Waterfront Redevelopment Plan
The recommended Plan for Fort Myers' downtown riverfront redevelopment, which was formally adopted as an amendment to the City's Master Plan on April 19th 2010, is the outgrowth of a process that unfolded over ten months and uncounted conversations, workshops, meetings and public discussions.
It represents the best thinking not only of the Redevelopment Team, but of the many stakeholders who have taken part in its creation. The recommended Plan is a response to the strong desire of this community to leverage its unique riverfront location and historic, pedestrian oriented city center to create a vibrant downtown that attracts residents, visitors, businesses and investors.
The core idea of the Plan is a two-directional armature of public space that ties the entire riverfront together in the east-west direction (assuming that the river is north), and, perpendicular to this at Hendry Street the riverfront ties to the rest of downtown along this key connection in the north-south direction. At this critical intersection, all the proposed development, redevelopment and public improvements are connected, creating important synergies among the various commercial, cultural and civic anchors.
Contact the City of Fort Myers for more information on the Redevelopment Project.
Key Planning Goals
There are many key planning goals for the Waterfront Redevelopment Project. Connectivity, Public Realm, Waterfront Development, and Convention & Visitor attraction.
Redevelopment Area
The redevelopment area is defined by the portion of downtown Fort Myers, the River District, between the US Highway 41 Bridge on the west, the Edison Bridge on the east, and north of Bay Street to the river. The river edge within the redevelopment area is limited by a number of conditions, including a concrete promenade in Centennial Park, a dense mangrove, commercial piers, and a City-owned yacht basin. While the water's edge is accessible to the public within the study area, conditions vary and are not generally as hospitable to pedestrian traffic in their current form.
Project Images
The Waterfront Redevelopment Project is an ambitious undertaking. It will take dedication, patience, creativity, planning, and of course lots of funding. Here is a gallery of conceptual images that will help illustrate what the final outcome will be of all this effort.
Waterfront Parking
Changes to Harborside Parking Lot Effective Monday, March 19, 2012
Construction of the Downtown Fort Myers Riverfront Detention Basin Project is scheduled to begin March 19, 2012, reducing the capacity of the Harborside parking lot. During construction, the City is making the following options available for parking:
Onstreet Parking
$25 per month – for hangtags to park on Edwards Drive between Hendry Street and Fowler Avenue
$25 per month – for hangtags to park on Lee Street and Royal Palm Avenue, south of First Street
$40 per month – for hangtags to park on Hendry, Jackson, and Lee streets, between Edwards Drive and Bay Street
Garage parking
$50 per month – Rate to park in the City of Palms or Main Street Garage
$40 per month – Special construction rate the City will offer to any person who currently is parking in the City of Palms Garage and is willing to move to the Main Street Garage during construction
Economic Incentives
Below is a list of the incentives and tools available to assist in structuring the capital requirements, mitigating the operating risk and enhancing the investment return of the development projects with the Riverfront Redevelopment. For more information, please visit the Fort Myers Economic Development Office website.
Fort Myers Downtown Streetscape
Welcome to the City of Fort Myers Downtown Utility and Streetscape Improvements Project website. Located in Lee County, at the heart of Southwest Florida, the City of Fort Myers is experiencing an exciting time of redevelopment. Proposed improvements to the downtown area include sidewalk and pedestrian amenities, landscaping, traffic signalization, lighting and utility improvements and upgrades.