotel industry is feeling that hit especially hard, since inventory is scarce and those that are open have limited services and amenities.

Due to those limitations, transparency with guests is top priority for Pink Shell. As of April, some elevators are out of service, the pools are closed and daily construction and painting is happening on-site.

“We're upfront with them, but what we're selling them is the weather and

shelling is fantastic, the beach is not crowded, the sunsets and view haven't changed and you're seeing rates right now that you'll probably never see again,” Waichulis says.

Between April and May, Pink Shell charged 50% to 70% less than its usual rates. Waichulis said if people remain willing to visit knowing the limitations, they are directly contributing to the rebuilding of Fort Myers Beach.

“Every month, you're getting another business on the beach kind of opening,” he says. “But they're only going to sustain being open if we have vacationers here. It's just the grim reality and I think the traveler understands that.”

The devastation on Fort Myers Beach caused insurance increases and exacerbated the labor cost and workforce housing issues.

“Business loss is just not fathom-

Brian Tietz; Getty; Visit Fort Myers

able,” Waichulis says. “You would’ve never thought you would’ve seen something like this and you don't insure for it. A lot of businesses like us, we insured for a 500-year storm and you get an over 1,000-year storm. Your insurance dollars only go so far.”

Pink Shell’s insurance increased by 250% in 2023, Waichulis said. “We're going to have to somehow pass those expenses on to the consumer and give them a product that they're going to want to return to every year,” he says. “That’s the challenge.”

Labor costs will also continue to increase, along with the need for workforce housing. Since Ian, Pink Shell went from 330 employees to 110.

“We're just a small part of that, but if you take every hotel and restaurant on the islands and add that together, you can see the amount of potential jobs that were lost,” Waichulis says. “You

have a lot of people that had to move out of the area just to find employment because of the number of businesses being closed.”

About 10% to 15% of Pink Shell employees lived on the island prestorm, but now, Waichulis said he doesn’t have any employees that live on the island.

“A lot of my employees rented before they got pushed out by Airbnb and Vacation Rentals by Owner,” he said. “Now, those cottages aren't going to be Airbnb or Vrbo, they're going to be million-dollar houses that are second homes.”

Despite the challenges, Waichulis is optimistic that 2024 will be a good year, especially considering the pentup demand for hotels.

Pink Shell had newer construction in comparison to others, with older or lower-level buildings ultimately being further behind in rebuilding. Not only are hotels in low inventory, but so are vacation rentals on the beach.

“All those 1950s cottages that people Airbnb or Vrbo are gone,” Waichulis says. “I think you have a supply and demand issue that will be good for the businesses that are able to open. Most

of the money that we make in the hotel business here is January through April. So being open and fully ready for next season is important for us.”

While the future remains uncertain, Pink Shell, along with other businesses on Fort Myers Beach, can only rebuild and assimilate as time goes on.

“I've been through a couple of these hurricanes and it's not a sprint, it's a marathon,” Waichulis says. “You’ve got to pace yourself as a marathon. Our goal right now is to focus on getting more facilities up and really getting the resort fully up by the end of the year, and not lose a ton of money doing it.”

UNCERTAIN FUTURE Although significant progress has been made on Fort Myers Beach since Hurricane Ian, the storm took away the stability of the tourism industry, which drives the area's economy.

BOUNCING BACK While Fort Myers Beach didn't have a spring break this year, Melissa Schneider, marketing director for Lani Kai Beach Resort, hopes that will change for the 2024 season.

LONG ROAD BACK TO NORMAL

Other than day trippers heading to Fort Myers Beach, spring break didn’t happen in 2023. Melissa Schneider, the marketing director for the Lani Kai Beach Resort, hopes that changes in 2024. But if it does, it will be scaled back.

“It’s a crawl before a walk,” Schneider says. “I think the island can definitely host spring break again. It will definitely be more scaled down. It will definitely be more chill. But I definitely think that’s possible.”

The resort hopes to have some of its rooms operational by the 2023-24 tourist season, she said, when the metrics are bound to start bouncing back.

“As you know, it’s been very tough since the storm,” Schneider says. “The people on the island have been working very hard. Of course, there was no spring break on Fort Myers Beach. But it was so heartwarming to see people coming out to support the few businesses that were open on the island.

“Our team keeps working hard, trying to get different parts of our hotel up and running. It does warm the heart to see more and more places open in some capacity. And more people returning to the island. In the coming year, we’re going to keep working hard. We hope to have a bar, maybe a restaurant open. Maybe some rooms available. We’re just taking it one step at a time and just staying positive. A lot of that positivity comes from heartfelt comments and messages. It fuels us to continue pushing forward.”

FEARS OF LOSING

WHO SHAPES THE CITIES’ FUTURE?

LOCAL CONTROL

BY JOHN GUERRA

The Florida Legislature passed several bills this session that strengthen developer rights but weaken local control over planning and zoning decisions. The result: Residents of beachside communities and other Southwest Florida cities and towns will have less time and fewer legal tools to block construction projects and developments that don’t fit the character of their neighborhoods.

That’s OK with developers, as legal challenges—which can ruin their ability to secure financing—can last for years. Planning objections can lengthen project timelines, reducing profit as inflation raises the cost of everything from building materials to skilled labor to insurance.

WHO SHAPES THE CITIES’ FUTURE?

TRACHTENBERG: PREEMPTION LEADS TO CHAOS

The weakening of home rule began with vacation rentals, said Joe Trachtenberg, the former head of Collier County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee. He advocated for lower-cost housing for teachers, police, health care workers and other mid-level professionals for years until the county commission ousted him this spring, ostensibly because he took his complaints of the commission’s alleged nonaction to the public.

Weakened home rule leads to chaos, he said. “The trend in our state Legislature of superseding local government rule has generally been very wrong,” Trachtenberg says. “For example, not allowing individual cities and counties to manage vacation rentals in their communities has created needless turmoil. Individual homeowners now have little control over adjacent ‘party palaces’ rented to large groups with virtually no controls. Airbnb and Vacation Rentals by Owner, or Vrbo, are nightmares in many neighborhoods.”

Jane West, policy and planning director of the nonpartisan 1000 Friends of Florida, said the new laws will be tested in the next months. “Local governments got preempted left and right; they have completely taken away home rule,” she says. “We’ll have to battle these in the courts.”

Here's a list of the laws that oppo-

nents say will dilute local control over land use, water quality, environment and other things subject to home rule.

SB 170 / HB 1515: LOCAL ORDINANCES

The Florida League of Cities—representing Florida’s more than 400 villages, towns, and cities that practice home rule—sees SB 170 as the mother of all local preemption bills.

