News.Press.com

Fort Myers City Council considers point of Vue
City ponders options for land sliver

By Christina Cepero
ccepero@news-press.com
January 22, 2008

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080122/NEWS0110/80121082

The city of Fort Myers may buy a property on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River.

The City Council will hold a public workshop Monday to discuss the possibility of buying a site next to Centennial Park on West First Street, which developer Ron Throgmartin owns.

He planned to build a high-rise called The Vue there but has hit roadblocks for four years.

Permission to build the 27-story, 189-unit residential tower awaits a ruling from the Second District Court of Appeals in Lakeland.

The council decided in November to appeal a ruling by Judge Sherra Winesett, which limits the tower to land that includes a 50-foot sliver of parkland. Building on that land requires permission from the National Park Service.

Today’s City Council agenda includes a second public hearing on whether to allow Throgmartin to first build a five-story office complex including a permanent home for Edison Sailing Center on the site.

“We’re going to go ahead and ask for a continuance until the next city council meeting after that workshop,” Throgmartin said. “And sit in that workshop and hear what the various options might be.”

Although the 2.45-acre property is assessed at $4.8 million, Throgmartin Riverfront Corp. has invested $20 million in it, in part for docks.

Councilman Randy Henderson, who proposed late last year the city consider acquiring the property, was out of the country and could not be reached.

“Years ago the city had the option to buy that property at about $2.5 million and we declined,” said Councilman Michael Flanders.

“The financial situation with the city was a lot more tight than it is now.”

Throgmartin bought the land for $4.6 million in 2003.

“I predict it’s going to be too expensive,” Flanders said.

Fort Myers resident David Urich, past president of the Responsible Growth Management Coalition, said it would be wonderful for the city to buy the property because he thinks it should remain a park.

“The land should have been added to Centennial Park originally.”

Flanders, on the other hand, said he believes The Vue development would add to the quality and character of the park.

“The high-rise doesn’t come in just as a high-rise,” he said. “It comes with a new sailing school, a new office building, new fountains and a new river walk.”