F A Q
How did this Masterplan come about?
The Community Center is owned and maintained by Lee County. The Friends of Boca Grande, a non-profit with a professional staff, a volunteer board of island residents and a large volunteer network, creates programming and marketing along with major user groups. The Friends Board and staff have worked closely with Lee County to develop the plan in response to the growing needs of all users. Thirty+ organizations that use the community center were engaged, and in-depth meetings with the eight lease-holders were held (The Island School, Royal Palm Players, Crowninshield Community House, the Art Center, Boca Bargains & the Woman’s Club, Boca Grande Historical Society, Gasparilla Island Conversation & Improvement Association, and Lee County Parks & Recreation). This plan represents all of their ideas, hopes, and dreams.
What is the big picture?
The centerpiece of the Masterplan is the construction of a new 242-seat, state-of-the-art theater/auditorium. The History Center will move into space in the Crowninshield Community House, allowing Boca Bargains to expand its operations in the Teacherage House. The Island School will add some much-needed counseling, office and multi-purpose space. Offices will be realigned, and the Woman’s Club Room will be repurposed into a dedicated board meeting space. What was the auditorium will be repurposed into a large multipurpose space and a new fitness center.
Where will the new theater/auditorium be located?
The new theater/auditorium will be at the southeast corner of the property north of the Island School, using space where the multipurpose room is located. The sand volleyball court will move to 9th Street on the beach. This move will make the court a more attractive island amenity, while adding more green space at the Community Center. The new theater/auditorium will also allow more multipurpose activities as the old auditorium will be reconfigured to provide more options.
The current green space at the Community Center will be enhanced. Lovely decking along the south side of the Crowninshield and Boca Bargains-History Center-Art Center buildings will spill out onto the lawns, adding dramatic sight lines, enhancing the view of the green space and helping to make the buildings more cohesive. There will be a sense of a “campus quad.”
What is Friends of Boca Grande’s role?
Friends has taken a leadership role to represent all groups to Lee County Administrators. Lee County will enter into a Development agreement with Friends to enable Friends to oversee the phased construction work. Friends will hire a Construction Manager to provide effective management of the project’s schedule, cost, quality, safety, scope, and function on-site.
How is the project being funded?
Private funds will be raised for new construction and renovations to existing buildings. This effort will also be part of Friends’ role, along with unanimous support and assistance from the other organizations housed at the Center. Lee County will provide the land, assign a Lee County Project Manager to coordinate communication, and take responsibility for the on-going maintenance and operating costs for the buildings.
Is there going to be a Lee County contribution?
Covering annual maintenance and utilities for the campus is akin to an endowment; free use of the campus is an extraordinary benefit; renting a facility could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Buying, building, maintaining and endowing a campus of this caliber could amount to as much as one hundred million dollars.
We are not asking for a cash gift on top of the continued free use of this amazing campus. Imagine the public reaction in Fort Myers Beach and other hard-hit areas from Hurricane Ian if the County paid for an arguably unnecessary improvement in the middle of a wealthy neighborhood while dire county needs are left unaddressed.
How much money will need to be raised?
It is estimated that new construction, refurbishing of existing facilities, furniture, fixtures, and technology will cost between $14-15 million. Friends has established a Community Center Renaissance Fund that is restricted for this project. Typically, these projects see participation at all levels of giving. 90% of the money comes from 10% of the donors and 99% comes from 50% of the donors. We will celebrate the generosity of every donor, but we must rely on a significant number of major gifts. Over $2,500,000 has already been pledged by the Friends of Boca Grande Board and staff.
What is the timeline?
The work will be completed in phases so that there will be the least disruption to organizations who depend upon the Center for their programming.
– Phase one will include construction of new facilities at The Island School and renovations to the Crowninshield to prepare for the relocation of the Historical Society.
– Phase two will be demolition of the old multi-purpose room and construction of a new theater/auditorium, renovations at all three “historic” houses, and repurposing of spaces in both wings of the Community Center.
– Phase three will be renovations and repurposing to the old auditorium.