The Plan The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Boulevard district, divided into four subdistricts, was established in 2000 for the purpose of commercial development. With the exception of the Lincoln Park neighborhood, the district boundaries generally include the commercial properties from Evans Avenue to I-75.

In 2006, the City, working together with the community and its consultant, Dover, Kohl & Partners, created and adopted the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) & Veronica S. Shoemaker Boulevards (VSSB) 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.

McCollum Hall The CRA purchased McCollum Hall in May 2008, a key element in the MLK & VSSB Revitalization Plan. The rehabilitation project will create a mini-town center from the historic 1938 music hall and is expected to produce jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for local residents.

Clemente/Dunbar Parks Another key element in the plan, Clemente Park, received a $135,611 redevelopment assistance grant in July 2008 from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Grant (FRDAP) resulting from a joint effort between the city’s Community Development, Public Works and CRA staff. Home of historical landmark The Williams Academy, the project’s first phase will include a large picnic pavilion, nine small picnic pavilions, three drinking fountains, a walking trail, two restroom facilities and increased landscaping in an effort to integrate historical, cultural and recreational resources into a functional neighborhood park. City improvements to Dunbar Park include an enhanced palm tree-lined sidewalk, children’s playground equipment, a covered picnic pavilion, barbeque grill and water fountains. 

Bike Patrol The MLK districts contributed $40,000 to fund the six-man roving patrol unit, providing an enhanced level of service round-the-clock to the Cleveland, Central, Downtown, and Velasco Village districts.

Little Red Brick Building The $5 Million Restoration of Little Red Brick Building, Fort Myers’ old water treatment plant built in 1937, was completed by the City in August 2008. It will provide office space and additional parking to City of Fort Myers departments.

Grant Programs Two grants were established in FY 2008 to meet plan goals:

• Landscape Grant Program Assisting MLK corridor businesses, this grant helps to enhance and elevate the aesthetics of the commercial district.
• Development Assistance Grant Program Encouraging MLK commercial corridor redeveloment, businesses are assisted with predevelopment costs, including engineering, architectural plans and impact fees.

Business Organization To better serve district businesses needs, the CRA surveyed business owners about creating a business organization to represent and give a voice to these businesses.

Business Tracking Main Street database software was implemented during the summer of 2008 to track corridor businesses; employees from the surrounding communities; marketing and promotions; and generate reports.

Southwest Florida Enterprise Center (SWFEC) The $3.2 million business incubator, dedicated to assisting startup or early stage businesses to succeed by providing a technical assistance and a physical location from which they can operate, opened on August 1, 2008.

The Plan The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Boulevard district, divided into four subdistricts, was established in 2000 for the purpose of commercial development. With the exception of the Lincoln Park neighborhood, the district boundaries generally include the commercial properties from Evans Avenue to I-75.

In 2006, the City, working together with the community and its consultant, Dover, Kohl & Partners, created and adopted the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) & Veronica S. Shoemaker Boulevards (VSSB) 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.

McCollum Hall The CRA purchased McCollum Hall in May 2008, a key element in the MLK & VSSB Revitalization Plan. The rehabilitation project will create a mini-town center from the historic 1938 music hall and is expected to produce jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for local residents.

Clemente/Dunbar Parks Another key element in the plan, Clemente Park, received a $135,611 redevelopment assistance grant in July 2008 from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Grant (FRDAP) resulting from a joint effort between the city’s Community Development, Public Works and CRA staff. Home of historical landmark The Williams Academy, the project’s first phase will include a large picnic pavilion, nine small picnic pavilions, three drinking fountains, a walking trail, two restroom facilities and increased landscaping in an effort to integrate historical, cultural and recreational resources into a functional neighborhood park. City improvements to Dunbar Park include an enhanced palm tree-lined sidewalk, children’s playground equipment, a covered picnic pavilion, barbeque grill and water fountains. 

Bike Patrol The MLK districts contributed $40,000 to fund the six-man roving patrol unit, providing an enhanced level of service round-the-clock to the Cleveland, Central, Downtown, and Velasco Village districts.

Little Red Brick Building The $5 Million Restoration of Little Red Brick Building, Fort Myers’ old water treatment plant built in 1937, was completed by the City in August 2008. It will provide office space and additional parking to City of Fort Myers departments.

Grant Programs Two grants were established in FY 2008 to meet plan goals:

• Landscape Grant Program Assisting MLK corridor businesses, this grant helps to enhance and elevate the aesthetics of the commercial district.
• Development Assistance Grant Program Encouraging MLK commercial corridor redeveloment, businesses are assisted with predevelopment costs, including engineering, architectural plans and impact fees.

Business Organization To better serve district businesses needs, the CRA surveyed business owners about creating a business organization to represent and give a voice to these businesses.

Business Tracking Main Street database software was implemented during the summer of 2008 to track corridor businesses; employees from the surrounding communities; marketing and promotions; and generate reports.

Southwest Florida Enterprise Center (SWFEC) The $3.2 million business incubator, dedicated to assisting startup or early stage businesses to succeed by providing a technical assistance and a physical location from which they can operate, opened on August 1, 2008.