A lot of traffic — that's the reality for many living in the Dunbar community, but changes are coming.
"The reason that we have redevelopment areas is because we know that that area needs a little extra shine put on it, and so we're always going to try and add that little extra shine," said Mellone Long with the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency.
Long says her team has been working on improving Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard since 2007.
"This is a process, and so, anything that we start new, we have to go through the all the permitting and all that kind of thing, but you know things are always happening," said Long.
This process is part of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr plan; this plan will determine how future funds are spent and how projects and developments from Evans Avenue, all the way to I-75 will be prioritized. In 2025, they're expecting $3 million to help with projects, such as improving the overall look of the busy road, adding art and improving safety.
"The bikes usually don't ride down MLK; they ride down the side streets because they don't think it's safe because cars go faster than they should. So, yeah, we're going to work on trying to make sure the crosswalks are safer, make sure there's more lights and more signage," said Long. "We need investors we need all those things that go on to make the community better," Long said.
The Fort Myers CRA wants people to provide feedback and attend its listening sessions to help shape the future.