Community Redevelopment Agency | Fort Myers, FL

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News & Announcements

UPCOMING MEETINGS

November 2018

Wed Nov. 28

CRA Advisory Board Meeting
Wed Dec. 5

Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners Meeting

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Dr. MLK REDEVELOPMENT AREA EXPANSION & PLAN UPDATE

Redevelopment is a Community Effort

To be in accordance with Florida law, a redevelopment plan is required to be prepared and approved to be able to spend tax increment revenue. These funds can only be spent on items or elements included in the plan.

As of September 4, 2018, the Fort Myers City Council approved updating the existing MLK Plan to include the "expansion" area. This will allow the CRA to begin working on redevelopment projects.

These are the same updates that the public learned about at a public meeting on June 14, 2018, at The IMAG, where the City of Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency showed how their suggestions from three earlier workshops in February were incorporated into expansion plans for the MLK redevelopment area.

To view the Dr. MLK redevelopment Area Expansion & Plan Update slideshow as presented at the meeting, please visit the project website for more information.

Award-Winning McCollum Hall Student Documentary premiered June 12

An award-winning student documentary featuring McCollum Hall received a public showing at on June 12, 2018, at the Williams Academy Black History Museum, 1936 Henderson Avenue in Fort Myers. Student documentary-makers Faye Cole and Elena Dent were in attendance.

With the encouragement of their teacher Dr. Jesse Bryson, Fort Myers High School students Cole and Dent created the short film featuring interviews, documentation and historic photos. The Lee County Black History Society provided historic photos and the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) supplied information on the history of the building. Interviews feature former Lee County Commissioner Melvin Morgan, CRA Advisory Board Members Kirk Beck and Ron Weaver, and CRA Executive Director Michele Hylton-Terry.

The documentary won the National History Day Competition for the Lee County School District, and is competing for recognition at the state level. The premiere is being presented by the Lee County Black History Society in conjunction with the Williams Academy Black History Museum.

McCollum Hall is a popular local historic treasure. Built in 1938, it was the local stop on the Chitlin Circuit, the nickname given to segregated venues where famous African American artists and entertainers performed. Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, B. B. King, Count Basie, and other great talents brought world-class entertainment to Fort Myers in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Following decades of disrepair, McCollum Hall already has received an exterior renovation, and proposals are being solicited to bring about the final phase of restoration.

McCollum Hall is located on the Corner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Cranford Avenue, at 2701 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33916.

Click on this link to watch the documentary: Award-Winning McCollum Hall Documentary

Bay Street Utility Relocation Project

Bay Street to Close

from Hendry Street to west of Dean Street

Beginning Monday, June 18, contractors for the City of Fort Myers will close Bay Street from Hendry Street to just west of Dean Street while crews place electric and cable underground and remove overhead wires. Bay Street in this area and Bayview Court will close to vehicular traffic and parking. The sidewalk on the south side of Bay Street will remain open for as long as possible. Dean Street from first Street to Bay Street will be open for pedestrian access only. The City of Palms parking garage will remain accessible on Bay Street. The project is expected to be completed in approximately 90 days.

Two loading zones will be temporarily relocated during construction. (New locations shown in purple.)
• Bay Street loading zone - relocated to the southbound lane on Hendry Street just north of Bay Street.

• Dean Street loading zone - relocated to the northbound lane of Broadway just south of First Street.

For project information and updates, visit the City's webpage at www.FMstreetscape.com/baystutility or contact the City's Public Information Consultant for this project, Cella Molnar & Associates, Inc. at 239-337-1071 or email to kmolnar@cella.cc.

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

November 2018

Wed Nov. 28

Wed Dec. 5

Luminary Hotel & Co. to Break Ground Oct. 6 in Downtown Fort Myers

CRA - McCollum Hall Restoration Presentation - 02/24/2016

Dr. MLK REDEVELOPMENT AREA EXPANSION & PLAN UPDATE

Redevelopment is a Community Effort

Award-Winning McCollum Hall Student Documentary premiered June 12

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City of Fort Myers

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