On Monday the Fort Myers Beach Town Council moved the rebuild plans for The Wyndham property, on the south end of the island, onto a second public hearing in September. If approved, the property owners hope to be open for business by the 2027 season.
The owners at The Wyndham, represented by The Neighborhood Company, are hoping the Fort Myers Beach Town Council will approve their rebuild plans at their south end property on Estero Blvd. The project was approved by the LPA (6-1) last month. The second Town Council public hearing will be September 9th at 1PM.
Before Hurricane Ian, there was a popular resport on the property. Before The Wyndham the hotel was a Holiday Inn. There are no plans to rebuild a hotel on the property.
Phase 1 includes an 11,200 square foot Tiki Pole barn structure with a restaurant and bar under that structure. Food and beverage will be provided by six mobile trailers. There will be covered outdoor seating, and space for live entertainment. Outdoor service and alcohol will be allowed throughout the recreation areas. A total of 163 parking spaces including paid parking would be provided on the site including paid parking.
Proposed Phase 2 will be constructed with a wave dissipation wall, and replacement of the mobile vending trailers with a permanent restaurant constructed within the Tiki/Pole Barn structure. The Town Council wants phase two to be underway within 5 years after receiving a temporary certificate of occupancy.
Due to the elimination of the mobile vending trailers, the restaurant and entertainment area will be reconfigured slightly and will decrease in size to a maximum of 11,500 square feet. The recreation area will be modified to include a pool and lazy river and will increase in size to 21,500 square feet. A total of 237 parking spaces including paid parking would be provided on the site.
Operating hours would be 7:00 AM to 9:30 PM and amplified sound from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
They are asking for 7 deviations from the Land Development Code.
The Wyndham was destroyed by Hurricane Ian and eventually demolished.
Build it, they will come
I wish they would skip phase one and just begin building phase 2. I worry it will be years before we see phase 2 completed for all sorts of reasons. Don’t forget it took them years to take down the dilapidated motel.
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
I fear some have been numbed to the fact that we had some very serious hurricanes these past 4 years. Rebuilding and recovering are still the order of the day for many.
“Food trailer park” in this headline is not clearly descriptive of what this proposed food/beverage and entertainment complex actually is. The owners are trying to return the property to its previous life minus a hotel but plus additional amenities. There is a single food vendor in the plan.
“Wheels” and “trailers” only come into play behind the restaurant facade — to be able to move everything in the event of a serious storm. One trailer will be administration. One for storage. Some, even multiple restrooms. And so on…
The second phase involves permanent building and many other approvals by such entities as FEMA.
There is no “smoke and mirrors” proposal here. This is a rebuild of a popular South End restaurant and entertainment facility. Parking is for patrons, not day-trip beachgoers.
Photos and illustrations you see are vision plans … similar looks to those intended.
If you are concerned, please read the plan. This neighbor, for one, is thrilled to see this phoenix rising from the ashes.
Barbara:
Everyone knows you are the PR person for this project. This IS NOT A REBUILD. A rebuild would be a resort, which we all know it will never be. Call it whatever you want to call it. There will be 6 trailers serving the pole barn. That is in their presentation. I’m not critizing the project. At least the owner is willing to get it built and built fast. That will be a good thing for the south end of the beach.
You seem to get a kick out of trying to twist how report THE FACTS about this property.
Good morning Ed. I am flattered with the job title you’ve given me. I am retired. I have no skin in this game other than to be a VERY interested across-the-street owner. I am always pushing to get people off this “food truck park” narrative.
Glad you provide this forum where folks can have civil discourse. Thanks.
“Across the street” folks don’t have to deal with the riff raff infiltrating their designated beach areas. As well as, the influx of dogs and litter that that are inevitable on that beach for the residents to deal with. Just a couple of many things the supporters could care less about as they are guzzling drinks and chowing on a basket of processed fried food.
This sounds like a Sandarac resident once again operating under the delusion that the public beach behind them is their own private property which no one should be allowed to tread on.
Too many parking spots. Why doesn’t anyone ever talk about ride-share or trolley options?
The key words in the headline are trailer park. I’m not sure how all of the parking sailed through. They ruined that beach for the residents that paid to live on it and will be paying even more in taxes so others who pay $20 to park can enjoy it.