Backers of SB 170—including Senate President Kathleen Passidomo of Naples—believe the problem is the patchwork of rules, regulations and ordinances in those hundreds of municipalities. Developers also believe it should not be easy for a few “unreasonable” people on local planning boards to nix multimillion-dollar projects that have the approval of other stakeholders.

The new law says local governments must halt the enforcement of an ordinance if a single lawsuit challenges that law or ordinance. Repeat: That rule or law can be immediately suspended as the objection to the law makes its way through the court.

The law also allows developers to recover attorney fees and costs from municipalities if they win lawsuits or challenges against local zoning disputes. That makes it less likely that smaller local governments will spend the money to fight business interests, West said.

Those who oppose the bill point to a.

Brian Tietz; Darryl Jarmon; Jon Fletcher

LOSING CONTROL Opponents of new legislation believe the laws will take away local government's control over land use, water quality, environment and other municipal functions subject to home rule.

a. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples; b. Jane West, policy and planning director of 1000 Friends of Florida b.

Sanibel Island as proof that home rule can work if citizens and leaders are not abusing local authority. The barrier island incorporated in the mid-1970s, but after this bill passed May 3, local control could be tested as developers submit plans to build or rebuild on Sanibel post-Hurricane Ian.

SB102 / HB627: AFFORDABLE HOUSING ( LIVE LOCAL )

The bill provides up to $811 million to fund such state affordable housing programs as the State Housing Initiative Housing Program, State Apartment Incentive Loans and Hometown Heroes. It also creates new property tax exemptions for new or rehabilitated affordable housing units, and provides other financial incentives for developing affordable housing.

On the other hand, it would preempt local government limits on height and density in commercial and mixed-use zones, and suspend any requirement for zoning changes or comprehensive plan amendments. It would also prohibit local governments from imposing rent control under emergency declarations—or any other circumstances.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce backed this bill because “it is essential to have affordable workforce housing to ensure Florida’s workforce can ‘live local’ in the communities where they work,” says Florida Chamber CEO Mark Wilson. “The passage of this legislation will ensure Floridians can live closer to their jobs, schools and health care and still remain within their household budgets.”

Trachtenberg, who as an affordable housing official complained about a lack of action

Darron Silva; Visit Florida; Florida House of Representatives; Mark Wilson

a.

b.

by Collier County, likes the incentives in this bill. “In this one case, I applaud the state for recognizing the failings of local leadership, and for imposing requirements that will actually benefit everyone,” he says.

By preempting local government limits on height and density, the bill frees up developers to build less-expensive housing.

“We have a critical shortage of over 10,000 affordable units in Collier County,” Trachtenberg says. “The only way we will make a dent in this crisis is with more density and height.”

SB 540 / HB 359: LOCAL COMPREHENSIVE PLANS

According to environmentalists and planning officials, this bill “sounds the final death knell” on planning-related legal challenges. It was introduced by Rep. Wyman R. Duggan, a Jacksonville lawyer who specializes in defending developers against land use, zoning, permitting and developmental challenges. He believes developers too often get stuck with hundreds of thousands of dollars and more in legal bills.

His bill, now a law, allows prevailing parties to recover attorney fees in challenges to comprehensive plans and plan amendments. If developers win a battle to obtain variances, for instance, local residents will have to pay the legal fees of deep-pocketed developers. The same goes for local governments if they lose to developers.

“This would deal a devastating and permanent blow to effective citizen

engagement in Florida’s community planning process by threatening ordinary citizens with paying the attorney fees and costs of local governments and developers,” says West, whose nonpartisan organization lobbied against this and other 2023 bills.

SB 540 could turn local residents into bystanders during planning debates, she said: “It prevents enforcement of local growth plans created with citizen input and adopted by their elected representatives, and paves the way for environmentally irresponsible sprawl.”

SB 1604/HB 439: LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION

This law requires the local government to accept the decision of a special magistrate during the Florida Land Use & Environmental Dispute Resolution process. It also ends local government’s ability to deny zoning changes because there aren’t enough roads, schools or other infrastructure to support the development.

“This change to the law creates a path to circumvent local government decision-making,” West says. “But that

LIVING LOCAL

The affordable housing bill will ensure Floridians can live closer to their jobs, schools and health care and still be within their household budgets, says Florida Chamber CEO Mark Wilson.

a. Joe Trachtenberg, former chairman of Collier County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee; b. State Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville; c. Mark Wilson, Florida Chamber of Commerce president and CEO

c.

path is only available to landowners—not to business owners, not to neighboring landowners, not to adjacent local governments.”

The law also does not require a special magistrate to be an attorney or to be a professional planner, which potentially paves the way for political magistrate appointments. “The chance is great that the special magistrate may misunderstand basic and important issues related to the law or to land development,” she says. “Automatically applying a special magistrate decision with no further local government decision will create due process problems.”

On May 18, the Legislature introduced the Affordable Housing Approval Process amendment, which allows for a free pass for developing land—regardless of its land-use designation—if it is adjacent to property that is being developed with 25% of affordable housing units. The amendment failed, according to West.

An amendment that takes away a municipality’s ability to determine where electric substations can be built did survive, however. The amendment gives utilities the ability to locate large electrical substations in every land-use category except for historic preservation, conservation or preservation.

SB 1346/HB 1317: LOCAL REGULATION OF UNSAFE STRUCTURES

This is of great importance to Fort Myers, Captiva, St. James City, Seaside, Marco Island and other Southwest Florida beachfront towns hit by Hurricanes Ian and Irma and future storms. SB 1346 overrides local government limits on demolishing struc-

WHO SHAPES THE CITIES’ FUTURE?

Proponents of local, or home, rule believe this year’s preemption bills will erode the architectural individuality of local communities.

COMMUNITIES' INDIVIDUALITY

tures in flood zones that don’t meet new construction standards and/or would be considered “nonconforming” or “unsafe,” West said. The bill would also override any local decisions on what to replace them with. The law excludes single-family homes and structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

“It would prohibit local governments from blocking the demolition of any building, with some exceptions, that are at least in part ‘seaward of the coastal construction control line,’” West says. This puts residents of seaside condos and other rental structures in danger of being evicted should the property owner be forced to demolish the buildings. They could sell the property to a developer who will tear it down for their own projects, she said.

“That puts renters at the whim of the property owners who may choose to cash in by selling the property to a developer, who can demolish the structure without facing any objection by the local government,” West says. “Once demolished, towns and counties would be banned from having any say whatsoever on what would be built next, including high-rise, high-density property.”

LOCAL CONTROL SINCE COLONIAL TIMES

Developers especially don’t like it when a town or municipality kills a project after

the builder has invested tens of millions of dollars buying the land and paid for preconstruction costs, such as engineering and environmental studies.

