Last week representatives from the Church of The Ascension on Fort Myers Beach submitted a site plan to rebuild the church that was located at 6025 Estero Boulevard. The Church was ripped apart by Hurricane Ian two years ago.
Church representatives have requested a pre-application meeting with town staff to discuss the demolition of what’s left of the church campus, the new layout and circulation of the parking lot, layout of utilities, setbacks and landscape buffers. The next step would be for the town staff to set up the meeting and give the church feedback on their plan.
Father William Adams and the Poor Clare nuns were on the church campus when the storm came through bringing with it 18 feet of storm surge. Everyone who stayed through the storm at the property survived.
The home on the property, where Father Adams lived, was also destroyed leaving him with only the clothes on his back. Back in June Adams told Beach Talk Radio News that even though the church was deemed structurally sound, repairs far exceed FEMA’s 50% rule, and the buildings (the Church, the Church Hall, the Monastery Chapel and offices) needed to be demolished. The church did have insurance and was covered for catastrophic loss.
There have not been any services being held for church members on Fort Myers Beach. Adams had been sending members to St. Leo’s in Bonita.
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What will become of the bricks that lined the walk way can they be saved I could volunteer to get them up to preserve them we miss our church and especially farther Bill it made ever sermon so interesting and heart warming Good luck to u Father u will be missed ❤️🙏🙏
They need to get an appraisal to raise their value. The values the Town has are too low.
Have the church appraised to see if it will meet the 50% rule. A new appraisal might bring up the value because building costs are so high. Depending on the age of the church it also might has some historical values that might help it meet the citeria.
If the church, itself, was deemed “structurally sound,” then WHY demolish it????? It is still a beautiful structure and I think that it should remain in tact and be repaired. Rebuilding everything on this campus will take years and it just doesn’t make any sense to destroy the things that can potentially be saved! This church is one of the most beautiful structures on the island ~ SAVE IT!!!!!
Did you read the article??
Yes, it was structurally safe – but repair costs exceeded FEMA’s 50% rule.
FEMA has rules. 50% of the value or higher is needed to repair it. If you don’t have 50% value to start with, you have to tear down and start over. They don’t have a choice.
My wife and I were parishoners at Ascension and miss the church. We wish Father Adams the best in his retirement.
Article link mentioned above
https://dioceseofvenice.org/two-years-later-ian-recovery-continues/
Father Adams has retired and the Sisters will not be returning to the Beach. Renovating/reclaiming/rebuilding this large property with multiple buildings — a memorial garden, church, hall, multi-unit rectory residence, small house, convent and chapel, garage, two ponds and more — has been complicated to say the least. You know this or can at least imagine it. Think of your own FMB property issues. Parishioners are going to St. Leo’s in Bonita, St. Columbkille up on Iona, and St John the Evangelist North Naples. Read a lengthy story in the Diocese of Norwich publication for additional information.