Stories News

The Housing Authority of the City of Ft. Myers (HACFM), recently initiated the first phase of the Greater Dunbar Initiative upon receiving a $30 Million grant. Ft. Myers, as a recipient, also hosted the 2022 Communities of CHOICE Conference from November 30 to December 2. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by various officials, including Cindy Nava from HUD, Mayor Kevin B. Anderson, and over 200 housing officials from different parts of the country.

Senior Advisor Nava said, “Today’s groundbreaking is a celebration of this community’s resilience and of the tangible progress we can make when federal and local government partners work together to address the needs of the communities we serve.”

The large-scale revitalization of the 199-unit Southward Village public housing community is the first phase of the greater Dumbar Initiative. It is expected that phase one will get completed by 2024 and address the needs of the southward village residents. The project will feature the construction of 375 new mixed-income apartments, along with amenities such as a clubhouse, a fitness room, a business center, pocket parks, playgrounds, and on-site management offices.

The initiative will also help people get access to services, economic opportunities, healthy food, connectivity, and visibility in addition to housing. The comprehensive Greater Dunbar Initiative encompasses several significant components, such as over $122 million dedicated to mixed-income residential development, a $20.5 million enhancement of the STARS recreational center, a $50 million rebuild of Franklin Park Elementary School, a $1.83 million investment in a farmer’s market and outdoor recreation center, and a $3.9 million conversion of a nearby junkyard into a hydroponic urban farm.