Fort Myers CRA board approves matching grants for six local businesses, funds storm-mitigation pilot award

The Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners of Fort Myers on Tuesday recommended approval of multiple commercial property-improvement grants and a downtown storm-mitigation award intended to support façade, parking, landscaping and resiliency work in the city’s redevelopment areas.

Assistant CRA Director Melanie Long presented the slate of applications and said the board’s grant programs reimburse a percentage of eligible project costs subject to maximum awards. “This 1 is for Gulf Shore Custom Woodworking,” Long said when introducing the first applicant, which applied for a tier 75% reimbursement with a program maximum award of $50,000.

Owner Alan Heaving, who introduced himself during the meeting, said the Gulf Shore Custom Woodworks plan at 2570 Franklin St. focuses on painting, parking improvements and landscaping, and that he already completed clean-up of the rear yard. “I’m the owner of Gulf Shore Custom Woodworks,” Heaving said, describing plans to add bushes along Evans Avenue and to repair pavement and paint the building.

The board moved and seconded the recommendation to award a matching grant not to exceed $50,000 to Heinberg Holdings LLC for the Franklin Street property; the motion carried on a voice vote with ayes recorded.

On a separate application, Long described a request from Roku Properties (also described in the packet as Twisted Acres) at 1940 Meravilla/Maryville Avenue. The project’s estimate was $175,539.40 and the applicant requested a 50% reimbursement of eligible costs, or $87,769.70. Applicant Alicia Cuenas thanked the board for the opportunity; commissioners noted the applicants had persisted through a lengthy application process. The board approved the recommendation for an $87,769.70 grant by voice vote.

The board also approved a recommendation to grant $50,000 to Golf View Motel Inc. for work at 3523 Cleveland Avenue. The motel’s average estimate was $89,200 with a 75% requested amount of $66,900; under program rules the grant award was the $50,000 program maximum. The motel’s representative said the project would remove an unused pool, add landscaping and hardscaping to create a more welcoming guest area; the motion carried by voice vote.

Jordan Rowe, who identified himself as pastor of Mission Community Church and president of The Commons (the DBA occupying 2633 MLK Boulevard), described two applications associated with Warehouse Fort Myers Inc. One application (2633 MLK) requested 75% reimbursement based on an estimated total cost of $64,099.39 (75% = $48,074.54) for exterior repairs, lighting, landscaping and courtyard improvements for the event-center and storefront space known as The Commons. Rowe said parking-lot work will come back to the board as a separate application. The 2633 MLK application was recommended for a matching grant in the amount presented and approved by voice vote. A separate 2637 MLK application from the same operator (75% request; low estimate $46,007.78; 75% = $34,505.83) was likewise recommended and approved by voice vote.

Director Hilton Terry presented the downtown storm-mitigation pilot program — a package of eligible expenses that includes protective barriers, water-management systems, exterior hardening and portable-generator systems — and noted the pilot’s geographic boundary (from the river to the south side of 1st Street, between the two bridges). Terry said applications outside that boundary were not being considered this cycle. The board recommended approval of Dean Street Sports Bar LLC’s application for mitigation measures with a total project cost of $11,691 and a 75% award of $8,769; the motion carried by voice vote.

Terry also updated the board on the Centennial Park master plan process, saying the city executed a contract with Perkins and Will and that the consultant is now developing the plan after gathering feedback at Artfest. “It will be a 6 to 9 month process,” Terry said.

The board had no attorney items, heard that McCollum Hall updates are expected next month, offered a final public-input opportunity (none were heard), and adjourned at 5:38 p.m.

Votes at a glance: the board recommended approval of matching grants for (1) Heinberg Holdings LLC / Gulf Shore Custom Woodworks, 2570 Franklin St. — grant up to $50,000; (2) Roku Properties LLC / Twisted Acres, 1940 Meravilla/Maryville Ave. — $87,769.70; (3) Golf View Motel Inc., 3523 Cleveland Ave. — grant up to $50,000; (4) Warehouse Fort Myers Inc., 2633 MLK Blvd. — $48,074.54 (as presented); (5) Warehouse Fort Myers Inc., 2637 MLK Blvd. — $34,505.83 (as presented); and (6) Dean Street Sports Bar LLC — storm mitigation award $8,769. All recommendations carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the recommendations will be forwarded consistent with CRA procedures for final execution and applicants should follow up with staff on contract and scope details.