Developer’s plan could forever change Beach
Looking at it from Matanzas Pass Bridge, Fort Myers Beach is a bustling, but quaint little city along the Gulf of Mexico.
But if a local developer has his way, the city could have an entirely different view in a few years, with new resorts, spas, restaurants and a parking garage.
Tom Torgerson, owner of Torgerson Properties, has purchased several businesses on Fort Myers Beach over the past year, including the Mermaid Lounge and Salty Crab restaurant, with plans to build four new resort hotels and a parking lot that would straddle Estero Boulevard close to the bridge.
The purchases started rumors circulating that a huge project that would forever alter the landscape on the beach was coming down the pike.
In October, Torgerson met with county manager Roger Desjarlais, during which time the county manager asked Torgerson to address some issues concerning the project, such as traffic and pedestrian safety.
Torgerson wrote back two weeks later, stating his desire to build a 176-unit Hilton resort, a 200-unit Holiday Inn resort, a 100-unit boutique Marriott resort, and an 86-unit Hampton Inn resort.
The new resorts would improve traffic flow and enhance safety by eliminating pedestrian/vehicle conflicts, create more parking, and improve access to the public beach.
County Commissioner Larry Kiker said the county and the city will hold a joint meeting at Florida SouthWestern State College on Nov. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. to give everyone a first-time look at the conceptual plan for the project.
“We want to monitor the content between the two entities. Afterward, we’re probably going to meet to see how we can roll this out to the public,” Kiker said. “We’ll probably have town hall presentations to the public for the purpose of getting their input formally.”
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Anita Cereceda said she would not comment until after the Nov. 30 meeting, a position repeated by other members of council.
While such a development would mean a bonanza of bucks for the city (as well as great expense to both the city and county), longtime locals aren’t exactly happy.
Tim Brennan, who lives in the area across from the proposed project, said it would only make the traffic situation worse, despite what anyone says.
“Traffic is the big issue, and there’s already a problem with that, bringing in a large volume like that would make it worse, considering traffic is backed up to Summerlin during the winter.” Brennan said.
Catherine Wallace, who has come to Fort Myers Beach for 33 years, said parking and pedestrian safety needs to be considered if something is to be built.
“Something has to be done regarding the parking. It’s very important. Some people don’t want change, but without change, nothing happens.
“Safety of pedestrians goes along with that.”
It is also said that Torgerson wants to build a 10,000-square-foot spa and a 1,500-space parking garage.
Kiker said that things are very much in the preliminary stage, and that anything that gets created is likely years away.
With the Estero Boulevard project costing about $70 million and replacing the water system at about $20 million and between $20 million and $40 million going toward stormwater management and the improvements at Crescent Beach Park, Kiker said we’re looking at as much as $250 million spent on improvements to the beach.
Will that change the Beach? Kiker said yes. But, so did Hurricane Charley in 2004.
“Charley demolished the hotels that were there. The change is putting the hotels back,” Kiker said. “People ask if the hotels will be huge. The governing body of the city will make those decisions.”
Still, with Torgerson owning the property, something is going to happen there, since they also have development rights, Kiker said.
“They have every right to put those buildings up. What they’re going to look like has a lot to do with what the town council has to say,” Kiker said. “We have someone who understands we have traffic and pedestrian issues and is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reroute Estero Boulevard, take pedestrians off the roadway and install parking.