Significant project moves forward

The city of Fort Myers, amid an already robust recovery in downtown projects, took a big step forward Aug. 22: The city council approved lease terms with a Tampa development firm behind a new proposed hotel next to the Harborside Event Center.

“It's not a done deal,” Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson tells Coffee Talk, “but this was a significant action.”

The Fort Myers City Council signed an agreement with Tampa-based Mainsail Lodging and Development that calls for a 99-year lease with two 10-year extensions. Henderson says Mainsail can now begin design and planning work on what could be a 225-room full-service hotel, with a parking garage.