Fort Myers Yacht Basin redevelopment faces another year-long delay

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — The Fort Myers Yacht Basin, once destroyed by Hurricane Ian, faces another redevelopment delay, pushing the timeline out another year.

• RELATED: Fort Myers Yacht Basin project stalled by permit issues

The area remains fenced off with no access to the docks, and people who live and work nearby say this has become a frustrating reminder of what's still not fixed. Right in the heart of downtown Fort Myers, the yacht basin sits empty, fenced off, worn down and still waiting to recover.

"It's pretty ugly to look at when you have such a beautiful view of everything else," Leonardo Cuellar said.

Cuellar has lived at Edison Grand for two years. He remembers what this place used to be before Hurricane Ian.

"It was just absolutely beautiful before, and you know, boaters can't even dock their boats," Cuellar said. "You can't even go fishing like they used to go over there in the corner. So, yeah, it's very frustrating."

It's not just residents feeling the impact. Austin Zajack, director of food and beverage at City Tavern, says the closure has affected business.

"We used to work with a lot of organizations that were very heavy into the water and boating culture," Zajack said. "And they don't come down here anymore because they don't have a place to put their boat."

On top of losing a customer base, Zajack says the view is an unwelcome reminder of the past. He drives by it every day, and it's just an eyesore that reminds him of the impact Ian had.

In a letter to the city, the developer cites permit delays from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for holding things up. The developer is now asking the city for a second extension to April 2027 to advance the project.

"It's just kind of like a hurry up and wait kind of thing," Zajack said. "So we're just kind of wondering what's going on."

"I have no idea what's going on with that port at this point," Cuellar said.

The space sits close to everything downtown—bars, restaurants, apartments—but remains completely off limits. The City Council is expected to decide on the time extension at its meeting Monday.