Want to know what it really takes to bring back the places you miss on Fort Myers Beach? We sit down in Times Square with Dennis Wagaman of The Pier Group to pull back the curtain on commercial rebuilding—how professionals balance passion, policy, and pro formas to deliver restaurants, retail, and gathering spots that last.

Dennis explains why “rebuilders” face a unique cost stack on the island: construction budgets that hit eight figures for a 20,000 sq ft mixed-use building, plus engineering, permitting, and compliance with modern flood codes that push active uses upstairs. We walk through the comp plan friction that slows projects, how insurance and interest shape feasibility, and why end-value math dictates land pricing. If the numbers don’t work, nothing gets built—no matter how much goodwill is in the room.

We also explore smarter ways to make projects pencil out. From landowner–rebuilder partnerships that trade a quick sale for shared upside, to targeted entitlements that align community goals with investor risk, Dennis lays out practical paths that keep beloved local brands in the mix. You’ll hear why the realistic timeline from agreement to opening often stretches to 2.5–3 years, what competing beaches offer by-right that Fort Myers Beach can learn from, and how capital markets are slowly thawing after a season of extreme caution.

If you care about walkable streets, local flavor, and a resilient coastal economy, this is your inside guide to how deals get done. Listen for plainspoken insights on costs, codes, timelines, market rents, and the partnerships that can turn vacant lots into places you’ll love to linger. Subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review with one thing you want to see return to mid-island—we’re building this future together.

Dennis Wagaman, REALTOR®
The Pier Group
Gulf Coast Investment Property Specialist
239.940.7749
dennis@thepiergroup.net
ThePierGroup.net
Serving: Fort Myers Beach, Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast
Affiliated with: Realty One Group MVP

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