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The "Farmers Market" days are numbered

By
Real Estate Agent with Premier Florida Realty of SWFL

    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.    

 FM

 

 

   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.  

 

 FMar   FMgrap

 

      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.

 FMIN

 

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.

 

FMBMart

 

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.

 

FMBMark

 

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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Comments (4)

Maggie Dokic /Indialantic | 321-252-8696
Magdalena Dokic - Indialantic, FL
Selling the beach in Florida's space coast

Lloyd, Ft. Myers Beach is near and dear to my heart.  I've seen the change you mention and it is bittersweet.  We know things have to change but at what cost?  The same thing is going on in the outer reaches of Miami.  The new Homestead Hospital opening next month used to be 60 acres of potato fields.  The farmer is slowly making way for the developer.  I keep wondering where our produce will come from if this keeps up? 

I'm not able to see any of your pictures.  Strange.

Apr 11, 2007 09:59 PM
Chris Griffith
Downing-Frye Realty, Bonita Springs, FL - Bonita Springs, FL
Bonita Springs Listing Specialist - Agent
HI Llyod. For some reason the pictures aren't loading for me.  I don't know if it's a user error :), computer error or system issues.  Just thought I'd let you know.
Apr 11, 2007 11:26 PM
LLoyd Nichols
Premier Florida Realty of SWFL - Fort Myers, FL
Southwest Florida Homes By The Sea

Maggie, some of the changes are necessary because quite a few of the old structures here needed some uplifting and downtown looked a bit funky before the restorations, but the farmers in Lee, CHarlotte, Henry, and Collier are tempted to make a fast buck and of course the zoning is changed.I don't know how Florida will look in 20 years. The small farms will probably be gone and only the large names will survive. I am sure you see it happening all the time in Miami. I am glad you enjoy Fort Myers Beach. Its a great little island to live in.

The post uploaded the pictures last night but this morning they were gone. I knew people "borrowed" pictures but that is ridiculous lol

 Thanks for letting me know Chris. I took a short cut and copied and pasted the whole article with the pics, instead of loading them one my one. I told the user. he will be reprimanded.

 

Apr 12, 2007 12:54 AM
Carole Cohen
Howard Hanna Cleveland City Office - Cleveland, OH
Realtor, ePRO
I am sorry to hear this Lloyd! I can't imagine any type of area not needing or utilizing Farmers Markets. I have to say we had an east side and a west side market here and the east side one just closed and that made me sad too!  Those veggies look good enuf to eat :-)
May 12, 2007 12:35 PM