FGCU students who are longing for a new living experience in Estero won’t have to wait much longer once construction on “The Reef,” FGCU’s newest off-campus housing complex, is completed.
“It’s supposed to be luxury style student living,” said Garrison Thomas, a senior nursing major. “It’s going to have everything that I was looking for plus more for the price that I was willing to pay.”
The Reef, which is owned by Progressive Capitol and managed by Asset Campus Housing, is described as “brand new luxury student housing” on its Facebook page and will be opening in August of 2016 just in time for the 2016-17 school year. While the complex isn’t open for residents yet, developers are leasing apartments to interested students now at 9903 Gulf Coast Main Street.
“We just started our leasing process and the response has been incredible,” General Manager Stacy Hess said. “The students here are hungry for something new, and, with the limited housing options around here, they are signing up fast.”
By utilizing social network websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, The Reef is able to share details of how life will be like living there, including spacious four bedroom, four bathroom apartments, as well as a fast internet service.
On its Facebook page, The Reef boasted about having the “fastest internet service in Fort Myers.” Whitesky Communications will be providing a privately managed, 2-gigabyte internet service, which it described as “basically 100-times faster than your average broadband service offered in Fort Myers.”

Along with fourteen 12-unit apartment buildings, The Reef will include a clubhouse available for the use of residents with a 24-hour fitness center, a computer lounge with free printing, a Cybercafé that will serve complimentary Starbucks Coffee, private study rooms and a Resident Club Room Lounge.
Elizabeth Dossous, an FGCU student and the community assistant to The Reef, believes there will be many benefits to living there.
“The leases at The Reef are individual,” Dossous said. “That is always a benefit for the students as well as the parents who worry about that one roommate who never pays on time.”
Dossous thinks The Reef will be a better living choice among the other off-campus housing options such as Coastal Village and Timberwalk.
“Although Coastal has a tiny bit different in its rates, it does not have a good reputation in the community,” Dossous said. “Timberwalk on the other hand is new just like us but is geared more for working adults. Having to provide their own furniture and pay for individual bills is not a deal for any college student.”
As a community assistant, Dossous has been responsible for spreading the word about The Reef to students. Once it is opened, Community Assistants will be responsible for making sure that residents are enjoying their experience, much like an RA on campus.
Community Assistants have also been working closely with the FGCU community, hosting several events on and off campus to promote the newest off-campus housing development. On Friday Dec. 5, The Reef hosted a “Pre-VIP Party” at Bar Louie in Gulf Coast Town Center where future residents could meet and talk business with representatives from the housing complex, as well as sign leases. On Dec. 10, representatives from The Reef were on campus giving out free massages to students.
Hess stated that The Reef is planning on holding more promotional events, including more events at local bars and a “Welcome Back Week” January 11 through the 15. The grand opening of the leasing space will be January 28.
“Every year our student population grows a little bit more,” Thomas said. “This is going to be another convenient housing option that will help the demand of housing for the students here at FGCU.”
Students interested in living at The Reef, 19655 Three Oaks Parkway, this upcoming school year can call or text the number 305-791-5177 for more information, or visit www.livethereef.com.