The Plan: In 2006 the City working together with the community and its consultant, Dover, Kohl & Partners, created and adopted the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Veronica S. Shoemaker Boulevards Revitalization Plan.
The plan provides for several focal points along the corridor. For example, a section called Mid-Town Dunbar will introduce a small formal park with sculptures that commemorate the local culture. The revitalization plan calls for the renovation and expansion of both Clemente and Dunbar parks to create a cultural oasis that will include community facilities and neighborhood commercial businesses.
Development Assistance Grant (“DAG”) Program: In an effort to spur new development along this important commercial corridor, a development assistance grant program was created in 2007. The DAG program was designed to encourage redevelopment along the corridor by providing assistance with pre-development costs, including engineering and architectural expenditures, and permitting fees to name a few. The DAG funds are administered on a reimbursement basis. Eligible projects must be located in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd. tax increment financing districts I through III.
Façade improvement program: The FMRA continued to assist Utopia with the completion of their renovations. Utopia is the last remaining project that was initiated in a previous fiscal year.
McCollum Hall: The CRA authorized negotiations to acquire the historic landmark located at the intersection of Cranford Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. In its prime, the hall hosted entertainers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and B.B. King. It also served as the USO for African-American soldiers during World War II. The restored facility will serve as a mini-town center, providing much needed entertainment, dining and shopping.
Little Red Brick Building: Across the street from McCollum Hall the City began the restoration of the “Little Red Brick Building”, a local historic landmark, constructed prior to 1950 as the WPA Brick Water Plant Building. The restored building will house the City’s Facilities and Construction Maintenance and Purchasing divisions.
Southwest Florida Enterprise Center (SWFEC), a $3.2 million facility: Currently under construction and scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2008, its mission is to promote development and entrepreneurial opportunities in the City of Fort Myers. The district will fund a grant to support this project in FY ‘08.