Property owners of Time Square on Fort Myers Beach, known as the Time Square Committee, have revealed some ambitious plans for the site. In a presentation on Tuesday, the committee showcased a $100+ million proposal for Time Square.

This proposal consists of four-story buildings built along a main corridor which include restaurants, a hotel, and retail. The first level of each building would be constructed two stores above the flood level. Some of the ground floors would feature garage doors to provide additional seating for restaurants but would act as a “wash away” level in the event of a storm surge.

This ambitious redevelopment plan is expected to cost north of $100 million, but a development of this caliber may be necessary given the location. During Hurricane Ian, the storm surge reached 16 feet on Fort Myers Beach and wiped out the first two stories of the island. The possibility of another storm surge has pushed developers to rebuild stronger and higher, which is costly.

The presentation was received well by residents but has not been officially presented to the Town of Fort Myers Beach. This development is not much more than an idea at this point, but it has given many people hope for the future of Fort Myers Beach.

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