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Resident urges Fort Myers to buy contaminated Edison Avenue junkyard and convert it to a park
Summary
Public commenter Joe Barbee told the CRA board the Edison Avenue junkyard should be purchased immediately, shut down and remediated — and repurposed as a park and playground for the growing eastern neighborhoods of Fort Myers.
Chair Eady called the public comment period and the board heard one speaker, Joe Barbee, who urged the city to acquire the Edison Avenue junkyard and remediate soil contamination before the property can be redeveloped.
"Ladies and gentlemen, get rid of it," Barbee said, arguing the city should buy the site even if it must purchase the land and the license and then pursue cleanup. He suggested a park and playground to serve the fast-growing eastern section along Cortez and Edison avenues.
Barbee warned that legal disputes over contamination would indefinitely delay redevelopment if not addressed now. He recommended buying the land, paying "$10 valuable consideration" for the seller’s license if required, shutting the junkyard down immediately, and pursuing cleanup afterward.
The board took no immediate action on the comment; public testimony was entered during the public input segment of the meeting.
