For the first time since Hurricane Ian erased Times Square from the map, Fort Myers Beach has approved a new permanent building for the area. The project — a three-story ice cream shop with residential space above — may seem modest in scale, but its approval carries outsized significance for a community still wrestling with how, and whether, Times Square should be rebuilt at all.
The decision marks a turning point nearly three years after the storm devastated the heart of Fort Myers Beach. What was once a dense cluster of bars, restaurants, and shops has existed largely in limbo since 2022, operating through temporary vendors, food trucks, and pop-up structures while long-term plans stalled under new regulations and mounting debate.
This project breaks that stalemate.
A Symbolic First – Not a Simple One
The approved building will sit along Old San Carlos Boulevard, on a parcel formerly occupied by Kilwin’s Ice Cream. In its place, the plan calls for a permanent ice cream shop on the ground floor with residential space above, elevating the structure to meet modern flood and resiliency standards.
From a planning standpoint, it checks the necessary boxes: compliance with updated codes, a smaller footprint than some former buildings, and a mixed-use approach aligned with newer coastal development practices. From a community standpoint, reactions have been more complicated.
Some residents see the approval as overdue — a sign that Times Square cannot remain frozen in a temporary state forever. Others worry it sets a precedent, raising questions about density, height, and whether the rebuilt Times Square will resemble the one locals remember.
Why This Approval Matters
Regardless of where one stands, this building represents something Fort Myers Beach has not had since Ian: a concrete example of what rebuilding can actually look like.
Times Square has become a focal point of post-storm tension, caught between nostalgia and necessity. FEMA regulations, flood elevation requirements, and stricter zoning rules have made it far more difficult, and expensive, to reconstruct what once stood there. As a result, many property owners have waited, unsure whether rebuilding was feasible at all.
This approval sends a clear message: rebuilding is possible, even if it looks different than before.
A Shift Toward Permanence
Since the storm, Times Square has survived on temporary uses. Ice cream trailers, outdoor counters, and provisional seating have kept foot traffic alive, but they were never intended to be a long-term solution.
The newly approved building replaces that temporary model with something fixed and intentional. It also introduces residential use back into the district – a reminder that Times Square is not just a tourist destination, but part of a living community.
Still, the controversy lingers. Critics question whether approving individual projects without a fully realized vision for Times Square risks piecemeal development. Supporters counter that waiting for a perfect plan has already cost the town years of momentum.
What Happens Next
The project will now move into the permitting phase, a process expected to take several months. Construction is not imminent, and opening remains a few years away. But approval alone shifts the conversation from if Times Square will be rebuilt to how.
This ice cream shop may not be the bold revival some hoped for — or feared — but it is undeniably a starting point. And in a place that has spent years navigating loss, uncertainty, and disagreement, a starting point may be exactly what Times Square needs.
Whether this first step becomes a foundation for thoughtful redevelopment or a flashpoint for further debate will depend on what comes next. For now, Fort Myers Beach has crossed an important threshold: the rebuilding of Times Square has officially begun.
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