In 2018, Crocker Partners, or CP Group, sued Boca Raton for $137 million in damages after the city voted down its 2,500-condo mixed-use project years after the city initially approved it. The company said the city’s vote reduced the value of the land it bought for the project, as well as the value of properties the company owns nearby.

Local governments, however, have had the right to determine the shape of their communities since the founding of this country. The Philadelphia Plan of 1686 introduced the gridiron street system, uniform spacing and setbacks for buildings that other American towns quickly adopted. Yet Philadelphia is an entirely different town than New Orleans by temperament and feel—the result of local citizens guiding local planning.

Proponents of local, or home, rule believe this year’s preemption bills will quickly erode the architectural individuality of local communities. “Florida’s unique coastal communities, like Sanibel, Marco Island and Fernandina Beach, are special places because of the ability of local government to be responsive to the vision of the residents of their community,” West says.

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Since his arrival in July 2022, Healthcare Network has started Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for substance abuse disorders, added pediatric intravenous (IV) sedation and secured Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education status.

With the amount of growth in Collier County -- particularly where access to care is limited, Ulmer wants to provide additional healthcare hubs like the organization’s existing Nichols Community Health Center in Golden Gate and Marion E. Fether Center in Immokalee that include multiple services for children, families and seniors all in one location.

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Lois Thome

[ LEGISLATION]

REDEFINING PERSONAL INJURY LAW

HB 837 draws objections and defenses

p_62

By John Guerra

GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION / CRE / NEW & EXPANDING

REDEFINING PERSONAL INJURY LAW

HB 837 draws objections and defenses

By John Guerra

Florida’s new law targeting frivolous lawsuits and excessive damage claims in personal injury cases is being touted by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ staff as the greatest tort reform bill in Florida history.

Some personal injury lawyers, however, consider HB 837 one of the worst ideas the Legislature has had in a long time. That’s why civil attorneys in Southwest Florida and around the state rushed to get their cases filed before the bill became law.

Florida’s statewide E-filing Portal, which lawyers use to file lawsuits with the court electronically, saw a historic 280,122 new cases in February and March. The Florida Bar Association said the record number of filings was a reaction to the expected passage of the law, which reduces how much plaintiffs can win—and how much lawyers earn—in personal injury and negligence cases.

The tort reform law, which DeSantis signed March 24, targets what Florida Chamber Pres-

ident and CEO Mark Wilson called “billboard lawyers,” whose ads have become so ubiquitous that drivers involved in an accident on a Florida highway need only look up to see a law firm’s 800 number displayed on a billboard.

Billboards themselves aren’t the issue, of course, but to Wilson, the ads symbolize how widespread personal injury cases have become.

“This is about law firms gaming the system, suing people for $100,000 and they earn up to 40% in legal fees,” Wilson said as the

Legislature debated the bill this spring. “That’s why the price of everything goes up—gasoline, food, auto insurance, homeowner insurance, construction, everything is more expensive because of the ‘lawsuit tsunami.’”

Though Wilson and other proponents say the bill helps consumers, personal injury lawyers and medical malpractice attorneys say the law greatly reduces what juries can award victims whose lives are destroyed through DUI crashes or other acts of negligence.

RECORD FILINGS Before Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the tort reform law on March 24, Florida's statewide E-filing Portal saw a historic 280,122 new cases in February and March—a reaction to the expected passage of the law, according to the Florida Bar Association.

For instance, the new law:

 reduces the statute of limitations for general negligence cases from four years to two years;

 denies damages to the injured party when he or she is at least 51% liable in a negligence action;

 limits reimbursement for negligence-based medical claims to 140% of Medicare/Medicaid rate;

 repeals laws authorizing the recovery of one-way attorney fees in insurance cases; it also limits fee multipliers, which courts award lawyers when clients cannot find representation; and

 limits the introduction of evidence for medical damages at trial.

Richard L. Purtz, a partner for Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz of Fort Myers, said the law protects insurance companies and big business.

"Our firm handles personal injury cases,” Purtz says. “This will have a negative effect on the rights of people who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence.”

Shorter statute of limitations

Reducing the statute of limitations to two years cuts in half the time for deposing witnesses, gathering evidence and negotiating with insurance companies and other defendants, Purtz said. The shorter timeline will increase, not decrease, the number of civil lawsuits.

“It takes time to negotiate a settlement with an insurance company,” he says. “If you can't get it settled in two years, you have to file a lawsuit before the limitation takes effect.”

The 51% rule

A Lee County resident who sues another driver for injuries sustained in a car accident cannot collect any damages if that plaintiff is more than 51% at fault in that crash.

“Let’s say you leave your work today, you’re waiting at a stoplight in Naples, following the law, and a driver hits you at 50 mph,” says Frank Walker, vice president of governmental affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “It is not uncommon for lawyers to sue the injured party on behalf of the driver who caused the accident, it’s insane.”

Under the new law, if a jury finds the driver—or anyone in a negligence lawsuit—is 51% at fault, he or she cannot collect damages. Under previous rules, a plaintiff who is 40% at fault

could collect 60% of the claim, depending on the number of plaintiffs.

Damages limited by Medicaid rates

The new law uses Medicare and Medicaid rates to determine what doctors who treat a severely injured, uninsured plaintiff can charge. For instance, reimbursement can be capped at 140% to 170% of the Medicaid rate, depending on the circumstance.

“This limits what can be used as evidence in medical costs to ridicu-

Christina Bankson Florida Chamber of Commerce

Richard L. Purtz

Partner for Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz of Fort Myers

Mark Wilson Florida Chamber President and CEO

BEST OR WORST IDEA? Gov. Ron DeSantis' staff believes HB 837, which targets frivolous lawsuits and excessive damage claims in personal injury cases, is the greatest tort reform bill in Florida history. However, some personal injury lawyers think it is the worst idea the Legislature has had in a long time.

lously low amounts,” Purtz says. “It goes way beyond what is reasonable; 1.7 times Medicaid for spinal surgery? That means specialists who do spinal surgery can only charge $600 for skilled surgery. There are only three spinal surgeons in Florida that accept Medicare/Medicaid rates. Plaintiffs who do not have enough medical insurance will have to go without medical care.”

Limits one-way fees, fee multipliers

In insurance cases, not counting declaratory judgment actions, plaintiffs can no longer collect attorney fees when they prevail against an insurance company. Now that insureds will have to pay for their lawyers, they are less likely to sue, and lawyers might be more likely to settle, Purtz said.

The bill also limits fee multipliers, which awards a lawyer higher hourly fees when the client can’t find someone to represent them.

“Fee multipliers were set up to ensure people could find attorneys for complex and difficult cases,” Walker says. “Hourly fees could be multiplied 500% to give lawyers an incentive to take the case.”

