City of Fort Myers could choose one of four potential new tenants for The Hall of 50 States, a historic building in downtown that has had a vibrant past and is approaching its 100th birthday but has been empty for almost two decades. 

An Atlanta-based apartment developer, Rotary Club of Fort Myers, a Fort Myers music recording studio owner and a Hollywood, California-affiliated technology company are the four suitors who submitted requests for proposal, city records show. 

From May until mid-June, the city advertised an RFP for the building at 2254 Edwards Drive. It is part of a structure that began construction in 1926 and opened in 1927 along the Caloosahatchee River before being relocated to the current site after the original building’s wood foundations began to decay. 

On Aug. 1, a social media rumor that the city had sold the building was debunked. The building cannot be sold without City Council approval. The building’s future is on the agenda for discussion at an Aug. 9 Council meeting. 

Jim Becker, owner of Sound Check Studios in Fort Myers since 1977, submitted a proposal to transform the hall into a new music recording studio. 

“I’m the one who pushed the city to do something,” Becker said. “When they put the RFP out there, all these other people came out. 

“We’re going to do concerts. And then anybody who wants to do meetings or parties. We’re going to have a recording studio in there, and it’s going to double as a concert venue. 

“I have the contacts to turn it into an internationally-drawing studio. I can make a fantastic studio, and it can probably be the biggest independent studio in the country. I can do so much more there. I can put high school bands in there. I can record orchestras in there. We can just slide the equipment in there and record, and then take it out when we have concerts.” 

Atlantic Realty Partners envisions moving the existing building to IMAG off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and building an apartment complex of about 250 units, said Richard Aaronson, CEO of the company. He acknowledged his plan would be met with resistance by historical preservationists, but he also noted the building already had been moved. 

“We think it’s probably one of the best locations in downtown Fort Myers because of its proximity to the core of downtown overlooking the water,” Aaronson said. “I think our proposal is for about 250 units.” 

That proposal is contingent upon the company reaching an agreement with Florida Repertory Theatre, which owns the adjacent parking lot that also would have to be a part of the deal. Twenty of the apartments would be reserved for theater workers. 

“We still, of course, need to have continued discussions with the theater,” Aaronson said. “They haven’t made a final decision whether they would want to lease us the adjacent lot. 

“Much of the structure is suspect right now in terms of its integrity. I believe that the current finished floor elevation doesn’t meet current flood requirements. It probably would require some major modifications to meet current flood requirements. We feel it can be better utilized in conjunction with other public facilities.” 

Rotary Club of Fort Myers seeks to partner with Florida Repertory Theatre on creating a new venue and a place for the club to meet once a week, its proposal said. 

“The whole idea behind that was that the city would still retain ownership of that space,” said Steve Belcher, president of the club, “and would be able to use it as an event space for any number of things. Just like the convention center. A lot of these spaces are too large. For smaller-type events, the city could rent it out. We could get behind raising the money necessary to do the renovations on the building. And we would be able to use it as our permanent club meeting spot. 

“We just felt that was a great vision for that space.” 

TMT Capital Group, based in New York City and Los Angeles, envisions the building as DREAMS Club, a technology hub. TMT stands for Technology-Media-Telecom. 

“This initiative envisions the Hall of 50 States not merely as a venue, but as a thriving center of innovation, learning and public engagement,” the application said. “Leveraging cutting-edge technology and rich historical heritage, the project aims to position Fort Myers as a hub for technological and cultural vibrancy.” 

TMT’s application said it would attract “global attention and tourism” through “high-profile events and festivals inspired by prestigious gatherings like Tribeca and Sundance (film festivals), with a special focus on health care and sports simulations.” 

The inside would be equipped with LED lighting and Augmented Realty/Virtual Realty stations. 

“Some of the people we work with did the special effects with Harry Potter,” said Vincent Butta, CEO of TMT Capital Group. “Our whole view of this is let’s educate people in this space.  The entire world of immersive technology includes AR/VR and just regular immersive technology, where you walk inside and feel like you’re in a completely different environment. We can teach and train people to create. We can also use it as a studio where Hollywood could book this place and actually produce things.” 

Whichever route the city decides would bring the building to a new chapter. 

Tracy Owens, a longtime former Fort Myers resident who now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, researched the building for her online newsletter, The Royal Palm Review. In a February post, she had some key dates in the building’s history. 

Over the years, parts of the building fell into disrepair. The existing structure has been moved at least twice, she said, and in 1964, it reopened as a USO hall. 

In 1981, it became a Fort Myers Tourist Center. 

In 2006, it closed. 

In 2022, it was repainted, including with murals. 

Gina Sabiston, chair of the Fort Myers Historic Preservation Commission, said she hoped the future of the building keeps it intact. 

“First off, I would agree right now the Hall of 50 states is an eyesore,” Sabiston said. “But when a person is sick, do you kill them right away? I think that you give them an opportunity to live. And to go through rehab and become whole again. And the Hall of 50 states is in good condition. As far as structurally, there are some issues overall with the building. But let’s give it an opportunity to become the jewel that it really could become with a little vision and a little trust and belief that Fort Myers is a wonderful jewel and doesn’t need to be Everyplace, USA.”