KEY Projects

Downtown

Luminary Hotel

Luminary Hotel & Co. is home to the signature Silver King Ocean Brasserie, the Beacon Social Drinkery rooftop lounge, The Workshop culinary theater, an indoor and outdoor fitness facility, Ella Mae's Diner and retail space at street level, and a pool area on the fourth floor overlooking the Caloosahatchee River. The hotel also offers more than 8,000 square feet of function space and is connected to the neighboring Caloosa Sound Convention Center.

The $91 million Luminary Hotel & Co., an Autograph Marriott Collection hotel, was built by Mainsail Lodging & Development. It was opened in September 2020. The 12-story hotel features 243 guest rooms, 210 parking spaces and ground level retail spaces. This project, located next to the Downtown River Basin between Edwards Drive and Bay Street, was awarded a $2.6 million tax rebate/loan agreement. It has brought back convention capabilities to the Downtown core. The rehabilitation of the former Harborside Event Center, rechristened the Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater, was also completed in September 2020. The adjoining restaurants and bars were opened in October and November 2020. An amphitheater in adjacent Centennial Park is slated to open in 2021. The Oxbow Bar & Grill and Oxbow Retail & Rentals will also open that year in the renovated City Pier Building. The Luminary Hotel & Co. schedule of events may be found by clicking here.

Luminary Hotel and Co Video Now Open luminaryhotel.com Opens in new window

Luminary Hotel Project Timeline & Events

2017 Project was approved for a $2.6 million tax increment rebate/loan in December. This is notable because the developer plans to pay back the total rebate to the CRA with interest.
2019 Onsite underground utility construction and structural concrete begins on the hotel tower. Initial reconstruction of the service entrance to the event center begins in October.
2020 By January, hotel construction was well underway with stucco and painting on the eastern facade.
2020 Local media invited to preview the hotel interior in July.
2020 Luminary Hotel & Co. openings:
- Hotel ribbon cutting on September 17, opened September 23.
- Caloosa Sound Convention Center ribbon cutting and opening was on September 19.
- The Beacon Social Drinkery rooftop lounge opened October 15.
- The Silver King Ocean Brasserie opened November 5.

West End at City Walk

In May 2018, the West End at City Walk mixed-use residential project was selected to receive $5.5 million in Tax Increment Finance rebate over a ten-year period once the project generates property tax. Originally, West End at City Walk proposed to construct 302 residential units, a 128-key Marriott brand hotel, and 5,000 to 10,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. As part of an updated agreement passed in December 2019, the hotel portion of the project was severed from the agreement due to changes in the market; however, an additional 18 residential apartment units, 77 parking spaces, and energy efficiency enhancements were added in response to the CRA Board of Commissioners, creating a more desirable Downtown residential complex. As of November 2020, the buildings on Phase I of the project were topped off and the temporary leasing office is will open by early December to begin pre-leasing. West End at City Walk is located in the block to the west of the Downtown Publix on West First Street.

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West End at City Walk Project Timeline & Events

2019 Broke ground on project.
2020 In November, the buildings on Phase I of the project were topped off.
2020 Leasing for the first building in early December.
2020 Plans for the two commercial parcels of Phase II are finalized and will be announced in December.
2021 Completion planned for 2021.

Silver Hills at Fort Myers

Silver Hills at Fort Myers, a two-building, four-to-five-story luxury apartment community to be built at 2220 West First Street, has been approved for a tax increment rebate of $12.96 million rebate of the taxes generated by the project in yearly installments until the total amount is reached, or until 2044 when the redevelopment area sunsets. To be built on a large 4.46-acre vacant parcel on West First Street along the Caloosahatchee River, the development will feature two buildings containing a total of 327 apartments. The units offered will be a mix of studio, one bedroom/one bath, two bedroom/two bath, and three bedroom/two bath units. A 580-space parking garage will be located mid-block between the two residential buildings. The façade of Silver Hills at Fort Myers will pay homage to the historic buildings of Fort Myers’ walkable River District core. Instead of looming as two large concrete buildings, they will appear to be several smaller mid-rise residences rising above the riverfront with the parking structure cleverly concealed by the living spaces. As of late December 2019, the developer closed on the properties for development (2220 West First Street and 1901 Altamont Avenue). The $75.524 million project is projected to open in 2022.

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Silver Hills at Fort Myers Project Timeline & Events

2019 The project was approved for a $12.96 million tax increment rebate in August.
2020 Site work began in early April with grading and installation of erosion controls and geo-piles.
2020 Foundational structure installation begun.
2021 First units to be delivered in July or August.
2022 Projected open date is 2022.

Hampton Inn

Hampton Inn by Hilton Fort Myers, a four-story, 118-room hotel to be built at 2017 McGregor Boulevard, has been approved for a $1.9 million rebate of the taxes generated by the project. The rebate will be issued in yearly installments at a rate of 95% for the first five years and at a rate of 75% for the remaining years until the total rebate amount is reached. Developers already own the building site. The project will incorporate Hampton Inn’s prototype contemporary, confident design scheme that reflects modern, timeless décor. The $16 million project is projected to open in 2023.

Hampton Inn Project Timeline & Events

2019 The project was approved for a $1.9 million tax increment rebate in September.
2019 In October, the site work permit was issued, the building permit application was submitted, the general contractor was selected, and the TIF agreement was executed.
2019 Financing was closed for the project in November.
2020 Grading and initial site work underway in March,
2020 Ground breaking in October.
2023 Project completion is set for 2023.

Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn, a 6-story, 135-room full-service hotel to be built on the three original city land parcels at 1651 Royal Palm Avenue, 2465 Second Street, and 2466 First Street, located on the northeast corner of Royal Palm Avenue and Second Street, was approved for a tax increment rebate up to $3,300,000. The hotel will offer a restaurant/bar, meeting space, amenities, and a local art space open and featured during Art Walk event nights. It will include surface parking. It will add approximately 152 construction jobs and 59 full-time jobs to residents of the area once it is completed. Project completion is planned for 2021.

Holiday Inn Project Timeline & Events

2019 Project was approved for a tax increment rebate up to $3.3 million in May.
2021 Planned completion is 2021.

Gardner’s Park Neighborhood Improvements

Several neighborhood improvements in Gardner’s Park are underway. Six neighborhood signs have been completed, and three pet stations are in the process of being installed. These stations will help pet owners keep the neighborhood clean and attractive.

Gardners Park sign detail Welcome to Gardner's Park The Garden and Arts District Established 1885

Gardner's Park Neighborhood Improvements
Project Timeline & Events

2019 In April, a signage placement plan was determined for several points around the Gardner's Park neighborhood.
2019 Signs were installed in July.
2019 Pet waste stations were installed in several neighborhood streets.