Fort Myers Downtown Streetscape Wins International Making Cities Livable Award
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 24, 2012) – On May 22, 2012, the Fort Myers Downtown Streetscape project won the 2012 International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) Walkable Neighborhoods award at the IMCL conference in Portland, Oregon.
The City of Fort Myers ranked first over other cities worldwide for the inviting, healthy environment created in its dense urban core through the Downtown Streetscape project. The accolade was given “In recognition of the extensive landscaping, refurbishment and traffic calming that greatly improved the quality of life for everyone, creating a downtown with a genuinely urban character,” as stated on the award.
Fort Myers Mayor Randall P. Henderson commented that it was an honor for Fort Myers to be recognized by such a prestigious international organization whose Board of Directors includes icons in urban planning such as Mayor Joseph P. Riley of Charleston, South Carolina.
Accepting the award in Portland was Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (Fort Myers CRA) Executive Director Don Paight, representing both the Fort Myers CRA—which funded the streetscape beautification portion of the project’s work—and the City of Fort Myers, Florida, which funded the utility replacement portion. Mr. Paight oversaw streetscape beautification work while the City’s Public Works Director Saeed Kazemi managed utility replacement.
The Fort Myers Downtown Streetscape Project was completed in 2010 after a four-year, 54-block utility replacement and streetscape renovation. The project has previously won five state-wide awards from Public Works, Planning, Engineering and Redevelopment Associations. Since its completion, over 30 new businesses have opened up in downtown and attendance at special events has increased substantially.
Call (239) 321-7100 for more information.
About International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) – Founded in 1982, the International Making Cities
Livable Council has been devoted to making our cities and towns more vital, just and livable, through research, publications, conferences and seminars. The Council’s multi-national Board of Directors consists of architects, urban planners, public health officials, Mayors and community leaders who want to promote healthy city planning and growth management. For more information about IMCL, visit www.livablecities.org.
About Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (Fort Myers CRA) – The Fort Myers Community
Redevelopment Agency, formerly known as the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency, was created in 1984 by the City of Fort Myers, Florida, under Florida Statute Chapter 163, to formulate a plan and strategy for the revitalization of the
downtown River District. The Fort Myers CRA has continued to grow, and redevelopment districts have been added throughout the city. Today, the Agency oversees 14 different redevelopment districts within the Fort Myers city limits. The Fort Myers CRA, along with the City’s Community Development Division, prepares plans for the revitalization of each district and coordinates the implementation of the plan’s recommendations. Tax Increment Funds (TIF) generated by each district, combined with other funding sources, are used to upgrade the public infrastructure and to stimulate redevelopment, The Fort Myers City Council members, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency,
oversee the Agency’s divisions and their operations. The Fort Myers CRA office is located at 1400 Jackson Street in the River District.
Media Contacts:
Natalie S. Dunham, Fort Myers CRA, ndunham@cityftmyers.comor (239) 321-7100
Saeed Kazemi, City of Fort Myers Public Works, skazemi@cityftmyers.com or (239) 321-7215
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