People want to save a downtown Fort Myers building that's nearly 100 years old. This comes days after a developer proposed tearing it down for a new apartment complex.
"We are doing everything possible to fulfill our mission, and that’s to preserve iconic buildings," said Virginia Harper, the president of the Lee Trust for Historic Preservation.
Harper told NBC2 that they had worked too hard for 25 years to raise money to let this happen.
"What I’m hoping is that the council will get the message. I will be contacting council members to explain our position. Can’t tell them to hold off easily, but I’m hoping that we have some council members change their mind and go back to the drawing table and the next proposal address saving the building," said Harper.
The proposal caught Lee Trust off guard, which is why the group met on Tuesday night to discuss other options. Jim Becker, the owner of Sound Check Studios, submitted a plan to make the building a recording studio.
"I’ve been coming in here since when I was 5 years old when my parents used to square dance in here," said Becker.
He believes that others should be able to do the same as well, saying he has no intentions of demolishing anything, just making it better.
"It's a beautiful building and won’t take a lot to renovate it. It made it through Hurricane Donna, Wilma, Charley, and then made it through Ian." said Becker.
You can count on NBC2 to let you know what City Council decides concerning the future of the Hall of 50 States.