Well, a quarter of a million people call Cape Coral home.

In the next 20 years, that number could reach 450,000 residents.

With that growth comes an increase in development.

Jennifer Crawford spoke with local experts to learn about the $1 billion worth of projects in the works.

Look at how tight those pieces fit to the outside walls.

I mean, we have zero room for it for air on the way.

They designed this and fit it in.

CEO of Crown Development Larry Nygaard marvels at the construction underway of the seven story parking garage, providing 500 spaces at Bimini Square in Cape Coral.

We will build that parking ramp in 6 to 8 weeks.

If you can imagine that.

It's just one element.

Nearing completion of the $120 million Bimini Square developed ment located along Cape Coral Parkway and Palm Tree Drive.

Nygaard says they are two months ahead of schedule.

Building 220 luxury apartment units, a multi-level health facility and two restaurants.

When complete, we're going to have about 500,000ft of building here on all the different sites, replacing the old seawall and adding a 31 slip Marina.

Nygaard says the project aims to attract boaters to the new Bimini Basin Seafood and cocktail waterfront restaurant and connect them to downtown Cape Coral.

The feel and brand restaurant Grant feeling and his family will operate this.

It's about 8000ft, about 300 seat capacity.

It's going to be modeled after the Deep Lagoon restaurant, which is one they own in Fort Myers.

As Bimini Square sets to welcome its first residents as early as July.

Less than a mile down Cape Coral Parkway, developer Kyle Doyon walks the site of a new project.

The parking spaces will be out here in the front of the building, sitting in the back commercial all the way across the entire first floor, and then three stories of apartments over there for a total of four stories.

He and his team at Coast Live Companies are launching four projects in the Cape, totaling about $65 million, with the goal of providing more affordable rental housing for workers, many in the public sector.

And one of our projects is right downtown here that will enable people ride your bike to work and come home and walk around the shops and, you know, create a great lifestyle.

Projects contributing to in excess of $1 billion in developments underway right now in the city.

We have this pent up demand with this 200 plus thousand people with not a lot of places to go, and they don't want to leave the Cape.

Nita Whaley of CC Real Estate Services says demand for new business is so high.

The eight mile stretch of Pine Island Road from U.S. 41 to Burnt Store Road in the center of the city, is now sold out.

Everything along Pine Island Road now is under contract and has been sold and developments are going to happen, she says.

Despite a pandemic, three hurricanes and an uncertain political climate.

Families and businesses are moving to Cape Coral like never before.

A pattern of growth developers like Nygaard are banking on to ensure the success of their multimillion dollar investments in this slice of Paradise.

I'm Jennifer Crawford, reporting for WGCU news.