Cape crusade: City leaders advocating for redevelopment and new growth

When Shelly Walton opened BackStreets Sports Bar in Cape Coral more than two decades ago, little was happening and there were only a few businesses in the primarily single-family residential community.

In the hopes of spurring long-sought economic redevelopment, she and several other leaders in the city are finally putting forth concerted efforts to revitalize Cape Coral’s image and outlook, particularly in its downtown area known as the South Cape. The work, in part, is an effort for the city to catch up to other Southwest Florida commercial hubs in nearby Estero, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers.