If you’ve driven past U.S. 41 and Alico Road lately, you may be wondering what’s coming to the property at this busy South Lee County intersection.
The development, known as Dia Crossing, is planned to include a mix of residential and commercial uses. Its first phase, Trailside at Dia Crossing, will bring 350 apartments to the area between Fort Myers and Estero.
Since our June update, many readers may be wondering when the apartments will open and what restaurants or businesses might follow. Here’s a look at the latest information we could verify.
Trailside at Dia Crossing
In spring 2026, Ryan Companies announced that construction had begun on Trailside at Dia Crossing, an eight-building apartment community near the northeast corner of U.S. 41 and Alico Road.
The project will include 350 apartment homes and a range of planned amenities, including:
- A central park
- A 30-acre nature preserve
- A kayak launch to Estero Bay
- A resort-style pool
- A 9,500-square-foot clubhouse
- A fitness center, sauna, cold plunge and yoga deck
WGCU also reported that 29 apartments would be reserved as affordable housing, as required by Lee County. Rent prices and eligibility details were not included in that report. www.ryancompanies.com
When will the apartments open?
When Ryan Companies announced the start of construction, it said Trailside was expected to be move-in ready in the first quarter of 2027.
That remains the developer’s previously announced target. We have not found a newer confirmation of the opening date, and the schedule may change as construction progresses. www.ryancompanies.com
What restaurants and stores are coming?
This is one of the biggest questions surrounding Dia Crossing!
The larger property is approved for up to 200,000 square feet of commercial space, which could bring new businesses and services to the U.S. 41 and Alico Road corridor. That figure is the amount permitted under the approval; it does not mean all of the space has been leased or will necessarily be built. lsicompanies.com
In April, a Ryan Companies representative told WGCU that potential uses included a gas station, restaurants and personal service businesses. The company did not identify specific tenants at that time because contracts had not been finalized. news.wgcu.org
We have not found a reliable announcement confirming specific restaurants or stores for Dia Crossing as of this update. Any business names circulating online should be treated as unconfirmed until announced by the developer or the businesses themselves.
What about the hotel?
Our June blog discussed the possibility of a hotel with up to 150 rooms, which is allowed under the property’s development approval. lsicompanies.com
There is an important distinction: approval for a hotel does not mean one is confirmed. In April, a Ryan Companies representative told WGCU that a hotel shown in earlier plans was unlikely because much of the commercial property was already spoken for. news.wgcu.org
A closer look at the property
Ryan Companies acquired the approximately 61-acre property for $20.45 million in 2026. The site includes land on both sides of Alico Road, with the apartment community planned on the north side and a separate parcel south of the road designated for future retail, according to a May report from Suite Life Magazine. lsicompanies.com
Its location places it near residential communities, major roadways, Florida Gulf Coast University, shopping destinations and Southwest Florida International Airport.
What to watch for next
The next updates will be the ones many residents have been waiting for: confirmed commercial tenants, apartment leasing details and a more current opening timeline.
Dia Crossing is one of several projects bringing change to the Fort Myers–Estero corridor. We’ll continue keeping an eye out for new announcements as more details become available.
Disclaimer: This article reflects information available as of October 27, 2026. Development plans, amenities, tenants and timelines may change. The first-quarter 2027 opening target was announced in spring 2026 and has not been independently reconfirmed in a more recent update.