Fort Myers approves $5.9M Edison & Ford welcome center

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates plans to open a new $5.9 million welcome center in about a year.

Fort Myers City Council approved the plan, which includes $1.9 million in city funds, at its regular meeting Nov. 2.

Workers are expected to begin construction on the center in early December, Estates CEO and former City Council member Michael Flanders told council members. He added that it represents the first new building at the Estates, a more than 20-acre property at 2350 McGregor Blvd., since a museum was built there in the 1960s.

The welcome center project, designed by the firm Architecture Joyce Owens and set to be constructed by Chris-Tel Construction, is part of the Thomas Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates Inc. master plan.

The nonprofit leases the property from Fort Myers, including the estate homes on the Caloosahatchee River. They’re across the street from Edison’s laboratory, a botanic garden and museum.

The Estates opened to the public in 1947 after Mina Edison deeded the property to the city. The campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, among other designations, attracts more than 200,000 visitors each year and hosts about 100 annual classes and educational programs, according to promotional literature.

Estates Board of Trustees Chair Cole Peacock called it “the crown jewel in this community.”

The Estates is also known for its upcoming Holiday Nights event. The annual celebration runs Nov. 27 through Jan. 3, excluding Dec. 24 and 25, with admission and guided tours on event nights.

“[The Estates] is a great economic driver for our city,” Council member Darla Bonk said.

Thomas Edison built his house on the river after visiting Fort Myers in 1885, and Henry Ford bought the house next door in 1916.

The new two-story center is planned near the museum. Design plans include spaces for a box office and reception area, galleries, curatorial and administrative rooms, sculptural elements, common gathering spots, an information kiosk and a garden shop.

Along with Flanders and Peacock, Estates board member and former Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson addressed the council to promote the welcome center’s financing plan.

“We pour our hearts and souls into it with you and for you,” Henderson said. “We’re asking you to help us get to the finish line in this big, very big, event.”

Council members approved the request by a 5-1 vote, with Liston Bochette absent and Terolyn Watson dissenting. Watson said she is in favor of the plan but would have preferred to wait on the vote until after loan terms for the project were finalized.

City Manager Marty Lawing said the city expects to pay its share in four $475,000 installments beginning in February.

In addition to city funding, the approval allows the nonprofit to raise funds for improvements by selling naming rights. It increases the total debt the nonprofit can take on from $2 million to $3.5 million to account for cost increases over the years. It also allows the nonprofit to borrow $1.6 million, in addition to using existing cash and assets, to complete funding for the welcome center.