$46M redevelopment of Fort Myers low-income community to begin this month

Construction is getting ready to begin on the $46 million redevelopment of an existing public-income housing community in Fort Myers.

The community is the Fort Myers housing authority-owned Horizon Apartments at 5360 Summerlin Road west of U.S. Highway 41 and south of Boy Scout Drive. It was built in 1983.

According to Curran Young Construction, the groundbreaking is expected to happen in mid-October, and the work will last 22 months.

The project will bring three new three-story buildings to the 8.5-acre property and increase the number of units from 172 to 230.

There will be a 4,396-square-foot clubhouse, community gardens, a large dog park, covered pavilions and grilling areas. Each unit will have an individual washer and dryer.

According to an agenda item summary sheet presented to the Fort Myers City Council Sept. 3, 2024, by the city manager’s office, the new units will be a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units “that will be allocated based on affordability."

There will be units set aside for households earning 30% of the area median income, 60% of AMI and 80% of AMI. 

The units at 30% of AMI “will benefit from project-based vouchers, making them accessible to the lowest-income residents,” according to the document.