Fort Myers deems Yacht Basin unsafe, tells residents to leave boats
, 2022-10-07 12:34:14,
Lora Brooks has lived on her boat at the Fort Myers Yacht Basin since July 2017. It’s her only home that she shares with her two cats, Nemo and Mimi.
She was told Friday morning she needs to leave her home on the water in downtown Fort Myers and find somewhere else to stay because the marina was deemed unsafe and uninhabitable.
Everyone, including the nearly 40 people whose boats are their primary residences, was told to leave the area Friday morning by officials including code enforcement, fire marshal inspectors and police.
“I have no place to go,” Brooks said. “I feel hopeless, angry. They said that the boats can stay but we cannot.
“You spend your tax dollars on stuff that’s supposed to maintain your surroundings,” she added. “You pay your rent to people that are supposed to keep up your surroundings and keep your home area safe. And then you’re let down and told you just gotta go.”
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In a letter being handed to residents and boat owners, City Attorney Grant Alley said as the property owner, the city couldn’t safely allow the marina to be open due to the dangers or during damage assessment.
Residents on Friday morning blamed the city and Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson and said the marina hadn’t been properly maintained nor had the city hired a dock manager.
“We get hurricanes here, bad hurricanes all the time,” Brooks said. “They should have been better…
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