The Forum at Fort Myers will feature seven anchors, almost 50,000 sf of small shop and restaurant space and several outparcels. Site work is currently under way with construction set to begin in June. It is expected to open in fall 2008.

"National retailers and restaurateurs realize southwest Florida is more than just Naples, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers," says North American Properties vice president of development David Rattner. "The region has many underserved submarkets, such as east Fort Myers, with a strong population base and high incomes that justify another destination area such as the Forum at Fort Myers."

The project is part of a 706-acre, master-planned mixed-use development--also called the Forum at Fort Myers--that will contain one million sf of retail, 850,000 sf of office space, 1,300 residential units, 250,000 sf of entertainment space, more than 500 hotel rooms and 85 acres of natural preserve.

According to the US, Census, Lee County is among the 100 fastest growing counties in the nation. From 2004 to 2005, the county gained nearly 30,000 people, ranking it as the 10th largest in population increase among counties in the nation. From April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005, the county's population increased by 103,870 to 544,758. By 2020, the county is expected to have more than 800,000 people.

"Over 100,000 shoppers reside within three miles of the Forum at Fort Myers and the average annual household income in the primary trade area exceeds $100,000," Rattner says. "Further, more than 70,000 vehicles per day pass the site. These are ideal demographics for retailers and restaurateurs."