The structure survived Charley and it brought a smile to the residents,visitors and yearly aficionados when it did.Not to mention tropical storms.Everything is wrong about the structure and I doubt its up to code but it seems to survive whatever nature throws at it.
The owner, a youngish 35 year old raised in a family of farmers and open markets, started the "Farmer's Market"business some 12 years ago.His father who owned another open market along Mc Gregor some 5 miles away from Fort Myers Beach had to close his business a few years ago as the land was sold. It used to be a large agriculture plot of rich land where they used to grow citrus and vegetables.Now the father works for his son and still manages to smile at the costumers.
The mother keeps the counters and balances the books.A while back I saw a sign by a well known local real estate co on the side of the funky structure.Fort Myers has changed a lot in the last ten years, and some was needed as the push to renovate downtown Fort Myers Beach, but at times I wonder if things are changing to fast and I long for the Old Charm of South West Florida.
Luckily many of old cottages are most often renovated and Fort Myers Beach remains that small quaint Island.The For Sale Sign is another sign of the times.The property is quite large for the Island and its on the market for $1, 700,000. It is a commercial property.Land is too valuable here to have just an open market for ever. We cannot tell when a buyer will seal the deal and build some offices, retail stores with small condos on top .Perhaps a year if we are lucky.
I am not mad at the owner for selling out. After all he or she also have a right to make a buck and his property taxes and insurance I am sure went up dramatically.I don't blame the listing agent.They are doing their job.We will just miss that part of the Old Florida and the fresh fruits and melons and citrus and corn, tomatoes, peppers and such.These products are the left overs of a time long gone when the Calusa Indians respected the land they controlled and when at the turn of last century homesteaders had properties with their own fruit and vegetable gardens on the island and fished for their families.
Its just changing too fast! One cannot be against progress but we can taper it off and make sure they are not going to build over sized buildings and we must make our presence felt at the town meetings.WE have to save some of our island and make sure the new buildings will have a proper percentage of green.For now I will send my family in Massachusetts some citrus and enjoy that beaten up Floridian Farmers Market and its delicious products.
LLoyd Nichols
Real Estate Network Services
6360 Presidential Court, suite 4
Fort Myers , Florida 33919
cell: 239-810-2980
fax: 239-463-4826
web site: http://homesftmyersfl.com/
web site: http://www.mlsouthwestfloridahomes.com/
Real Estate Blog: http://activerain.com/lloydn
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