FORT MYERS, Fla. — Fort Myers city leaders have voted to work with the Community Redevelopment Agency to restore McCollum Hall to a usable space, marking a pivotal moment for community advocates.
The city council did not approve giving $4.2 million to the current developer of the historic property.
The money has been handed to the C.R.A., but can only be given toward the hard cost of developing.
Watch Fort Myers Community Correspondent Miyoshi Price's report:
In a nail-biting split decision, Mayor Kevin Anderson cast the deciding vote that pushed the project forward.
"We will renegotiate with the current developer, as far as he possibly could be the developer that does the work, but will also renegotiate with him as far as how the building's operated. If he doesn't have a good plan, then we will look for another person, another organization," Anderson said.
The mayor emphasized that the decision wasn't about whether the city had the money for the proposed plans, but rather what was the most appropriate use of those funds.
Community members packed Monday night's meeting, filling every seat in the chambers with additional people crowded in the lobby of City Hall.
Pastor James Givens from Mount Olive A.M.E. Church spoke during the meeting, supporting the current developer's concepts for a grocery store, food hall, and community spaces, with affordable housing adjacent to McCollum Hall.
"$1 million we're going to take a stand. So the 4 million they're talking about is really going to only be three, because we're going to help to make the other one come to fruition," Givens said.
The attorney on this project, Sawyer Smith, tells the community that Monday night's meeting was a success, and there is still a lot of work to be done moving forward.
"It's nice to see the city council further support behind my client and his company. McCollum Hall is a very important part of our city, and now we can finally say there is hope for McCollum Hall. We've got a lot of work to do moving forward, and we look forward to doing that work, because I know one great man who's going to bring this project to life," Smith said.
Despite the forward momentum, community members say they aren't done fighting. They tell me they plan to continue showing up to ensure the project is completed with the current developer. They emphasize that McCollum Hall hasn't been rescued yet, and the restoration is not secured.
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