This part of the law has been a long time coming. Though fee multipliers were once a rare occurrence, they’ve become epidemic, Walker said.

In fact, Florida judges and reform-minded lawyers have sought a standard and reasonable fee multiplier for Florida for some time. A Third

District Court of Appeal ruling cut one lawyer’s fee-multiplier-based fee from $284,000 to $142,000, saying the lawyer failed to prove it was difficult for the plaintiff to secure counsel.

Limits evidence for medical damages

To claim medical damages from a jury, plaintiffs will be limited to evidence of the amount actually paid. In other words, if a full medical bill for past services has been paid by an insurer, the actual amount paid by the insurer is the only amount admissible at trial.

Before the law was passed, doctors and the patient could present a bill to the jury that was much higher than the true cost of treatment.

“This bill requires transparency in damages,” Walker told Gulfshore

Business. “Juries will use that lower amount to calculate the damages.”

How businesses take a hit

The new law allows the introduction of criminal activity—such as an assault, robbery or nightclub shooting— when people file security negligence cases. Wilson said juries will now weigh the criminal’s role in security negligence cases when a customer is injured during a holdup.

“It’s more than likely someone is going to sue the business,” Wilson says. “Could the business have done more? Is the alarm system working?

A lot of the time, juries aren’t hearing about what the criminal did, how the criminal behaved—instead of what the business could have done to protect the customers and staff.”

Purtz, who sues negligent businesses on behalf of injured clients, said the introduction of criminal activity reduces the percentage of culpability assigned to the business. For instance, instead of the business owner being 100% at fault, a jury could determine the criminal is 80% at fault for causing a plaintiff’s injuries. But collecting damages from the criminal often isn’t feasible.

“Criminals can't pay; they're in jail,” Purtz says. “Juries can now compare the fault of the criminal with the fault of the business in negligence cases and it affects how much injured plaintiffs can recover.”

Frank Walker Florida Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Governmental Affairs

THE PATH TO A PLAN

Local input helps shape decisions on use of hurricane recovery funding

By David Dorsey

Lee County resident Marsha Ellis took her turn with a microphone. She was limited to three minutes during the public input portion of one of a number of Resilient Lee meetings. She used every second of that time— plus a few seconds more, as her comments ran into overtime.

It was precisely the type of input Lee County Commissioner and Resilient Lee Task Force leader Kevin Ruane expressed hope for receiving, and the type the federal government requires. The first of dozens of public forums regarding up to $1.1 billion in federal grants to help recover from Hurricane Ian began in April and continued through May. There also were more than 4,000 responses to an online survey about how Lee County should prioritize hurricane recovery funds.

By Nov. 19, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will review the task force’s recom-

mendations. Grants will be awarded within the next six years. But as of May 26, the final installment of the first round of meetings, no one knew exactly how or where those funds would be awarded. That day also marked the deadline for submitting proposals for the grant money.

“I want to emphasize,” said Matt Caldwell, Lee County Property Appraiser and a member of the task force, “the action plan is not the endall, be-all.”

Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter, one of 13 elected officials within Lee County and its municipalities on the task force, added: “We have to make the argument that $1.1 billion isn’t enough. It’s very important for us to do our homework.”

HUD requires 70% of the funds go toward housing for people making the median income of $85,000 or less. The remaining 30% can be dispersed to other causes, such as

infrastructure hardening, parks and recreation, etc.

Lee County is also eligible to receive up to $848 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation and up to $483 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

As Lee County continues to rebuild from the devastation of the Sept. 28 storm that especially decimated Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, it will have to do so with the conflicting interests of the public and the task force regarding the complex financial math problem faced by developers. They often need more density to minimize financial risks—and maximize profits—when building apartment complexes.

Housing and homelessness (54%), economic development (38.5%) and environmental issues (35.3%) were the top concerns expressed by the public for how the funding should be spent. David

Dorsey; Brian Tietz

Kevin Ruane Lee County Commissioner

The public also expressed concerns about storm gentrification. There were concerns relayed at the meetings about heightened costs in areas where recovery efforts would improve infrastructure and spur development.

The task force recommended deregulating and making it easier to increase density throughout Lee County—despite arguments against doing so from the public, as well as some of the task force members. Holly Smith, a Sanibel city council member and former mayor, and Bill Veach, a Fort Myers Beach town council member, reminded the public and the task force that their municipal governments were formed to guard against increasing housing density and that those regulations should be honored in the course of hurricane recovery.

Ruane assured them that they would be.

“We are in a high-hazard area,” Smith said during the public forum.

“Our codes should be different. Deregulation to reduce costs of housing; I’m not sure that’s an actual item for us to consider. An increase in density is not something we would support. We have a referendum against that.”

The island on which most of Fort Myers Beach’s incorporated area sits just couldn’t handle many more people on it, Veach told Gulfshore Business.

“We have one, two-lane road,” Veach says of Estero Boulevard. “That’s really the constraint that prevents us from adding density. We have 10,000 potatoes in a five-pound bag.”

Lee County also could take this as an opportunity to further reenvision lands known as the DR/GR, said Chris Corrie, a Bonita Springs city council member.

The DR/GR was about 80,000 acres designated in the 1980s as a “Density Reduction/Groundwater Recharge” area, where only one house per 10 acres was allowed to be built, accord-

ing to Lee County land development codes. Those codes were changed in 2015, allowing one home per acre. A 10,000-home subdivision is being planned for that area.

“We should reassess the DR/GR for affordable and workforce housing,” Corrie said. “We really need to assess whether or not there’s a responsibility. If we want to control how housing is built … I think we need to have a serious conversation about that.”

In addition to the Resilient Lee Task Force, there were eight related branches covering different topics that met throughout April and May to provide feedback in addition to the public forums, which were held in communities across the county.

Those other task force branch topics included planning and capacity; economic recovery; infrastructure; housing; education and workforce; natural resources; health and social services; and cultural resources.

FUNDING RECOVERY

By Nov. 19, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will review Resilient Lee Task Force’s recommendations regarding up to $1.1 billion in federal grants to help recover from Hurricane Ian.

BALANCING ACT

Optimal allocation of federal grant money requires navigating a complex web of regulations, relevant data and overlapping interests from various groups.

David Dorsey

Tanya Shannon, the deputy director of recovery for Hagerty Consulting, ran the two-hour slideshow presentation at the May 26 meeting. She is one of up to 25 staff members from the consulting company working on a contract basis for Lee County. Hagerty is charging the county $60 to $235 per hour for each staffer, depending on their role, for their expertise in navigating the federal funding that involves at least 26 government agencies.

