Southwest Florida Housing Foundation breaks ground on Strayhorn Place

The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers’s nonprofit development arm, Southwest Florida Affordable Housing Choice Foundation, officially broke ground on its newest property, Strayhorn Place, which will feature 80 units for low-income seniors ages 62 and up.

The Housing Authority and Foundation team gathered with community leaders, project partners and supporters on May 16 for the groundbreaking. During the ceremony, attendees heard from Marcia Davis, executive director of Housing Authority, as well as State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka and other local officials and supporters.

Strayhorn Place, located at 1935 Lafayette Street in Fort Myers, will replace the housing option once available at the former Royal Palm Towers, a 60-year-old, 11-story building in downtown Fort Myers. Strayhorn Place will offer modern amenities to help residents age in place, including an on-site gym, a small health clinic, business center, movie theater, senior cafe and more. It will also be designed to include unique safety features such as designated hurricane shelter built to host residents and an additional 40 senior care adults in the event of future storms.

“We are thrilled to officially break ground on Strayhorn Place and honor our longtime board chairman, and my good friend, Bruce Strayhorn,” said Marcia Davis, Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers. “Access to affordable, safe and comfortable housing is critical for seniors, one of our most vulnerable communities. This project would have truly not been possible without our partners and the consistent and unwavering support of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, the Mayor and the City of Fort Myers and their respective staffs. We are so appreciative for their support and look forward to providing our senior residents with a new place to call home!”

The Foundation named the new property in honor of E. Bruce Strayhorn, the Housing Authority’s board member and chairman since 1988. Strayhorn is a Fort Myers native and attorney at Strayhorn & Persons-Mulicka. Over the 37 years of his service on the Housing Authority board, he has played a pivotal role in securing funding and supporting initiatives that address housing needs and strengthen neighborhoods. The name serves as a lasting tribute to his dedication to affordable housing and the community he loves.

“It is an incredible honor to have our newest property carry my name. This recognition is the collective efforts of many dedicated individuals and groups who have worked alongside our Board over the years,” said E. Bruce Strayhorn, Chairman of the Housing Authority board. “This would not have been possible without the support of the Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers. The Board has long been dedicated to providing safe and attainable housing for families and seniors, not only in the City of Fort Myers but throughout Southwest Florida. Seniors are a group we are especially passionate about supporting, and I believe in the importance of providing safe, welcoming homes for these residents. The real reward for all of us is knowing that we are helping to create a brighter and better future for those in need, and a place where they can feel valued, supported and safe.”

The project is made possible through the Southwest Florida Housing Foundation and $17.7 million in CDBG-DR (Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery) funding by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners and its dedicated staff. Project partners and supporters include Mayor Kevin Anderson and the Fort Myers City Council, Chris-Tel Construction, Community Development Reimagined, Studio+ and Ink Engineering, Inc.

To learn more about the Housing Authority, visit HACFM.org or call 239-344-3220.

About the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers

The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers serves as a catalyst for increasing access to safe, stable and sustainable housing and to help develop, preserve and revitalize communities through affordable rental housing. For more information, visit www.HACFM.org or call 239-344-3220.