Punta Gorda development approved

The Wilder Companies’ $475 million mixed-use development in Punta
Gorda, to be called the Loop, was approved by Charlotte County
officials this week. Construction on the development — which will
include 1.2 million square feet of retail space, 100,000 square feet of
office space, 200 hotel rooms and 500 residences — is expected to
begin early next year. Faced with community concerns about how the
development stands to increase car traffic in the area, Boston-based
Wilder Companies has agreed to share the cost of improvements on
roadways leading to the project.