Lee commissioners on June 3 unanimously agreed to move forward with planned federal grant funding for two multifamily affordable housing projects in Fort Myers.
After Hurricane Ian struck in September 2022, the county was awarded $1.1 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and $100 million after hurricanes Helen and Milton last September. Under the agreement, the money is intended to benefit low- and moderate-income residents in areas impacted by the storms.
Lee commissioners set aside $17,655,877 of CDBG-DR funds requested for the Strayhorn Place Affordable Housing Project, developed by Southwest Florida Affordable Housing Choice Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the Fort Myers Housing Authority. Workers broke ground in May on the project to construct 80 senior-living housing units at 1935 Lafayette St. in Fort Myers with an estimated total cost of $31,920,026. The development will replace Royal Palm Towers, an aging downtown building that sustained damage from Ian.
Strayhorn Place will serve low-income seniors aged 62 and older on fixed incomes and under 50% of the area median income.
Strayhorn Place development plans call for storm-water runoff improvements, a generator in case of future emergencies and a warming kitchen to serve hot meals after any storm. The building also will include a gym, health clinic, business center and game room and movie theatre. The project will repay $2 million of the grant funds, and the balance of the loan will be forgiven if all terms and conditions are met.
Commissioners also provided $17.2 million in grant funding requested by The Diocese of Venice and National Development of America Inc., partners in building the St. Peter Claver Housing Phase II Affordable Housing at 3681 Michigan St.
The development’s $25 million total cost includes 72 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for low-income families. National Development is set to repay all grant funds over time out of available cash flow so that additional projects can be undertaken in the future, Lee Commission’s meeting agenda document shows.
The units will all feature washers and dryers, private patios and quartz countertops. The project’s Phase I facilities, including a clubhouse and on-site parking, will be available to Phase II units.
The development abides by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation Low Income Housing Tax Credit requirements by having either 20% or more of the units set aside for households earning 50% or less of the area median income or 40% of the units set aside for households with earnings that on average do not exceed 60% of the AMI.
Lee County’s median income sat at $75,099 on average between 2019 and 2023. The county’s estimated median rents during the first quarter of 2025 sat at $1,373, down 6% from the previous year, a Florida Gulf Coast University’s Regional Economic Research Institute report shows.
