REALESTATE
Square
ByAndreaStetson
Thereare peoplemoving to Southwest Floridawhowant to rent forawhileas theytaketheirtimeseekingtheirdream home. Thereare thosethathave livedhere incondosfor years,butarenow tiredofthe HOAfeesandtheinteriormaintenance. Somepeoplehave soldtheirhomes,choosing to move furtherinlandtoavoidthe worriesoffuturehurricanes.Thenthere arethelocal workersthatwouldlovea luxuryplace,butcan’taffordtobuy.Thoseare thepeoplenowmovingintothenewBimini SquareinCapeCoral.
Thefivestory,community includes198
studio, one,twoand threebedroom apartmentsinanarray of layouts. Some have dens.Theyallhave balconiesor terraces. Some overlookthe water, whileothershave courtyardviews.There’s an infinity edge rooftoppool,club rooms, afitnesscenter, sauna,dogpark and dog washingroom, coveredparkingand accesstoboat slips.
LarryandMatt Nygard, afatherand son teambasedinNorthDakota who have been buildingprojectsinthe upper Midwest since1987, came up withthisconceptof luxury living without buying.
We vacation alotin Naples.Iran into somebodyfromFargothatlivesinCape CoralandtheytoldmeCapeCoralneeds
FT.MYERS, FL(FEBRUARY 2026)–RE/MAXREALTY
OFFICESINTHE WORLD,ANNOUNCED TODAYTHEYRECENTLYCOMPLETED
SALES HKCargoStreetLLCpurchased 10.55+acresand 60,100squarefeetof industrial warehousesat2820 Cargo Str.,in Fort Myersfor$5,000,000fromMarsha Spaide,LawrenceSpaideand GeraldineMoore. Michael J. Frye,CCIMandPamBratton, CCIMof REMAX RealtyGroup-CommercialDivision/Frye CommercialGroup representedthebuyer andseller.
apartmentsbuildings,”saidLarry Nygard Presidentof CrownDevelopment. “This was6-7 yearsago.Westarted investigating themarketand he wasright.”
The apartmentcomplexjust hadit’s grand opening and Nygardsaysthe timing isperfect forBiminiSquare.
“Ithinkthereisa lot ofopportunity for populationgrowth,”hecontinued.
Rent ranges from $1,600 to the$5,000s amonth and includeinternet. Leases can beas shortasseven monthsgivingpeople achance to tryitout,but not be locked in foralongtime.
NygardwantedBiminiSquaretolookat feellikeanupscalecondocommunity.
“Everythingis upgraded,”hesaidashe pointedtothe appliances, vinylflooring and dimming lightsand fans. “Our thought was,if youweregoingtobuy acondo,what would youwant. Allof today’smodern requests youare goingtofind here. That wasreally ourstrategy.Let’s givethem
something they willreallylike.Weexpect people willliveherelonger. They willsettle in here andstay. Itis built with amenities galore.”
The apartments arenot only avariety of sizes,and they have alargevariety of layouts.
“Theyare not cookiecutter,”Nygard stressed.
Bimini Squareisacrossthe street from amarina andfromBiminiBasinSeafood& Cocktails andHouseofOmelets. It isnext door to LeeHealth’s newtwo-story health carefacility andoutpatient clinic.There is asix storyparkinggaragethatholds more than 500vehicles. Thepool terraceison theseventh levelontopof thegaragegiving sweeping viewsofthe waterand surrounding community.
NygardsaidBimini Squareispopular with everyone from senior citizens, to SeeBIMINI, Page3
LEASES GENDRONFUNERAL &CREMATIONSERVICES, INC. leased2,112squarefeetofoffice/retail space at 1120 VillageLakes Blvd., inLehigh AcresfromHB Family LimitedPartnership, LTD. Michael J. Frye, CCIMandPam Bratton,CCIMwithREMAX Realty Group|Frye CommercialGroup –CommercialDivision representedthe lessorandlessee. MarkChristian Ministriesof Jesus ChristInc.dba MarkChristianMinistryEarly LearningCenterleased 2,144-square-feetspaceat1401 KimdaleSt.E., in Lehigh AcresfromTrevor John Pumphrey. Michael J. Frye,CCIM,andAbbyKesslak,ACP,withRE/MAX Realty Group|Frye CommercialGroup –Commercial Division representedthe lessor andDavid Zornwith D.R. Zorn& Associatesrepresented the lessee. TwoD’s in aPodLLC dbaLexiJ’s Boutique leased 1,240sfretail spacelocatedat16960 AlicoMission Way.,UnitB205,
Bimini Square is aplacefor doglovers. Ithas adogparkand adogwash room.
Thebathroomshave
Therec
youngprofessionals to growing families.
“Themarketthat we are looking to getintoissomeonealready inacondo andtheyarelooking to simplify, but still wantupscale, Nygard described. “Some ofthecondoshave agedanditisdifficult foranassociation to keepitupgraded to themodernconveniences.I would say thelargestmajorityofpeople areexiting acondo forthislifestyle.Itisalsoagreat place forpeoplenew to thearea.Itis a greatplace to trybefore youbuy. We have leasesfrom7months to 14 monthsso you arenevermakingthatlong termpermanentcommitment.”
Itisalsoaplace for workerslooking forluxurywithout spending toomuch. A 550square footstudioonthegroundfloor costsaslittleas $1,500 a month.
Residentslove the rooftoppooland terracewheretheycan enjoythe outdoor kitchen,firepitandloungingareas.They enjoythecourtyardwithitsbocceballand sittingareas.Mostsaytheyusethefitness centerandthedogpark.
“Itislikelivingina resort,” saidRalph Dinapoliwhowasoneofthefirstresidents to move in.
Dinapolisays he likeshave a designatedparkingspotin thegaragewithcharger access forhis Tesla, and adogpark forhis pet.
“It overlooksthe water,” hesaiddescribinghistwobedroom apartment “My refrigeratormakes regulariceandchunks ofice forcocktails.”
Healsolikesthe flexibility.
“You don’tknowwhat thenext year brings,” hesaid. “I couldsign for another yearorpackupand leave. Itmakesfuture
transitions very easy.”
Dinapolimoved to Bimini Squarefrom a houseonthe waterinCapeCoral.
“Every hurricane that came,Ihad to worry, hesaid abouthishouse.“Inever hadan apartmentin my life.Ididn’t want acondo.Ididn’t want the HOA.In acondo youstill own itsoifsomeone above youhasa leak, youhave to fix yourplace. Here,ifsomethingbreaks,they fix it. Here, everythingissuch aneasylife.Iam justtrying to make my life easyandthis placeishelpingmedo that.Ipay$2,700
amonthandIdon’thave a worryinthe world.”
AnthonyChurlinmoved to Bimini Squarefromanother rentalcommunityin CapeCoral.
“Therearealotofamenitieshereandit isintheheartof downtown, hebegan.“I usethespaand the gymandI am looking forward to the rooftoppool.Itis awesome upthere.”
Joey Sabella haslivedinCapeCoralall hislife,and just choseBiminiSquareas hisnewhome.
“IchoseBiminiSquarebecauseofthe luxury aboutit,” Sabellasaid. “Thething Ilikeis my carsarealwaysinthe parkinggaragesotheyneverseethesunand the apartmentis reallyhighqualityand I theviews are great as well.It feelslike a condo.”
Thekitchenshave upgraded appliances andbacksplashes.
The rooftoppoolhasaninfinityedge.
PHOTOS BY ANDREA STETSON