The Fort Myers Beach Town Council was about to start the process of foreclosing on the former bank building at 2815 Estero Boulevard in front of the Sea Grape Plaza owned by Robert Himmelstein. On Wednesday, Himmelsten went to Town Hall and paid the $16,500 code fine to resolve the issue.
The issue that led to the foreclosure process is related to a violation of the town’s flood regulations for the “storing of non-compliant structures/shipping containers on the property.”
Himmelstein was first given a Notice of Violation in October of 2024. He had 30 days to correct the violation which the town said he failed to do. The first Special Magistrate hearing on this issue was in January of 2025. Himmelstein was then given until March 1, 2025, by the Special Magistrate, to correct the violation, which the town says he did not do. The property was brought into compliance in May of 2025. As a result, Himmelsten racked up 65 days worth of fines at $250 per day for a total of $16,250 plus a court fee of $250. Himmelstein appealed the fine, it was denied, and the lien remains unpaid.
Here’s a statement Himmelstein posted to our website Wednesday: