Cities across Florida are searching for practical ways to address housing affordability. In Fort Myers, local leaders are testing an innovative approach that combines city resources, private partnerships and underutilized land to create attainable homeownership opportunities for residents.

The City of Fort Myers’ Affordable Home Construction Program takes a straightforward approach: build homes using local contractors and sell them at cost to income-eligible residents. By removing developer markups and using city-owned land where possible, the program creates a pathway to homeownership for families who might otherwise be priced out of the market.

The idea originated when Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson and City Manager Marty Lawing began discussing how the city could better use the vacant lots it already owned. During those conversations, a simple question emerged. Why not build homes on those properties and sell them at cost to residents who qualify?

Working with the city’s Community Development Department, Fort Myers launched the program with the goal of building 50 homes over the next five years. The homes are available to families or individuals earning less than 120% of the area’s median household income, providing an attainable option for working residents.

The program reached a milestone in December 2024 when the city completed its first home. City officials, community partners and residents gathered at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Lincoln Boulevard to celebrate the occasion and the first homeowner selected through the program.

Latisha Jewett and her son became the first homeowners through the initiative. Selected from more than 300 applicants, Jewett purchased the newly constructed home at the city’s cost, resulting in a monthly housing payment roughly $600 less than her previous rent.

City leaders say the program’s benefits extend beyond the homeowner. Vacant city-owned lots that once required maintenance are transformed into active properties that strengthen neighborhoods and contribute to the local tax base.

Mayor Anderson described the program as a “win-win-win” for the community. The city puts unused land to productive use, local contractors help build the homes, and families gain access to affordable homeownership.

Funding for the first home came from the City of Fort Myers Affordable Housing Trust Fund, launched in 2022. The fund supports housing initiatives, including rental assistance for low-income residents, and helps cover construction costs for the program’s initial home.

The program is designed to be sustainable over time. As each home is sold, the proceeds are reinvested to help construct additional homes on other lots throughout the city. Fort Myers continues to work with local contractors to build more homes and expand the program’s reach.

While still in its early stages, the initiative is already drawing attention as a potential model for other municipalities looking to address housing challenges creatively. By leveraging public land, strategic funding and local partnerships, Fort Myers is demonstrating how cities can take an active role in expanding attainable housing opportunities.

With additional homes already underway and more planned in the coming years, the program is helping turn vacant land into something more meaningful – a place residents can call home.