Lee County Director of Communications Betsy Clayton did not know how much of the $1.1 billion would go toward paying consulting fees. The county had not tracked the hours worked by Hagerty as of May 26.

“Lee County has used a cost recovery consultant for every major storm going back to Charley (in 2004),” Clayton wrote in an email to Gulfshore Business, as requested by Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman, whose signature is on the document approving Hagerty as the consulting firm.

“The county doesn’t have the inhouse expertise nor manpower to entirely put together the massive amount of backup information required by FEMA, the State and HUD to receive cost reimbursement and federal grants. Each program has a percentage that is reimbursable for administrative costs, and Hagerty will be well within those parameters.”

Hagerty employees declined interview requests about its efforts and methodology. But Jessi Widhalm, the company’s director of communications, responded via email.

“Rebuilding and recovering from major disasters, such as hurricanes, can take years—often due to the breadth and overlap of federal programs,” Widhalm wrote. “Currently, more than 30 federal agencies support over 60 disaster recovery programs. So, while significant federal funding is available to disaster-impacted communities, it is often difficult for recipients to navigate the complexities and compliance requirements. We help our clients gain access to, manage and maximize the various federal resources they are eligible for and entitled to receive so their community can recover in a compliant, results-driven manner that increases their resilience against future disaster risks and losses.”

The county government selected Hagerty in 2019 out of five applicants. Only eight are qualified to do work in Florida, said Ruane, who was elected in November 2020.

“It allows us the opportunity to maximize our funding,” Ruane said.

Ruane described Resilient Lee as a great collaboration.

“Working together is how we came back on Day One, on Day Two, on Day Three and on Day Four,” Ruane says of the storm’s immediate aftermath.

By Adam Regan

COLLIER COUNTY

Collier Health Services purchased 1.6 acres of vacant land at Tract C of Winchester, just west of Immokalee Road, in Golden Gate Estates from BCHD Partners I LLC for $3.2 million. Clint L. Sherwood, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the buyer, and Eric Mallory of Metro Commercial represented the seller.

Cook Legacy LLC purchased 9,568 square feet of office space at 2705 S. Horseshoe Drive, suites 201-204, in Naples from Horseshoe Square Development LC for $3,125,000. Clint L. Sherwood, CCIM, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the seller, and John Paulich IV of Trinity Commercial Group represented the buyer.

Global Investment Properties LLC, Unionville Sportsman Club Inc. and Kyle Smith purchased a mobile home park at 1145 Kerr Court on Marco Island for $2 million. The property last sold in 1971 for $26,000.

Franco Plastering Inc. purchased 3,360 square feet of commercial space at 5815 Washington St. in North Naples from Moni-Mari Inc. for $1.2 million. Christine McManus, CCIM, SIOR, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the buyer and seller.

Barbara M. Dul purchased a 3.8-acre commercial site on Immokalee Road in

North Naples from Carlo F. Zampogna, trustee of DW Land Trust, for $950,000. Enn Luthringer, CCIM, of CRE Consultants represented the seller, and Bill Klohn of Resort Advisors represented the buyer.

John Patat and Eileen Patat purchased 1,130 square feet of office space at

2335 Ninth St. N., Suite 504, in Naples from 2335 N Tamiami LLC for $295,000. Christine McManus, CCIM, SIOR, of Investment Properties Corp., and Greg Gorman of John R. Wood Properties represented the buyer, and Brian Ohlis of Sun Realty represented the seller.

Laxmi of Fifth Ave LLC purchased the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Naples Downtown hotel at 1555 Fifth Ave. S. in Naples from Cavalier Florida LP for $13.63 million. The property last sold in 2004 for $3,229,600.

LEE COUNTY

Crenshaw USVI

LLC purchased a 14,183-square-foot retail space on 2 acres at 16950 Pine Ridge Road in Fort Myers from PTI Fort Myers LLC for $4,823,000. The property last sold for $1,402,000 in 2003.

RT-List Holding

LLC purchased a 17,848-squarefoot commercial manufacturing and warehouse facility at 3680 Evans Ave. in Fort Myers from Fillmore LLC for $2.65 million. John Wilson of RE/ MAX Realty Group Commercial Division represented the buyer and seller.

2865 Rockfill LLC purchased an 8.5acre industrial site at the corner of Old Metro Parkway and Hunter Street in Fort Myers from Suncoast Contractor’s Supply for $1.59 million.

Stan Stouder, CCIM, of CRE Consultants represented the buyer and seller.

Cape Coral Alf Investment LLC purchased an assisted living facility on 4.8 acres at 1906 Skyline Blvd. in Cape Coral from Coral Land Holdings LLC for $18 million. The property last sold in 2021 for $1,449,059.

Thrive Capital Partners LLC purchased a 3,375-square-foot multitenant building on 0.22 acres at 1414 SE 17th Ave. in Cape Coral from Advantage Adjustment Co. for $750,000. Adam Bornhorst, Derek Bornhorst, SIOR, CCIM, Bob Johnston, SIOR, and Jerry Messonnier, SIOR, of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the seller, and Katia Linzalone P.A. of LPT Realty represented the buyer.

NS Retail Holdings LLC purchased a 46,328-square-foot grocery store at 5690/5696 Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers from Leremblu LLC for $6.5 million. The property last sold in 2015 for $5,575,000.

By Adam Regan

COLLIER COUNTY

Elias Brothers Homes Inc. leased a 3,476-squarefoot space at 1429 Don St., Unit E, in Naples from 23-81 LNT LLC. Brock Rasmussen and Michael Kotsidis of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessor.

Snappy Casual Florida

LLC dba Gals on and off the Green leased 1,744 square feet of retail space at 877 91st Ave. N., Suite 4, in North Naples from Dinkytown Investors LLC, Dinkytown Properties LLP and Hersh Properties LLC. Lauren A. Griswold of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor and lessee.

Naples Local Insurance LLC dba Del Toro Insurance leased 1,300 square feet of office space at 5429 Airport-Pulling Road N. in Naples from Ridgeport Limited Partnership. Tara L. Stokes and Lauren A. Griswold of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor, and Stephanie Ferreras of LandQwest Commercial Fort Myers represented the lessee.

US Prime Realty LLC leased 1,210 square feet of office space at 5187 Tamiami Trail N., Suite 2, in Naples from 5187 Buttonwood LLC. Rob Carroll, CCIM, MAI, of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor, and Maxim Vulpe of US Prime Realty LLC represented the lessee.

Walter James Smith

dba Re/quest leased 700 square feet of office space at 1020 Eighth Ave. S., Suite 8, in Naples from Wety Holdings LLC. Rob Carroll, CCIM, MAI, and Tara L. Stokes of Investment Properties Corp. represented the lessor and lessee.

