Housing Planned on Site of Closing Fort Myers Junkyard after $2.8M Public-Private Deal

GULFSHORE BUSINESS

A retiring Fort Myers junkyard owner and a Cincinnati-based developer looking for land were connected through Fort Myers attorney Sawyer Smith. Their connection will result in the junkyard vacating that land forever. In its place, in the heart of the Dunbar community, a new housing community will be built.

Said Sawyer C. Smith, Managing Partner of Wilbur Smith, LLC, “We have already started working toward the evolution of this property, starting with the environmental engineering. There comes a time when a community relies upon its local government to support it. At long last, the local government has supported the greater Dunbar community in saying, ‘No longer is Dunbar a place where everybody else brings their scraps.’”

“Changing the use of this particular space will not only change the microeconomics of this land, but it also will change the macroeconomics of the community at large,” Smith wrote. “So here we are. What a ride!”

AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLANNED FOR FORT MYERS

GULFSHORE BUSINESS

For decades, Scott Brown has owned a junkyard spread across 5 acres in the Dunbar community. Cincinnati-based Megen Development has been exploring this opportunity. It’s looking to build 106 affordable housing units on the land.

Said Sawyer C. Smith, Managing Partner at Wilbur Smith, LLC, “Scott Brown’s made his commitment to the neighborhood that when it’s time for him to move on, his property will become something that will benefit the neighborhood.”

ALESSIO TRADE CENTER BREAKS GROUND, BRINGING 600 JOBS TO FORT MYERS

GULFSHORE BUSINESS

Alessio Trade Center will be doing more than bringing 600 jobs to the City of Fort Myers. It will activate needed business development along all of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor.

Said Sawyer C. Smith, Managing Partner at Wilbur Smith, LLC, "This is an important project because it turns over a piece of land that was otherwise holding up development. This shows the rest of the corridor that we're ready. And the corridor is ready to bring jobs and bring industry and bring development to the neighborhood."

FORT MYERS CITY COUNCIL DENIES LAND-USE CHANGE FOR 42-ACRE PROPERTY IN TREELINE CORRIDOR

GULFSHORE BUSINESS

Fort Myers City Council denied a land-use change Monday for a 42-acre property in the Treeline corridor, consisting of 10 parcels on the northeast corner of Treeline Avenue and Daniels Parkway.

Said Sawyer C. Smith, Managing Partner of Wilbur Smith, LLC, “Colonial [Boulevard] and Daniels along Treeline is 5 miles, and there are absolutely no commercial nodes, no light industrial, no restaurants, no shops, doctors, dentists, nail salons, no doggy daycare, there’s nothing."

ALESSIO DEVELOPMENT RELEASES RENDERINGS FOR THE TERRACES AT ROYAL PALM

GULFSHORE BUSINESS

Alessio Development released renderings for The Terraces at Royal Palm on Monday afternoon, showing 40 townhomes and a 15-story condominium tower being planned for land currently occupied by Royal Palm Square in Fort Myers.  

Said Wilbur Smith, LLC Managing Partner, Sawyer C. Smith, "the point is to have a walkable, mixed-use community with dining, entertainment and shopping, with a luxury lifestyle in Fort Myers. I thought to myself, Fort Myers is really, really is lucky to get this project coming here."

FORT MYERS APPROVES LEASE AGREEMENT WITH SUNTEX FOR YACHT BASIN

GULFSHORE BUSINESS

After a year-long process, questions about the future of the Fort Myers Yacht Basin were answered earlier this week when City Council approved its ground lease agreement with Dallas-based Suntex Marinas in a 5-2 vote.

“Suntex has proven throughout the state of Florida that it has the ability to deliver something we have needed for a long time,” said Fort Myers-based attorney Sawyer Smith, who is representing the company. “An active, vibrant waterfront open to all of us who call Fort Myers home.”  

HISTORIC RICHARDS BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS SELLS FOR $2 MILLION

GULFSHORE BUSINESS

Lombard, Illinois-based development company Alessio Holdings, along with other investors, purchased the Richards Building on March 31st from Trolow Real Estate of Fort Myers.

Said Sawyer C. Smith, Managing Partner of Wilbur Smith LLC, “The Alessio family sees this area as a place that they can continue with their backgrounds and skillsets. They are not land flippers. They’re builders. Like a lot of people from the Midwest, they’ve found their way to Southwest Florida. They’re good people. Honest. Hard-working. It’s a good thing they’re here.”

2200 Broadway
Fort Myers, Florida
33901

 
large vari logo_1-8.png

P.O. Box 8
Fort Myers, Florida
33902