Fort Myers Beach, Florida

From the News Press:
Fifth Third Bank took back a down-at-the-heels parcel of land and buildings on Fort Myers Beach in a foreclosure sale Wednesday – and Lee County is looking into buying it as a beachfront park.

Fifth Third Bank loaned the would-be developers of the land $35 million to buy the property in 2004, months before Hurricane Charley damaged the four hotels that were part of the purchase.

On Wednesday, nobody bid the bank’s minimum of about $24 million to purchase the property, which also includes Seafarer’s Village.

But county Commissioner Ray Judah, whose district includes the Beach, said after the auction that the county may be in the market for the land – which is almost at the foot of the Matanzas Pass Bridge.

Now that the bank has the property back, county officials will negotiate to buy the property, he said, with the main goal being “to enhance beach access.”

But before that happens, Judah said, the county will have to investigate issues including “legal entanglements” along with possible contamination with hazardous materials from dry-cleaning operations at two of the hotels.

The town of Fort Myers Beach will be part of the decision-making process on the property, he said.

Ed Bonkowski, a commercial real estate broker who was representing potential buyers at the foreclosure sale, said that if the county doesn’t buy the land, it’s likely Fifth Third will bundle it with other assets its taken back and sell it as a package in the $100 million range.

Fifth Third officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

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From a recent review on Yelp!:

The Fish House prepares the stone crab cold (you can ask for it hot, but they’ll just reheat the already-cooked claws, and that’s no good), and serve it with amazing house-made sauces — a peppery cocktail, and a tangy, mayonnaise-y dip. Add a pitcher of ice cold beer, and you will think you’ve died and gone to heaven. Most of the sides are delicious, too: crispy battered fries, homemade sweet cole slaw, homemade hush puppies that are crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle…the steamed veggies are nothing to write home about, however, and are typically mushy. Seafood is their specialty, and they do it amazingly well. The ahi tuna loin is delicious, crusted with sesame, seared, and served with a seaweed salad and rice cake. The blackened ahi tuna bites are tasty, the peel-and-eat shrimp are plump and well-spiced, the crab quesadilla is awesome.

The location of this Fish House (the other is in Bonita) is way better, right on a marina with views of the bay and excellent bird and boat watching. The restaurant is open and airy with the sea breeze blowing through, a real Florida experience. Don’t miss this place!!!

7225 Estero Blvd

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

(239) 765-6766

Did anyone else witness the 4 Sheriff’s cars intercept this “Can of Sardine stealing” bandit? He apparently was seen shoplifting and then tasered in the parking lot. Apparently it took six deputies to accomplish this…

Here we are in the middle of September and the beach is very QUIET.  Those businesses that haven’t closed permanently (Dusseldorf’s, The Bridge) or are closed for cleaning (Beached Whale) or remodeling to meet American with Disabilities Act (Dairy Queen, S.O.B.s) are in that grey area where there’s speculation as to whether they will reopen or not (Mango Street Market).

BUT:  the town has actually started paving the sandy/grassy areas between the street and the sidewalk from Red Coconut to Palermo Circle (Beached Whale).