FM city leaders consider new use for downtown pier building

FORT MYERS, Fla.- The Downtown City Pier building has seen a lot of potential occupants come and go. It was originally built for a high-speed ferry that never came as Art of the Olypians backed out. Then the city hoped a restaurant would move in but that never happened either.

Now, the Fort Myers City Council is considering a 10-month lease agreement for a company called Cedar River to set up its sales center inside. But office space isn’t what most had in mind for the attractive location along the Caloosahatchee River.

“It’s really unfortunate, it seems that it’s working against the momentum that downtown has with all the different restaurants and establishments that are going in,” said downtown business owner Raimond Aulen.

Cedar River would use the space to pre-sell high rise condos for a new building on First Street.

“It seems like that location would be perfect for a restaurant of some sort where people oculd come and actually enjoy the river get the view and really appreciate fort myers for what the historic area is,” said Aulen.