Acclaimed Florida developer gets down and dirty fighting over canal

An acclaimed Florida developer is currently embroiled in a heated battle over a canal project that threatens to alter the character of the historic Manatee County town of Cortez. This conflict harkens back to 1985 when Ben Green's book “Finest Kind: A Celebration of a Florida Fishing Village” highlighted the town's unique charm and warned against the encroaching forces of urban development. The ongoing dispute underscores broader concerns about preserving local heritage versus the economic benefits of large-scale development, sparking a wider conversation about Florida's changing landscape.