FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 4, 2025) – The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will hold a series of public meetings to gather community input on the future use of the restored McCollum Hall.
A dedicated website, McCollumHall.com, has been established as a central hub for all project information and to keep the public informed on project updates.
“Preserving the past of this historic gem, and the future as a living, thriving community hub is important to our community and we want our neighbors and residents to lend their voices for what comes next,” said Michele Hylton Terry, executive director of the Fort Myers CRA.
Three public meetings are scheduled to gather input.
The first will be an online meeting on Tuesday, September 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The second meeting will be held Tuesday, September 30 at 6 p.m. at the Quality Life Center of SWFL located at 3210 Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd. in Fort Myers.
The third and final meeting will be held on Thursday, October 9 at 6 p.m. at Mt. Olive AME located at 2160 Veronica S Shoemaker Blvd in Fort Myers.
To register for a session, visit https://mccollumhall.com/upcoming-listening-sessions-for-mccollum-hall/
Built in 1938 by Clifford “Buck” McCollum, Sr., McCollum Hall was the centerpiece of commerce, music and entertainment in the Dunbar Community during the segregation era. A popular stop for touring Black entertainers on the Chitlin’ Circuit, its second-floor dance hall jumped to life when musicians took to the stage, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie and Otis Redding. It is a catalyst renovation project in promoting redevelopment in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. redevelopment area.
McCollum Hall was named to the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 2022. It is a site on Florida’s Black Heritage Trail. It is a catalyst renovation project in promoting redevelopment in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. redevelopment area.
Since 1984, the CRA has managed redevelopment trusts to revitalize designated areas in the City of Fort Myers. This reinvestment can take the form of public infrastructure, residential and commercial grant programs, public arts, affordable housing development, safety initiatives and historic preservation designed to reverse deterioration, support economic development, and increase property valueshttps://fortmyerscra.com
PSAs
15 sec: The Fort Myers CRA invites you to a series of free meetings on the future use of the restored McCollum Hall. To register, visit McCollumHall.com.
30 sec: Fort Myers residents you are invited to make your voices heard on future plans for the restored McCollum Hall. Mark your calendars for planned meetings on Sept. 16 and 30 and Oct. 9. These free events are open to the public. Register at McCollumHall.com.
60 sec: Fort Myers residents, the Fort Myers CRA invites you to a series of free meetings on the future use of the restored McCollum Hall. Meetings will be held online Sept. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; in person on Tuesday, September 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the Quality Life Center of SWFL and in person on Thursday, October 9 at 6 p.m. at Mt. Olive AME. These free events are open to the public. Register at McCollumHall.com.