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Tuesday, November 3, 2026

HCA's $300 million Cape hospital gets a first look and Costco gets a green light

Plus, the Cape's first Costco clears a $10 million incentive vote and polls are open today.

The 5AM Cape Coral team2 stories15 sources5 min read

HealthTop story

HCA unveils the first rendering of its planned $300 million Cape Coral hospital

HCA's first phase is planned for fewer beds than Lee Health's hospital has

Source: Bills Wire

View as table
Value
Lee Health Cape Coral Hospital303 beds
HCA phase one, up to100 beds
HCA agreement language60 beds

If you've wondered what's coming to the HCA emergency site on Southwest Pine Island Road, we now have a picture. HCA Florida Healthcare unveiled the first rendering Monday of the future HCA Florida Cape Coral Hospital, a $300 million project at 322 SW Pine Island Road.

City Council unanimously approved a $31 million, 25-year incentive package Oct. 21. It includes provisions on job creation, site development, property tax recapture and impact fees. HCA says Phase I construction plans will be finalized over the next few months.

Phase one is planned for up to 100 beds, though the adopted agreement references 60 and a final count hasn't been determined. The hospital would bring competition to 's 303-bed Cape Coral Hospital, which has been the city's only hospital. It sits at 636 Del Prado Blvd., 4.5 miles from the HCA site.

  • Size: 200,000-square-foot hospital plus a 40,000-square-foot medical office building
  • Job creation incentive: up to $5,250,000
  • Network: will be HCA Florida Healthcare's 51st hospital

HCA's hospital plan runs from early talks to a 2029 target

  1. May 2025City and HCA Fawcett Memorial Hospital officials began talks about a new hospital
  2. Aug. 2026City and HCA officials announced the project
  3. Oct. 21Council unanimously approved the $31 million incentive package
  4. Nov. 2HCA unveiled the first rendering of the hospital
  5. 2027Construction is slated to start
  6. 2029The hospital is anticipated to open

City Hall

Cape Coral City Council approves a $10 million incentive agreement for the city's first Costco

If you're tired of crossing the bridge for a Costco run, this one's for you. Cape Coral City Council approved a $10 million incentive agreement Monday night for a 165,000-square-foot warehouse and gas station planned for 600 Chiquita Blvd. S., near Pine Island Road.

The Costco warehouse would cover 165,000 square feet

Floor area of the planned Costco warehouse, beside places you know

The planned Costco warehouse165,000 sq. ft.
A football field57,600 sq. ft.end zones included
A Walmart Supercenterabout 180,000 sq. ft.

3 football fields would fit inside the planned Costco warehouse

Source: WINK News

View as table
Floor area
The planned Costco warehouse165,000 sq. ft.
A football field57,600 sq. ft. (end zones included)
A Walmart Supercenterabout 180,000 sq. ft.

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said much of the money will be paid back over 25 years. Costco will pay property taxes once the site is built, and the city could return up to 95% of the added tax revenue, up to $8 million. The package covers site development and impact fees.

Costco's deal by the numbers

$10 million
incentive agreement the council approved
up to 175
jobs the store could bring
95%
of added tax revenue the city could return, up to $8 million

Sources: WINK News, WBBH

  • Soil: the site was a borrow pit, so it needs improving
  • Next: permits from the city and South Florida Water Management District
  • Opening date: not announced yet

Traffic is the worry. Costco will build Chiquita Boulevard turn lanes and a traffic signal, but whether Pine Island Road gets widened isn't settled. The city told WINK News it will evaluate traffic impacts before construction begins.

Asked

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News Notes · More

Election Day

If you're voting today, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and if you're in line when they close, you can still vote. Lee County election workers had processed more than 110,000 ballots by Monday. Gulf Coast News and WeatherGulf Coast News and Weather

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today

Southwest Florida polling places on Election Day

Midnight6 a.m.Noon6 p.m.7 a.m.to 7 p.m.
  • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.Polls are open
Date
Tue., Nov. 3
In line at 7
You can still vote

Source: Gulf Coast News and Weather

View as table
WhenWhat
7 a.m. to 7 p.m.Polls are open
DateTue., Nov. 3
In line at 7You can still vote

North 3

Cape Coral City Council was expected Monday to repeal the initial assessment resolutions and restart the utility extension process. North 3 homeowner Patricia Carlton said she wanted to attend to make sure "this is really stopped." Gulf Coast News and Weather

Four Freedoms

Council was set to consider Monday at 4 p.m. whether to nominate as a "historic resource." The resolution asks council to decline and directs staff to work with the Cape Coral Historical Society on a historical monument in the park. WINK News

Three Oaks

A new stretch of Three Oaks Parkway opened Monday after crews finished the phase 18 months ahead of schedule. It has four divided lanes, bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides, and connects Daniels Parkway to Alico Road. Drivers can now get from Radio Road in Collier to Daniels Parkway in Lee via Three Oaks Parkway, Imperial Parkway and Livingston Road. WINK NewsWGCU News | PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida

RSW

Southwest Florida International Airport's $1 billion, 14-gate Concourse E expansion is entering its final year of construction. Cape Coral Breeze

Home

Two cute home finds: This elegant, patterned entry rug that’s under $19 and comes in three charming patterns to match your decor, and this double picture frame for $9.99 that’s perfect for displaying family memories on your mantle. Advertising from Amazon.

