Fort Myers officials accept staff recommendation to issue default notice for McCollum Hall redevelopment

Fort Myers officials voted to accept staff's recommendation to issue a notice of default and terminate the redevelopment agreement for McCollum Hall, city attorney staff said, after the developer missed multiple contract milestones and acknowledged an inability to secure project financing.

Attorney Clifford Shepherd said the recommended termination rests on several contract provisions. "They have missed a couple of important milestones under the agreement, and by not insignificant amounts of time," Shepherd said, and cited failures to commence construction and to provide financing commitments under the redevelopment agreement's termination provisions.

The vote to accept staff's recommendation was moved by Commissioner Burson and seconded by Commissioner Banc and passed after a voice vote. No roll-call vote or tally by name was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Why this matters: McCollum Hall is a long-delayed redevelopment project in the Dunbar neighborhood. Public commenters and the developer have framed the dispute around funding and community stewardship; city staff…