Neighbors weigh in on resort construction in Fort Myers Beach’s Times Square after groundbreaking

Construction has begun on the Sunset Beach Resort in Fort Myers Beach’s Times Square, marking a step forward in rebuilding the area after Hurricane Ian’s devastation.

Paul Douglas, a longtime visitor who first vacationed in Fort Myers Beach ten years ago, shared his memories of the area before the storm.

"It had certainly a real community feel I found when we came down here," Douglas said.

Hurricane Ian struck nearly four years ago, bringing a 15-foot storm surge that wiped out Times Square and left the community with a long road to recovery.

Terry Persaud, a property owner overseeing the resort’s development, described the impact of the storm.

"To have that hurricane come in and just take so many people's livelihood — I was devastated," Persaud said.

The Sunset Beach Resort, which broke ground on Monday, will be a small hotel located where the Sunset Beach Tropical Grill once stood. Persaud emphasized the importance of restoring the area’s atmosphere.

"You come to Fort Myers Beach for the vibe, and we are going to bring the vibe," Persaud said.

He hopes construction workers complete the resort by 2028, and newcomer James Briano, who works on Fort Myers Beach, said he supports the project.

"If you're not going to spend time, you're going to be looking at a nice building, then an empty lot from the hurricane taking it away," Briano said.

Douglas said he hopes developers will honor the community’s history as they rebuild.

"I think is going to be critical for developers to make sure that they still have the essence of where you came from, because it's really important to make sure that you have that always in the forefront," Douglas said.