By JOHN HAUGHEY
Staff Writer
May 20, 2008

A 'Great Loop' for Punta Gorda

MURDOCK — Charlotte County commissioners' approval Tuesday of Wilder/BN Jones Loop Holdings' proposed Great Loop of Southwest Florida could change the landscape between Punta Gorda and North Fort Myers.

For one thing, it could put a "there" there.

For another, it's good news for a struggling area, Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce President John Wright said.

"Precious few developers are looking to start projects at our front door," he said.

Boston-based Wilder wants to build 1.2 million square feet of retail space, 100,000 square feet of office space, 500 residential units and 200 hotel rooms on 202.5 acres along Jones Loop Road east of U.S. 41.

Wilder plans to begin building in early 2009, complete its retail components by 2010, and finish the project in five years.

The Great Loop is one of seven Developments of Regional Impact planned at area Interstate 75 interchanges, along with:

• The 514-acre Harborview DRI at Harborview Road with 1,200 residential units and 936,000 square feet of retail space.

• The 365-acre, 1,312-home Victoria Estates DRI near Rampart Boulevard.

• The 730-acre Sandhill DRI near Kings Highway.

• Three DRIs near Toledo Blade Boulevard in North Port that, combined, call for 19,000 residential units, 7.2 million square feet of commercial space, 500,000 square feet of office space and 450 hotel rooms.

You can e-mail John Haughey at jhaughey@sun-herald.com.