COASTE | COMMUNITY
Established in 1886, Fort Myers was first a cattle trade hub, and from there built a commercial core. The town became well known nationally thanks to famous winter residents Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, whowere known to visit even before its incorporation, when recreational fishing in the area was in its hey day. When the railway reached Fort Myers in 1904, the city became an important destination for both commerce and tourism. Fort Myers saw its first skyscraper, the seven-story Franklin Arms Hotel, in 1924. Boom and bust cycles came and went throughout the years, yet downtown Fort Myers slowly grew to become the governmental, commercial and social center of Southwest Florida. But then, things went from quiet to bad to worse. Acombination of perceived (or real) crime, abandoned buildings and economic recession hit downtown hard and in 1983, City leaders — led by Council Members Veronica Shoemaker and Mayor Ellis Solomon — determined to stem the tide. Establishing the Downtown
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