The Neighborhood Company made its presentation Monday for the third 7-11 location the company is working to rebuild. The Town Council voted 4-0 to move the item to a second public hearing June 3rd. If approved next month, construction can begin.
Neighborhood Company representatives have said that construction would begin in about a year at this location, which is across from Lynn Hall Park on Estero Boulevard. It takes about 10-12 months to get all the permits and development order approved. The LPA unanimously approved the project last month.
The store was destroyed by the storm and eventually demolished. The lot is empty and fenced off.
The new store is 3,500 square feet, 1,600 square feet larger than the store on that lot before the storm. The Neighborhood Company asked for several variances, including one for parking. The code requires the proposed store have 14 parking spaces. The application calls for 8 spaces and the addition of bike racks as well. All variances requested were approved.
On February 5th, the Town Council approved the proposed 7-11 building at 1301 Estero Boulevard (next to The Whale). Construction on the new convenience store should begin in the 4th quarter of this year and it will take 7 months to build. The Neighborhood Company is also working on the 7-11 at 3051 Estero Blvd (Voorhis Street).
The 7-11 on the South End across from Santini Plaza, which was not worked on by The Neighborhood Company, was the only store that did not need to be demolished. It reopened two months ago.
The 7-11 that was located next to the big green building that may soon become the new town hall (6231 Estero Boulevard) will not be rebuilt. That property is up for sale. The town has been looking into the possibility of purchasing that property to expand the parking lot for a future town hall. There is a clause in the contract that a convenience store cannot be built on that lot if it were to be sold.