FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. -- It’ll be a long time before anyone will be ‘wasting away in Margaritaville' that’s thanks to pending lawsuits against the town of Fort Myers Beach holding up construction for potentially another year.
The first renderings of the Margaritaville Resort were posted on its Facebook page with the design 80 percent complete.
“I think people will get a very good feel about what the finished product will look like,” said John Gucciardo, TPI Hospitality Spokesperson , Margaritaville Resort FMB.
Despite two lawsuits against the town of Fort Myers Beach, “we are doing everything we can behind the scenes with the town to get permit ready,”said Gucciardo.
Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Ray Murphy told Fox4 from what he gathers one of the lawsuits is close to being resolved, after that it shouldn’t be much longer for the second and if both are favorable the developers can get moving on construction.
“We really see this as a way to jump start the economic redevelopment of this entire part of the island,” said Gucciardo.
Some people who live on the island agree it’ll be good for the economy, but have concerns about the influx of visitors.
“I don’t know if this area can sustain this area with the traffic, that’s my concern, San Carlos get backed up here with what do have all the way to McDonalds,” said Steve Lofthouse, San Carlos resident.
TPI Hospitality, the development company behind the resort, plans to turn in the permitting application and final designs in May.
In February a second building was demolished to make way for Margaritaville, but developers says they are about six months to a year behind schedule.
“They have cost us time, and time is money,” said Gucciardo.
Developers plan to start construction the end of 2019 with a completion date by 2021.
