Damaged buildings on Fort Myers Beach are still standing. Many have missing walls, dangling wires, and even graffiti. Now, the town is placing red tags on these properties, telling their owners that it’s time for demolition.
WATCH AS COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT ANVAR RUZIEV SPEAKS WITH NEIGHBORS AND VISITORS ABOUT THE DESTROYED PROPERTIES:
Town of Fort Myers Beach red-tags destroyed properties for demolition
One of these properties is the Wyndham Gardens, a beachfront resort on the southern end of Estero Island. For years, it has remained in ruins, reminding visitors like Ryan Allamian of happier times.
“It brings back a lot of memories, looking at it just remembering the times that we stayed there, eating at the restaurant,” said Allamian, who passes by the destroyed resort every few days with his family.
Allamian says the long wait for demolition has been frustrating. He hopes to see something new take the resort’s place.
“I definitely think it’s taken a little bit longer than we would have anticipated, you know walking by the pool, it still has a little bit of debris and water in it, and it kind of smells… a little interesting,” Allamian added.