City looks to continue restoring historic building

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The City of Fort Myers is looking to spend more money to restore the historic McCollum Hall.

The building, which is located at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Cranford, has been the focus of redevelopment for seven years, but the exterior still needs some work.

McCollum Hall holds a great meaning for the Dunbar community. It was a gathering spot for African-Americans in the days of segregation and a place where Duke Ellington and other stars performed. It’s been abandoned for years now and the city has spent $1.2 million to restore it.

On Wednesday, the Community Redevelopment Agency heard that more money is needed.

The goal is to have a private developer lease the restored hall to a major restaurant and retails shops. They also want to make a banquet hall on the second floor.