FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2023) –The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has approved a six-month extension on the commencement of the renovations of McCollum Hall.
The CRA Board of Commissioners (BOC) granted the developer, G C McCollum, LLC, a requested six-month extension to commence construction as they seek approval from the City of Fort Myers Historic Preservation Commission and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
McCollum Hall, located at 2701 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers is being developed by Alexander Goshen + Cornerstone Strategic Partners, LLC. Plans include developing a 26-unit multi-family residential building and a 14,200 square feet food and market hall for the City of Fort Myers to enjoy. With multiple failed attempts by other developers to restore the area, Alexander Goshen + Cornerstone Strategic Partners, LLC, are confident they can bring the complex back to its former glory. Additionally, their goal is to establish THIRTY8 Collective to be an integral part of the community.
McCollum Hall was constructed in 1938 by Clifford McCollum, Sr., as a commercial center in the Dunbar area. The second story housed a dance hall whose stage hosted many famous Performers like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, B.B. King, and others throughout the 30s and 40s. It was a center for commerce, music, and entertainment and one of the few places Blacks and whites commingled during segregation. McCollum Hall has officially been added to the National Register of Historic Places. To honor the history of McCollum Hall, Clifford McCollum will be memorialized within the space.
For more information and updates on the development, visit thirty8collective.com.
ABOUT THE FORT MYERS COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CRA)
Since 1984, the CRA has managed redevelopment trusts to revitalize blighted areas in the City of Fort Myers. This reinvestment can take the form of public infrastructure, residential and commercial grant programs, public arts, affordable housing development, safety initiatives and historic preservation.
If left under-resourced, parts of our city risk remaining overlooked, affecting community spirit, and slowing economic growth. This lack of redevelopment doesn’t just impact current residents—it also discourages potential new businesses and families from making our city their home. Imagine a city where every neighborhood is a beacon of growth and community spirit—a place where residents enjoy sustainable, thriving spaces and businesses benefit from a vibrant economic environment. This is the future we’re creating. The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency was created in 1984 by the City of Fort Myers, Florida, under Florida Statute Chapter 163. The Fort Myers City Council members, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency Board of Commissioners, oversee the Agency’s programs and policies. The Fort Myers CRA office is located at 1400 Jackson Street in the historical downtown River District.
