As leader of the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, Michele Hylton-Terry sees promise for areas of the city in need of improvement.
The most high profile of those 12 areas is downtown, which is about to see a boom in housing and hotel construction. The CRA Board of Commissioners in March approved up to $6 million over a 10-year period in tax increment rebates, which reimburses developers for eligible expenses, for the $62.3-million Easton development that is expected to open in December 2020 with 273 upscale apartments at First and Fowler streets. City Walk plans to add 300 apartments and a Marriott brand hotel near the downtown Publix, also with up to $5.5 million in tax increment rebates. The $91 million Luminary Hotel project plans to open in early 2020. After being stalled for years, downtown’s historic McCollum Hall, which has received a $1.8-million CRA investment, now has a developer for its restoration.
Hylton-Terry was named executive director in July 2018 after serving in various roles, including interim executive director, since 2003. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from Barry University and a bachelor’s degree from Hodges University. A day after a March trip to Tallahassee, where bills in the Florida Legislature threatened CRAs and the use of tax increment financing, she discussed her work and Fort Myers’ future.
WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT THE WORK YOU DO?
The most exciting thing is to see the impact CRA funds make; they are used to incentivize redevelopment and transform areas. The Downtown River District is a great example.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR THE CRA?
Redevelopment Areas are not equal. By that I mean, tax increment generated in a particular area must be invested in that area. The slower growth areas generate less increment and this limits our ability to reinvest in infrastructure, projects, and provide grant assistance to businesses.
Our mission is to eliminate slum and blight in all our redevelopment areas, create new opportunities for people to get jobs, support new housing and economic stability in communities that have lagged behind. Because you are as strong as your weakest link, and we are endeavored to strengthen and build up the weakest areas of the city.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A CRA TO BE SUCCESSFUL?
I really think collaboration is the key, and building the relationships with the different entities and agencies that you have to work with in order to achieve success [is critical] because you cannot do it alone.
WHY IS MORE HOUSING NEEDED DOWNTOWN?
We need more people down here to support the businesses, to support the city. There are so many exciting projects that are going to be coming out. We need that critical mass of people downtown to have the downtown be successful and then to have that success spread east, spread south. The rental units will help us to do that.
AT WHAT POINT DO YOU EXPECT DOWNTOWN TO BE BUILT OUT?
I’m thinking that 2022 to 2024, we’re going to experience downtown being built out and where we’re now pushing down into Midtown.
SO THE DOMINO EFFECT WILL HAPPEN?
Exactly. We have 12 CRA areas. So downtown’s success will only perpetuate their success and propel their success. So we want downtown to be successful sooner than later. There’s no desire to have it drag out.
