2010 Downtown Plan - Fort Myers Business Development

DOWNTOWN FT. MYERS, FLORIDAANALYSISCAPE CORALCALOOSAHATCHEE RIVEREDISON BRIDGEBUS 41US 41FIRST STREETMARTIN LUTHER KING BLVDFOWLER STREETMONROE STREETDOWNTOWN FORT MYERS: The interconnected grid of comfortablestreets and short blocks in historic downtown Fort Myers provide a healthyfoundation on which to build a walkable downtown.The Regional ContextAll strategies for revitalizing Downtown Fort Myers must takeinto account the regional context of Southwest Florida. Thevast expanse of development that has spread out all alongthe Gulf Coast in between the original settlements of theregion has provided a large population base that will factorinto the future of the downtown, but it also reveals the widerange of choices available to people for living, working, dining,shopping, entertainment, recreational and cultural activities.Downtown Fort Myers is one place in a region of competingplaces, and it must identify and build on its inherent qualitiesto successfully compete in the regional marketplace.The general controls and specifi c interventions presentedin Downtown Fort Myers are designed to leverage thedowntown’s unique assets vis-à-vis neighboring communitiesin the region. While Fort Myers does not possess the coastalbeaches and upscale demographics of a Sanibel or Naples,the downtown does possess both a waterfront and a walkable“Main Street.” While other communities might possess oneor the other, it is rare to fi nd both of these amenities withineasy walking distance of one another. Thus the riverfrontand First Street represent the key features of the downtown’slocation and built environment that will help drive its futurerevitalization.The regional setting also infl uences the merchandisingstrategy, which emphasizes activating the kind of existingvariety of restaurants, merchants and venues rather thanpursuing an “open air mall” strategy focused on the recruitmentof national franchises.Situated along the Caloosahatchee River off the Gulf Coast, Fort Myers can compete effectively with nearby communities by leveraging thequalities of its downtown core.II.1