The Plan
The Downtown district, also known as the River District, was established in 1984 as a 540-acre area stretching from the Caloosahatchee River to Victoria Avenue and from West First Street to Billy’s Creek.

In 1986, the Downtown Plan, with a 10-15 year planning horizon, was adopted by City Council. By 2001, many of the projects proposed in the 1986 plan were complete or priorities had changed, requiring an updated vision and plan. In 2001, the City selected Duany Plater-Zyberk (DPZ) to prepare a new vision and plan for downtown. Over 1,500 citizens participated in the planning process, and the resulting plan was adopted by City Council in April 2003. The Plan stressed the need for increased residential density, creation of a pedestrian-friendly environment, streetscape improvements and mixed-use development.

By 2009, many of the Duany Plan recommended improvements were completed or underway, and the CRA began to focus on development of the largely vacant riverfront. A planning and development team led by Acquest Realty Advisors was hired to prepare a detailed plan and implementation program for the riverfront. The major elements of the plan included: a nearly 2 acre water detention basin; a convention hotel; retail shops and restaurants; expanded marina facilities; two new parking structures; a site for a new Art of the Olympians facility; and additional residential and office space. The Acquest Plan was incorporated into the Duany Plan and was adopted by City Council in April 2010 as the 2010 Downtown Plan. Please see the folder at the bottom of this web page for a complete copy of the 2010 Downtown Plan.

Riverfront Development Plan 
Economic Impact: The water detention basin sets the stage in attracting a major hotel chain, unique restaurants and retail, all of which prefer to be located on the extended waterfront. These businesses will result in many new jobs and increased commerce. Visit www.myriverdistrict.com/waterfront for more details.

Streetscape
The four-year, $60+ million utility replacement and streetscape improvement project was officially completed in early 2010. The project completely transformed the look of downtown with restored brick streets, brick-lined sidewalks, historic streetlights, landscaping and new street furniture. Within a year of its completion the project won these top awards:

• 2010 Florida Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) - Project of the Year - Historical Restoration
• 2010 Florida Redevelopment Association (FRA) Roy F. Kenzie Award - Capital Projects/Beautification
• 2011 Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE) Engineering Excellence Awards - Honor Award

Economic Impact: The completed streetscape has attracted a significant number of new businesses and special events.

Downtown Library
Design and engineering of the Lee County/Fort Myers Downtown Library got underway in early 2010. The County selected BSSW as the project architect and Lodge Construction as the Construction Manager. Project for Public Spaces was engaged to help plan the public spaces surrounding the library. Construction will begin during the next fiscal year.

Economic Impact: Building construction will create jobs, and the facility will attract a new demographic expected to use surrounding businesses.

Matching Grants
In response to number of large vacant storefronts and the need to attract new retail businesses, the Agency created the Retail Business Incubator Matching Grant Program. The program provides grants of up to $10 per square foot for renovation of buildings that will result in four or more retail spaces. The Agency approved its first matching grant in July 2010 for $100,000 for the 10,000 sq. ft. Franklin Shops, which will create spaces for over 40 start-up businesses.

Economic Impact: The matching grant issued to The Franklin Shops has helped create spaces for more than 40 start-up businesses and generate an estimated 31 jobs. The Franklin Shops opened in December 2010.

Waterfronts Florida Partnership Program
Having been named a Waterfronts Florida Partnership Community by the State of Florida in FY2009, in FY2010, a local steering committee was formed to determine applicable projects, as outlined in the Vision Plan. First year funding was spent on amending the 2003 Downtown Plan to include the Riverfront Development Plan, performing an economic impact analysis of the results from the proposed Riverfront Development Plan and marketing special events held in the River District as well as the area as a whole. Please click on the Waterfronts Florida button on the left side of this page for more details.

Economic Impact: Downtown received $37,141 in FY2010 for projects promoting an active waterfront, postively impacting the local economy.

Arts & Culture
The Agency provided space (the Arcade Theater) and operational assistance to the Florida Repertory Company and programming assistance to Florida Arts for the Sidney and Berne Davis Arts Center to expand the cultural opportunities available in downtown. Collectively the art and cultural venues attracted over 150,000 visitors to downtown.

Economic Impact: Thousands of patrons not only financially benefitted the performing arts venues they attended, but often visited nearby restaurants & retail before and after shows as well.

Bike Patrol
The Agency funded 6 police bike patrol officers to help provide a 24-hour enhanced level of safety to five of the redevelopment districts. In FY2010, the Downtown district jointly funded the patrol, along with the Central, Cleveland, MLK and Velasco districts.
 
Economic Impact: Enhanced safety allowed downtown patrons and event attendees to feel more at ease in visiting and patronizing the area.

