Welcome to the Downtown Fort Myers River District...
Welcome to Downtown Fort Myers, also known as the Fort Myers River District. This historical area of Ft Myers sits on the edge of the majestic Caloosahatchee River. In 2003, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company created a downtown plan that would phenomenally change the River District both visually and culturally. Condos began to ascend from the ground and with those buildings, new residents are expected to complete the plan that includes thousands of residences, hundreds of hotel rooms, a massive convention center, retail and grocery shopping, and the arts, including the museums, galleries and the Florida Repertory Theatre, the only local professional regional theatre.
We have been granted the pleasure of witnessing the rebirth of the Downtown Fort Myers River District. Urban redevelopment is revitalizing the Downtown Fort Myers area into a perfect location to dine, shop, play, work and live. There is no better time to invest yourself in this soon to be mega-metropolis.
The River Districts 540-acre downtown section is bordered by the Caloosahatchee River, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, the Royal Palm Yacht Club at the south end of West First Street, and just north of Billy Creek.
Leaders plan to give the River District a new face
By JOSH DAVIDSBURG
Published by NBC-2.com on October 10, 2006
Officials from the new River District are still reeling from after two big developers pulled out of the area. But city leaders in Fort Myers have brainstormed a new plan that will head in a completely different direction. Business owners downtown say they need all the help that they can get.
City officials say that people could see a whole new riverfront in two years.
After 50 years, Chris Ketcham's family bakery still relies on the business name - not from foot traffic.
"I know my father heard it from day one that downtown is going to boom," said Ketcham.
Down the street from Ketcham's business, other businesses are just opening their doors in the River District. For example, Evan Vanzo's new club is set to open in December.
"Downtown at night is becoming a ghost town. There's nobody down here," said Vanzo.
But city officials have plans to change that. Two big developers were set to revamp both the waterfront and Centennial Park. But both of them pulled out.
But on Monday, city leaders regrouped. Interim City Manager Tony Shoemaker said that city officials have decided to renovate the riverfront without the developers - keeping the land public.
"In some ways I think we were trying to do too much with too little," said Shoemaker.
The first part of the project is to tear down the Exhibition Hall. Shoemaker says it's basically condemned and that it's an eyesore. The new plan is to keep the area as green as possible by possibly expanding the park, adding an amphitheater for concerts, and also by moving the boat dock.
City officials will also be looking at renovating the Hall of 50 States and expanding the Harborside Events Center.
"These are broken down into pieces that we can start doing right away," said Shoemaker.
Members of the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency will take the new ideas and officially present them again to the city council. But Shoemaker says they can start on some of the ideas in as soon as three to six months.
Source: NBC-2 News |
