New beginnings for Hancock Square
Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman said he has had many great days, and some not-so-great days, in office.
But perhaps the best day he has had came when he learned the news that an old shopping center in North Fort Myers may soon come down with a pending project in the works.
A new company has purchased the 14-acre property where Hancock Square stood in September and expressed interest in turning much of the plaza into multi-family homes and apartments.
The market value of the property was $2,750,454 as of 2021. It sold for $12.8 million
Hamman said he has spoken to the new owners and said there are plans to tear down the old Office Depot building and the buildings to its side.
This is a great opportunity to improve commerce in North Fort Myers and the opportunity for nearby businesses to get more customers, Hamman added.
“They’re putting their permits together for a new development there. It’s exciting. This is something we have waited for a long time, more than a decade,” Hamman said. “This will create the live, work and play vision we have for that area.”
The old grocery store and Irish restaurant were not included in the deal, remaining in the hands of the previous owner, Hancock Bridge Square, LLC, which had bought the plaza in 2013.
The plaza was built in 1984 and originally housed a Wal-Mart, Office Depot and many smaller stores.
Over time, the market shifted over the bridge, resulting in many businesses leaving. When the Office Depot left in 2015, that pretty much left the plaza without an anchor.
There had been plans to put in mixed-use construction in and around the area, creating something of a downtown feel like Fort Myers has. Hamman said this concept could be the next best thing.
“The fact we’re going to see a developer come in and put apartments behind the stores here now will be a real nice product at market rate that will drive business to the Big Lots plaza next door, the restaurants and the bank in front,” Hamman said, adding that maybe those businesses will be enticed to undergo a facelift as well.
There is no timeline as to when the buildings will come down or when the apartments will be built. However Hamman said this project could be the start of something big in that area of North Fort Myers.
“The new owners have a vision for improving the area. I believe this will be the catalyst for revitalizing that stretch of 41,” Hamman said. “Success usually beings more success. If they are successful, we’ll begin to pique the interest of other people who will make more investments in North Fort Myers.” NFMNL
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com