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City to host Chester Street open house

2 min read

The transformation of the Chester Street Resource Center will be on full display today during an open house convened by the city, Cape Coral Police and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Visitors can catch up on the history of the building and its current functions from noon to 6 p.m. at 4816 Chester St.

The building has served the public as Fire Station 1, the first City Hall, public meeting space, voting precinct, a police substation and a citizen resource center as well as the home of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

“We’d like the whole community to come out and visit this historic building,” said Helen Ramey, community redevelopment specialist. “We anticipate a good turnout. We will have guided tours by staff members on the history of the building and the services now being offered.”

The police department uses a portion of the center for active marine unit storage and services.

Services now offered at the Resource Center, in addition to the CRA, include record requests, citizen action center, credit card payments for water bills, notary services, passport information, police incident and accident reports, background checks, ticket and ordinance violation processing, payment drop-off and false alarm registration.

“It helps citizens with basic services so they don’t have to go to mid-Cape to City Hall,” said Ramey.

The building, which was constructed in 1963, was remodeled in phases through a partnership between the city, the CRA and Cape Coral Construction Industry Association. The exterior of the building was funded by the CRA and city with labor and materials donated by the CCCIA membership. The city and police department funded the interior modifications.

The concept plan was forged in 2011 and the exterior modifications were started in early 2012. The interior project was just recently completed.

The large meeting room used by the CRA for meetings also is available to the public on a reservation basis for seminars, classes and meetings.

During the open house, children’s fingerprinting will be available from 1-4 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by Fish Tail Grille, Paesano’s and Slate.