Fort Myers' Southward Village coming down; Greater Dunbar Initiative begins
Southward Village in Fort Myers' historic Dunbar neighborhood is making way for a brighter future.
On Wednesday, crews with Honc Destruction began leveling the property for a new mixed-income, 37-acre property. The city's Housing Authority is overseeing the $360 million "Greater Dunbar Initiative."
"I'm happy because the people are getting something they truly deserve," said Ward 3 Councilwoman Terolyn Watson, "... to live in something that's nice and different and new. We need those things in our community."
The initiative covers an area roughly bordered by Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard, Edison Avenue, South Street, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The demolition will take about three months.
"Let's get busy," said Watson about her willingness to pull in a $30 million grant to kickstart the project. Her district includes the development where she grew up.
"I spent most of time here," she said. "All my good times, my great memories" came from Southward, recalling neighborhood basketball and football games, foot races and riding bicycles.
More: Fort Myers' Dunbar neighborhood in line for $30 million in federal housing grant
The initiative will transform the Southward Village site with 375 new mixed-income apartments, of which 159 will be reserved for Southward Village residents who are temporarily relocated.
The onsite demolition starts the second phase of the overall project, said Marcia Davis, executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, overseeing the project. The first phase included 92 units offsite along Cleveland Avenue, which are now under construction.
The goal is to improve existing affordable housing units for residents while expanding choices, creating market-rate amenities, and adding new mixed-income housing to create a resilient and healthy neighborhood, the housing authority said in a statement.
Wednesday's demolition will prepare the way for a mix of 145 units of townhomes and "stacked" apartments.
Depending on funding, a third phase includes 80 units for senior housing, with a fourth phase of 143 family units, Davis said.
As financing arrives, she said they hope to keep two phases under construction simultaneously.
"It doesn’t happen overnight," she said. "It does take time."
As part of the project, Southward's infrastructure, which includes water and sewer systems, is upgraded. Southward was built in 1960, which Davis and Watson said was creating issues with leaks.
The community also identified a parcel set aside for a neighborhood market and shops, for which Davis is seeking investors, and includes the newly opened Franklin Park Elementary.
The grant for phase two was awarded in 2021 and while progress may seem slow, Davis said it was good to stop and appreciate the moment Wednesday.
"I don’t think we every stop and enjoy the moment, so yesterday was very monumental for all of us," she said. "... Just because there's not a whole lot of action, it doesn’t mean things aren’t happening."
She mentioned Hurricane Ian which came ashore on Sept. 11, 2022, creating a housing shortage as well as stalling progress.
Construction on the newest phase is set to begin in early 2025.
Through it all, Watson is committed to seeing the project through.
"I'm here from the beginning, (I'll be) here for the end," she said.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Southward Village in Fort Myers razed; Greater Dunbar Initiative begins