Collier County Housing Authority leased a 1,333-square-foot space at 2800 Davis Blvd. in East Naples from Marjorie and Claude Kenol. Patty McClimans of SVN Commercial Partners represented the lessor, and James Hunter of MVP Realty represented the lessee.

LEE COUNTY

Lansing Building

Products LLC leased a 66,017-square-foot space in Suncoast Commerce Center X, 9381 Laredo Ave., Suite 101, in Fort Myers from EastGroup Properties LP. Derek Bornhorst, SIOR, CCIM, Adam Bornhorst, Bob Johnston, SIOR, and Jerry Messonnier, SIOR, of Lee & Associates NaplesFort Myers represented the

lessor, and Heather Adams of Commercial Property Southwest Florida LLC represented the lessee.

Caloosa Cooling Lee County LLC leased an 18,750-square-foot space in Jetport-Interstate Commerce Park, 14241 Jetport Road, Unit 1, in Fort Myers from Swan FM LLC. Adam Bornhorst, Derek Bornhorst, SIOR, CCIM,

Bob Johnston, SIOR, and Jerry Messonnier, SIOR, of Lee & Associates NaplesFort Myers represented the lessor and lessee.

True Spec Golf LLC leased 5,332 square feet of retail space at 24850 Burnt Pine Drive, suites 8 and 9, in Bonita Springs from Bernwood LLC. Rob Carroll, CCIM, MAI, of Investment Properties

Corp. represented the lessee, and Mike Maurer of William Raveis represented the lessor.

Back in Motion Sport & Spine Physical Therapy

LLC leased 5,330 square feet of office space at 9400 Gladiolus Drive, suites 100 and 101, in Fort Myers from JSA Plaza LLC. Gary Tasman and John Albion of Cushman & Wakefield Commercial Property Southwest Florida represented the lessor.

Cottrell Title Services

LLC leased a 1,050-squarefoot space in Corkscrew Village, 21301 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 330, in Estero from FL Corkscrew Village LLC. Brent Westerfield of Lee & Associates NaplesFort Myers represented the lessor, and Thomas Webb, CCIM, MSRE, of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers and Andres Sanchez of Local Real Estate LLC represented the lessee.

Jeffrey E. Rubin DDS leased a 1,550-square-foot dental office in the Preserve at Bonita Springs, 26649 Dublin Woods Circle, in Bonita Springs from Fischer Commercial Properties LLC. Brock Rasmussen of Lee & Associates Naples-Fort Myers represented the lessor and lessee.

Brian Tietz

2023 GULFSHORE WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS

Happiness is Here

WELLNESS / WEEKEND GETAWAY / BACKSTORY

By James Raia

HORSEPOWER

after hours

ELECTRIC BEGINNINGS

Genesis impresses with the new GV60

By James Raia

Six years after the carmaker’s launch as a standalone luxury brand, the 2023 Genesis GV60 debuts as the marque’s first dedicated electric vehicle. It’s an impressive debut of automotive innovation and a dash of gadgetry.

Available in Advanced and Performance trims, the GV60 is operated by two electric motors and a 77.4-kWh battery pack. Using a 120-volt (Level 1) household-style outlet, the GV60 takes about 68 hours to charge. A 240-volt (Level II) outlet will charge the GV60 in about seven hours. Using a DC Fast-Charging (Level III) station, the GV60 will advance from a 10% to 80% charge in about 18 minutes (250-kW/800 volts). The battery can also be used to power external equipment, including appliances.

The relevance of performance is subjective. How fast is fast enough? For those enamored by speed, a boost button on the steering wheel provides 10 seconds of 54 additional horsepower and 70 more foot-pounds of torque. If it’s important for the 0-to-60 mph standard to improve by 0.2 seconds, have at it.

The GV60 is also the third of three new related EVs—joining the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6—that use Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the battery architecture. The trio also offers individualized futuristic styling, performance, environmental consideration and overall quality from manufacturers, all previously often shunned.

It’s categorized as a small crossover, but the GV60’s exterior and interior stylings contradict the term: Small appears big. Four passengers sit comfortably. The doors and dashboard combine high-quality, quilted upholstery and leather surfaces. The overall motif is futuristic chic, dominated by oblong, horizontally placed chrome handle grasps, dials, etc. A fixed panoramic glass roof also gives the interior a more spacious presence.

The most unique feature: A gadget open for individual definition. It’s an illuminated crystalline orb. When the engine starts, the console-located globe rotates from

FACTS & FIGURES

Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 4.0 seconds

Airbags: 10

Electric motor: 97 and 82 MPGe city/hwy

Range: 234 miles

Horsepower: 429

Manufacturer’s

Suggested Retail Price: $67,890

Manufacturer’s website: genesis.com

Price as tested: $69,560

Warranty: Bumper to bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles; Powertrain, 10 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/ unlimited mileage; Maintenance, 3 years/36,000 miles; Roadside assistance, 5 years/unlimited mileage; Battery, 2 years/24,000 miles

its planet appearance to a switch-style dial. It’s a keen novelty, a conversation item without any particular purpose.

Equally unique are facial and fingerprint recognition features. Register your face image in the camera near the driver’s door and return to your vehicle the next time without needing the key fob. Register your fingerprint with a feature on the console, and you can start the vehicle without the key.

Driving the GV60 is a largely quiet experience. The traditional EV engine whine is kept to a minimum, and the SUV advances on the open road in

near silence. There’s little wind rush and no distractions—with two exceptions: The backup, front and side alerts in parking or other tight quarters are rather hyperactive.

The overall superior quality and quiet drive are assisted by an adaptive suspension and strong cabin insulation. Further, the front seats are well-cushioned and firm. The rear seats afford two adults ample room and substantial reclining.

Standard infotainment: a 12.3inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, a Wi-Fi

hotspot, wireless device charging, satellite radio, HD Radio, four USB ports, a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and Bluetooth. A 12.3inch digital gauge cluster, dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start and a universal garage-door opener are also included.

While the GV60’s range needs a boost, the new Genesis family member debuts as a strong addition to the efficient, well-designed impressive corps of new EV luxury crossovers. It has much to offer at the front of the pack.

MIND OVER MUSCLE PAIN

NeuroKinetic Therapy retrains the brain to correct dysfunction

By James Raia

David Weinstock, a manual therapy practitioner, grew frustrated. It was more than 40 years ago, and his patients’ relief from pain and dysfunction often was temporary. Now, the graduate from Johns Hopkins University is a long-time advocate and pioneer of NeuroKinetic Therapy, or NKT. He codeveloped the movement therapy based on a chiropractic technique called Applied Kinesiology.

