Derelict boats from Hurricane Ian still rotting at Edison Bridge

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—Derelict boats from Hurricane Ian remain at the base of the Edison Bridge more than three years after the storm.

The damaged docks and sinking boats at Old Bridge Marina have frustrated neighbors. Plans to remove the eyesore are now shifting under new ownership.

"It is a very terrible view. It looks bad. It's been here for three years, and it would be so much better if they clean that up," said Deon Harrison, an Old Bridge Marina neighbor.

"They're garbage… They need to be pulled out of here and trashed," said Desiree Peters, an Old Bridge Marina neighbor.

The decaying marina poses environmental concerns beyond aesthetics. Harrison worries about contamination from the vessels.

"That is just all the gas from the boats and the oil and everything is getting in there," Harrison said.

Both neighbors expressed safety concerns about children in the area. Harrison noted kids swim near the wreckage.

"It's fearful, the kids that play around here, I'm always afraid that one of them might get inside it. So that's just hopefully they pick them up soon, and they remove them," Peters said.

The City of Fort Myers took control of the cleanup in February by ending the lease at the marina. However, a change in ownership has altered the cleanup timeline.

“Now that the change in ownership is official, the City has put our permitting on hold to engage with the new property owners on their plans for the property. If mutually agreeable, the new owner will enter into a submerged land lease with the City that authorizes them to utilize the riverbed in front of the property.

After that has been accomplished, the city will meet with the new owners to incorporate their vision into a new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers application to remove the derelict vessels and restore the marina to the desired outcome. This collaborative approach will constitute a significant time savings for the new owners."

We’re not going to interview on at this time; hope this helps as part of tracking the effort.

According to the Lee County Property Appraiser, Davide Ide is now taking over the property. The City of Fort Myers confirmed it is pausing its permits due to the ownership change.

City officials plan to meet with the new owner to agree on a plan for the marina. The owner would then sign a lease to use the riverbed and work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a federal plan to remove the boats and rebuild.

The cleanup may take time due to environmental protections. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration designated this area of the Caloosahatchee River as critical habitat for smalltooth sawfish, requiring extra permits.

Neighbors hope to see the marina restored. Peters envisions the area returning to its natural beauty.

"Paradise. Home is always Paradise, and whatever makes people happy," Peters said.

Harrison dreams of seeing the docks rebuilt with boats docked there again. "It gives me chills saying that," Harrison said.