The Buy

Product find alert: You’ve never used a steamer like this vacuum clothes steamer, which heats up in 30 seconds and offers powerful, even steaming and vacuum suction to remove dust and wrinkles. Use it on clothes like this women’s batwing sweater for a crisp, polished fall look. Advertising from Amazon.

Play

New crosswords, Sudoku and themed word searches land at 6 a.m. with the newsletter. Play today’s before the coffee is gone. Sample advertising from 6AM City.

Content marked with an * is advertising.

Asked

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Asked

How did you cast your ballot this election?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.

— David Foster Wallace

Things to Do

Things to Do

Cape Coral, FL

Tuesday, Nov. 3

See every Cape Coral eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

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Do you know just the role for our readers? Advertise it on our Jobs board.

Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

I truly debated about handing out candy this year.

“The past two years have been very difficult for myself & my family, & the number of trick or treaters has dwindled to a fraction of what we use to get. We have lived in our home for 28 years & when we first moved here we would have around 125 trick or treaters, last night 39. I truly enjoy handing out the candy &…”

— A neighbor, NE 9th Ave

334 likes · 20 comments

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The Wrap

Ever wonder how Del Prado Boulevard went from a two-lane dirt road to a six-lane highway? Gloria Raso Tate, a Cape resident since 1960 and a former president of the museum's board, tells that story at the History Happy Hour Speaker Series kickoff at the Cape Coral Museum of History on Wednesday, Nov. 4. Beer and wine will be poured. History class just got a lot better.

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Every source in this edition15 links · 8 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Cape Coral Breezecapecoralbreeze.com
  3. Gulf Coast News and Weathergulfcoastnewsnow.com
  4. Bills Wirebillswire.usatoday.com
  5. WINK Newswinknews.com
  6. WBBHgulfcoastnewsnow.com
  7. WGCU News | PBS & NPR for Southwest Floridawgcu.org
  8. Gulf Coast News and Weathergulfcoastnewsnow.com
  9. Gulf Coast News and Weathergulfcoastnewsnow.com
  10. Gulf Coast News and Weathergulfcoastnewsnow.com
  11. WINK Newswinknews.com
  12. WINK Newswinknews.com
  13. WGCU News | PBS & NPR for Southwest Floridawgcu.org
  14. Cape Coral Breezecapecoralbreeze.com
  15. Cape Coral events calendar5amcapecoralfl.com

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5AM Cape Coralto me · Tues., Nov. 36:00 a.m.

HCA's $300 million Cape hospital gets a first look and Costco gets a green light

Plus, the Cape's first Costco clears a $10 million incentive vote and polls are open today.

The TLDR

  1. HCA shows the first rendering of its $300 million Cape Coral hospital
  2. Council approves a $10 million incentive deal for the Cape's first Costco
  3. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Cape Coral’s other editions

All the news
SportsFGCU women's basketball bounces back with an 89-59 win over Arkansas State in its home openerThe Eagles (1-1) bounced back Saturday with an 89-59 win over Arkansas State at Alico Arena. Tuesday's 79-50 loss at Indiana came with just three made threes in 26 tries. Karina Gordon hit five by herself.High School FootballCape Coral High is the No. 8 seed and travels to No. 1 Armwood in the playoffsIf you're following Cape Coral football, the bracket is out. The FHSAA released it Fri., Nov. 6, and Cape Coral enters Class 5A Region 3 as a district champion but the No. 8 seed, so it draws No. 1 Armwood, which is 9-1. In all, 14 Southwest Florida programs made the field.Veterans DayCape Coral's Veterans Day Parade steps off Saturday at 11 a.m. on Cape Coral ParkwayIf you're heading to the parade, it steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 and travels west on Cape Coral Parkway from Cape Coral Street to Chester Street. "This is the only parade in Lee County," city Special Events Coordinator Todd King said. More than 20 local veterans and organizations will march, led by grand marshal Gordon "Gordie" Allam, who served from 1958 to 1962.

Around Cape Coral

From Gulf Coast News and Weather, Pembroke Pines News and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news
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    Snakes of SW Florida and Holiday Nights slated; pumpkins for patients, on Pembroke Pines News

    Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife invites you to its general meeting on Tuesday, Nov 10, at Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral.

    Also reported byCape Coral Breeze

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    Do you have a picture from paradise you'd like to share with Tropicalia readers? We'd love to print it. Email photos to tropicalia@news-press.com. Be sure to include your full name, where you took the picture and what kind of camera or phone you used. Get snapping!

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