With his colleagues at the Institute of Conscious BodyWork in Marin County, California, Weinstock concluded that adjustments, deep tissue work, realignment and stretching wouldn’t rectify patients’ problems. Chronic pain from musculoskeletal issues can only be permanently resolved by addressing the root cause—the dysfunctional movement patterns stored in the brain.

Weinstock’s book “NeuroKinetic Therapy, an Innovative Approach to Manual Muscle Testing” was published in 2010. Translated into Jap-

anese and Korean and now in its second edition, it’s the impetus for the therapy used internationally by chiropractors, physical therapists, personal trainers, massage therapists and Pilates instructors.

Mehmet Cingoz, owner of Mindful Movement in Fort Myers, is among several Southwest Florida therapists who incorporate NeuroKinetic Therapy into their practices.

“NeuroKinetic Therapy is an assessment tool that uses Manual Muscle Testing to determine not the strength of a muscle or function, but the strength of how well the brain communicates to that movement,” says Cingoz. “There are a lot of other techniques that utilize MMT; NKT’s protocol is unique in teasing out what imbalances or pain are a priority and which are symptomatic or compensatory. As a massage therapist, this gives me direction on what to release with great specificity.”

Muscles or tissue can weaken and

“shut down” following an injury. Other muscles and tissues compensate for the weaker areas. An NKT practitioner will evaluate a patient’s strength or weakness and ask them to provide resistance after light pressure is applied to the affected area. It determines the location of the problem and retrains it with new patterns of movement; correcting the dysfunction is essential to successful healing.

Patients repeat the new, correct movements to replace improper compensation of weaker muscle use. Back pain, bursitis, jaw pain, neck pain, temporomandibular joint disorders or TMJ, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome and whiplash can all be treated with NeuroKinetic Therapy.

Reprogramming body movements is beneficial for reducing pain from injuries. It helps reduce muscle tension, improves recovery time and provides headache relief.

Jana Hamilton, the owner of Functional Therapeutics in Fort Myers,

specializes in pain and injury prevention through massage therapy, exercise prescription, posture correction and self-care techniques. Hamilton also incorporates NeuroKinetic Therapy into her treatments. The business’ motto: “Whether you need maintenance and prevention care or need help with a specific pain pattern or injury, our skilled team is ready to help you meet your health care goals.”

Weinstock’s now standardized methods are part of the practices of

therapists who’ve learned the techniques via certification. The therapy’s co-founder has a full international calendar of seminars, including a spring engagement that brought Weinstock to Orlando. Among a few dozen other locations, he’s headed this year to farflung locales — Slovakia to Hong Kong and Canada to Brazil.

“The reaction to a successful assessment and correction not only has relief in symptoms or increased range and quality of motion, but also

being shocked by the outcome,” says Cingoz. “Reevaluating a movement that hurt and was poor quality potentially within the first 15 or 20 minutes—and it to no longer feel that way—is a real shocker.

“Other therapies may have some great results, as well, which makes it hard to compare, but I think it’s the speed at which NKT drives change in the body in conjunction with whatever form of release work that any practitioner uses that is most impressive.”

NKT IN SWFL

Custom Fit Physical Therapy

9102 Cascada Way, Naples 781.806.3062

customfitphysicaltherapy.com/naples

Functional Therapeutics

1400 Colonial Blvd. #251, Fort Myers 239.284.5566

functionaltherapeuticsswfl.com

Kinetic Physical Therapy

1082 6th Ave. N., Naples 239.263.7399

kineticpt-naples.com

Mindful Movement

8359 Beacon Blvd. #219, Fort Myers 239.839.0484

REPROGRAMMING MOVEMENT Mehmet Cingoz, owner of Mindful Movement, incorporates NeuroKinetic Therapy into his practice as an assessment tool to determine how well the brain communicates to movement.

THE STARS OF SARASOTA

TEMPTING REWARDS FOR A CRUISE UP THE COAST

By Artis Henderson

Sarasota, which sits roughly 100 miles north of Southwest Florida, has a variety of charms that recommend it as a rewarding place to visit: unique hotels, surprising restaurants and one of Florida’s most notable art destinations. Like much of the state, Sarasota rose in stature on the wave of the land boom in the early 1900s. The town was discovered by the famed Ringling brothers—of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus—and it became the winter headquarters for the circus in 1927. Today, Sarasota offers an easily drivable getaway.

CHARMING DISCOVERY

Found by the famed Ringling brothers of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Sarasota became the winter headquarters for the circus in 1927.

WHAT TO DO

Stunning white sand beaches and exclusive shopping districts offer plenty of ways to while away the hours of a weekend escape to Sarasota. Try South Lido Beach on Lido Key (2201 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Sarasota; 941.861.5000), a county park with 100 acres of coastal habitats for sunning, swimming, hiking and picnicking. For shopping and dining, historic St. Armands Circle (St. Armands Circle, Sarasota; starmandscircleassoc.com) offers upscale boutiques and pleasant places to nosh.

For a dose of culture, visit the Ringling Museum of Art (5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota; 941.359.5700; ringling.

WEEKEND ESCAPE Sarasota offers a variety of entertainment options. From shopping and dining to beaches and culture, there is something for everyone.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art; Ritz Carlton Sarasota

org). Set on the winter estate of John and Mable Ringling, the museum houses an impressive collection of European works that the couple collected during their trips abroad to find new talent for the circus. Don’t miss the Dutch masters that made the museum famous, especially the Rubens Galleries, as well as its many fine examples of Baroque art.

WHERE TO STAY

For classic luxury, we love the beautifully appointed Ritz-Carlton Sarasota (1111 Ritz Carlton Drive, Sarasota; 941.309.2000; ritzcarlton.com), which features several in-hotel dining venues, a luxury spa and access to an exclusive beach club located three miles away on Lido Key. Book a suite for jaw-dropping views of Sarasota Bay from the large soaking tub.

For a fresh take on the overnight experience, try the Sarasota Modern, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel from Marriott (1290 Boulevard of

the Arts, Sarasota; 941.906.1290; thesarasotamodern.com). The hotel draws its cues from the best of mid-century design, and the outdoor pool deck has an uber-cool aura of tropical chic.

WHERE TO EAT

Lila (1576 Main St., Sarasota; 941.296.1042; lilasrq.com) in downtown Sarasota offers the

kind of inspired, inclusive menu that would feel at home in a bigger city. The restaurant bills itself as “health-focused and environmentally friendly” with a special nod to vegan diners. But despite its focus on plant-based fare, there’s plenty here for the omnivore, including grass-fed filet mignon, wild-caught sockeye salmon and pink Gulf shrimp. Don’t miss the evening’s

specials, which include in-season produce brought in from local farms.

