Development Deals

In a presentation to the Collier Building Industry Association recently, land broker Ross McIntosh drew gasps when he showed a slide with this headline: Our Incredible Shrinking Universe.

In 2008, the slide showed, there were 252 builders in Lee and Collier counties. This year, the count is 108.

But as bad as the last five years have been for residential builders and developers, Collier appears to be poised for a recovery. McIntosh's conclusion: “My impression is the worst is behind us,” he says.