Special Events
In FY2010, the Agency expended $165,000 to produce or fund marketing and special events programs. Events included:

• Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Conference
• International Sailing Regatta
• Fort Myers River District Bike Night (4 events per year)
• Holiday Stroll, Holiday House and Christmas decorations
• American Red Cross
• Art Walk (12 events per year)
• Downtown Countdown (New Year’s Eve)
• Dixie Strollers
• Artfest Fort Myers
• Streetscape Ribbon Cutting
• Trolleys to the area from Red Sox Spring Training games
• St. Patrick’s Day
• Monthly Car Cruise-Ins
• Cinco de Mayo
• Year-round weekly Farmers’ Market

Economic Impact: Events introduced visitors to the downtown redevelopment area, assisted in business retention and recruitment by increasing sales, and helped create an urban lifestyle that will attract more full-time residents.

Farmers’ Market
The River District Farmers’ Market has been open in the district year-round since 1994 selling a variety of produce, honey, edibles, seafood, breads, flowers, plants and soap. It is advertised locally and nationally through weekly ads, website listings and press releases. Visit www.cityftmyers.com/farmersmarket for more information.

Economic Impact: The Market yields modest direct revenue through booth fees (as special event income), but the real financial benefit is to local vendors that see an average of 1,000 market shoppers each Thursday, as well as nearby merchants & restaurants which many customers visit before and after the Market. 

Parking Operations
While the Parking Fund is actually a City Enterprise Fund, the CRA oversees parking operations since they are so closely associated with special events and business retention/recruitment. FY2010 was spent repositioning parking operations to begin increasing their revenue-generating potential.

Following the conclusion of the streetscape construction, meters were returned to the streets surrounding the core Downtown area.

New revenue control equipment was ordered for both the Main Street and the City of Palms garages with installation completed in early 2011. The new equipment not only provides better control over operations but allows the facilities to be open 24/7 at no additional cost.

Preparing for the new equipment, the CRA embarked on a pilot program in which the Main Street Garage was opened on Friday and Saturday nights. The pilot program was extremely successful, generating an additional $22,000 in revenue from January through September.

As a follow-up to the engineering report which detailed maintenance and repairs needed in the Main Street Garage, GRAEF began writing the bid specifications necessary to begin the Request for Proposals process to have those repairs made. In addition to general maintenance performed in the garages, a 30-foot piston in one of the Main Street Garage elevator shafts was replaced this year.

In FY2010, the CRA developed the Fort Myers River District Parking Guide & Map to ensure that visitors, local business owners and event planners were aware of their parking options. Confusion about parking is one of the most-cited reasons customers give for why they hesitate visiting Downtown; the Guide lists drivers’ many parking options as well as showing exactly where these options are located in the Downtown core. Merchants learned about parking alternatives for employees, and customer coupon books; while event planners received information about meter bag permits, and making arrangements for street closures. Please click on the Fort Myers River District Parking Guide image on the left side of this page for the latest guide.
Economic Impact: Extended garage hours, the installation of meters and equipment upgrades will provide an increased revenue stream in future fiscal years.

Right-of-Way Maintenance
The Agency funds 4 service workers to clean the downtown streets and sidewalks, empty the trash containers and maintain the landscaping. This enhanced level of service helps to improve the quality of the storm water runoff from the downtown streets into the Caloosahatchee River. 

Economic Impact: A well-kept right-of-way shows the district at its best, making it more inviting to shoppers & event organizations compared to competing marketplaces.

Marketing
In FY2010, the Agency marketed the district through the following methods:

• Over 40,000 printed River District Maps/Business Directories for locals and tourists were created by the Agency for distribution through businesses, hotels, attractions, and organizations. Please click on the Business Guide image on the left side of this page for the latest map.
• www.myriverdistrict.com was created through collaboration with Harborside Event Center, Lee County Visitors & Convention Bureau, and the Fort Myers Conference & Convention Council
• Website promotional video
• Monthly events and dining destination ads
• Local radio advertising of the area
• E-newsletter updates
• Printed brochures including a redevelopment projects handout and a downtown parking map guide
• Magazine advertising for businesses to relocate to the district
• Riverfront Development internet microsite
• Magazine advertising of retail & restaurant opportunities in the riverfront development project
• Press releases and articles about the Riverfront Development

Economic Impact: Familarizing the public with the area’s beauty and amenities made visitors more likely to frequent the district and patronize its businesses. Promoting the planned Riverfront Development project makes attracting high-quality, unique restaurants & shops easier. Begun during the last fiscal year was completed and adopted by City Council in April 2010. A Capital Improvement account was established to begin implementation of the plan and work began on the final design, engineering and permitting of the water detention basin as the first phase. Visit www.myriverdistrict.com/waterfront for more details.