For breakfast, grab a table at our favorite Sarasota institution, the Toasted Mango Cafe (430 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941.388.7728; toastedmangocafe.com). This fast, friendly cafe offers the usual breakfast staples plus its famous toasted mango waffle. It’s the perfect way to start any adventure in this fun weekend spot.

UNIQUE EATERIES Whether you enjoy dining at a luxury hotel, a vegan friendly restaurant or a specialty breakfast spot, you can find it all in Sarasota.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS

HOSTED AT HYATT REGENCY COCONUT POINT RESORT AND SPA BY GULFSHORE BUSINESS

1. Red Gamso, Shannon Lane, Kayla Garrison, Megan Stone

2. Nancy de la Vega, Yosie Crespo, Barbara Hatch 3. Susan Yarab, Rebekah Barney, Charles Idleson, Teres Taylor 4. Gabriella Wallie, Christine Rahill, Sheryl Soukup, Maya Doonan, Maria Breston, Tracey Williams 5. Lois Thome

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Photography by Sharon Mammano

1. Michelle Avola-Brown 2. Mally Khorasantchi, Amanda Perez, Camilla Tulloch, Julie Koester, Blake Renda, Lynn Buck, Liz Schreier, Suzanne Noriega, Neil Pennington 3. Kristin Kelly, Kaci Carroll, Lucille Ford, Julie Coleman, Deanna Wallin, Christine DeGennaro, Marlene Thompson 4. Julie Pedretti, Kara Laufer, Cari Jones, Catherine Bergerson, Renee Waller 5. Joyce Owens, Lindsey Sablan, Jodi Huntoon 6. Laurie Moore, Allie Chiklakis, Mia Hyatt, Jennifer Gebeau

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7. Stephany and Ryan Anderson 8. Ann Hughes, Karen Govern 9. Courtney Whitt, Laura Collett, Colleen Cornwall, Maria Jiminez Lara, Missy Lamont, Sarah Kelly, Jane Gray, Amy Lane, Jen Schaaff 10. Darlene Grossman, Amy Objartel, Damien Romanello, Samira Beckwith, Troy Churchill 11. Kyle Hartman, Darlene Grossman

12. Candace Johnson, Marie Hernandez Rubenstein, Amber Barr, Noemi Y. Perez, Linda Avalos, Maria Arevalo, Walt Buchholtz, Destiny Perez, Yeimi Espinoza, Amanda Yzaguirre, Marisol Sanders

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SHINE ON

Time and tide haven’t defeated the Sanibel Island Lighthouse

By Justin Paprocki

The Sanibel Island Lighthouse still shines over Southwest Florida.

The 139-year-old lighthouse was battered during Hurricane Ian. Its keeper quarters and surrounding buildings were washed away, and the tower itself lost one of its legs—but it was still standing after the storm. That was just the latest chapter in the long history of the Gulfshore icon.

Early Sanibel residents had petitioned for a lighthouse since the 1830s, but the U.S. Congress didn’t approve funding until 1883. By then, the San Carlos Bay was crowded with cargo ships. In particular, Punta Rassa across the bay from Sanibel had become a major hub for cattle exports.

Construction on the lighthouse started in 1884, but faced delays when a ship carrying the iron skeleton of the tower wrecked 2 miles off the coast. Divers were able to recover most of the materials, and the 102-foot lighthouse with a kerosene oil lamp was functional by that August. It served as the only lighthouse on the Gulf Coast between Key West and Egmont Key near Tampa.

A keeper manned the lighthouse until 1949, when the Coast Guard automated the light after the tower and its surrounding buildings suffered hurricane damage. In 1974, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the property is now owned by the city of Sanibel.

Following the extensive damage from Hurricane Ian, the tower was

stabilized and the light shone once again in February 2023—a beacon of hope that both the island and its lighthouse would survive.

WHEN WE PROTECT NATURE, NATURE PROTECTS US.

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE HEALTH OF OUR REGION.

The teams at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida have been working for almost 60 years to find a sensible balance between the demands of a growing population and the preservation of our natural resources.

By becoming a member, you will not only help protect Southwest Florida’s ecosystems, you will become part of our diverse community striving to support the health of our environment.

Sign up for E-News at conservancy.org and receive the latest news about the work we’re doing, policy updates, memberships and events at our Nature Center.

BECOME A CONSERVANCY MEMBER TODAY.

Korunda Pain Management Center

“Striving

(239) 591-2803

4513 Executive Drive, Naples, FL 34119

(1/2 mile East of I-75 off Immokalee Road by Quail Creek/Longshore Lakes)

Accepting Medicare and most commercial insurance plans

SPINE AND JOINT PAIN SPECIALISTS

Medical Education

GEORGE ARCOS, DO

661 Goodlette Frank Road, Suite 103

Naples, FL 34102

• D.O. New York College of Osteopathic Medicine/NYIT, 1983

Board Certification & Advanced Training

• Board Certified in Pain Medicine by American Osteopathic of Board of Anesthesiology

• University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, Bioethics Fellowship

• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey, Anesthesiology Residency

• United States Air Force, Homestead, Florida, two-year Fellowship in Pain Management

Medical Education

SCOTT FUCHS, DO

Physicians Regional Medical Center

8340 Collier Blvd., Suite 307 Naples, FL 34114

• University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ, 2006

Board Certification & Advanced Training

• Double Board Certified by American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Subspecialty of Pain Medicine

• Medical College of Virginia, Pain Medicine Fellowship, Richmond, VA

• Temple University, Residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Philadelphia, PA

Medical Education

• M.D. University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia, 1996

ZDENKO KORUNDA, MD

4513 Executive Drive

Naples, FL 34119

Board Certification and Advanced Training

• Board Certified in Pain Medicine by American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

• Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, Pain Management Fellowship

• Cleveland Clinic Health System, Cleveland, OH, Internal Medicine Residency

• Castle Connolly’s National Top Doctors, 2012-2022

TREATMENTS SUPPORTED

BY

THE LATEST RESEARCH

Back and Neck pain

Leg and Arm pain

Joint pain

Spinal Stenosis, Lumbar & Cervical

Facet Syndrome

Osteoarthritis

Herniated Discs

Tendonitis and Bursitis

Neuropathy

Cancer pain

Shingles

Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Pain

Fibromyalgia

Headaches

Degenerative Disc Disease

Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty

Spinal Cord Stimulation

Epidural and Facet Injections

Radiofrequency Ablation

Joint Injections

Non-surgical Sports Medicine

Regenerative Medicine and Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy

Physical Therapy

State-of-the-Art MRI Imaging

SI Joint Infusion

Vertiflex

And more

Please visit our website at www.korundaPMC.com

to deliver the highest quality of comprehensive care for those suffering with chronic or acute pain.”