The Cottages of Paradise Point broke ground last week on a Gulf-front redevelopment on Fort Myers Beach, a symbolic and practical step in the barrier island’s long recovery from Hurricane Ian and a marker of renewed confidence in its future.
The ceremony at the longtime Paradise Point site, 452 Estero Blvd., drew former guests, past employees, community leaders and development partners. Hosted with the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, the event blended a construction milestone with reflection on a property that for more than two decades served as a gathering place for repeat visitors and island residents alike.
“This is a pivotal step in the rebuilding of Fort Myers Beach,” said Richard Durling, president of Marvin Homes, the project’s builder and development partner. “Paradise Point represents the spirit of this island — resilient, welcoming and deeply connected to the people who love it. Today is about honoring that spirit while building forward.”
Lisa Greenspon and Dennis Greenspon, owners of the former Paradise Point property, attend the Jan. 14 groundbreaking for the Cottages of Paradise Point redevelopment on Fort Myers Beach.
Cottages of Paradise Point
Owners Dennis and Lisa Greenspon traced the project’s long arc, from their purchase of the first cottage in 2001 through the expansion to eight cottages and the total loss of the property during Hurricane Ian in 2022. Dennis Greenspon said the site’s importance was rooted less in its buildings than in the relationships formed there.
“What made Paradise Point special was never just the cottages,” he said. “It was the feeling of family. Guests returned year after year, friendships were formed, and today many of those guests are standing here with us. Former employees, including our longtime property manager and maintenance man, are here too. That says everything about what this place meant.”
Greenspon thanked supporters who stayed engaged through years of uncertainty after the storm. “Fort Myers Beach is coming back — and we will be back,” he said. “Seeing everyone here today reminds us why rebuilding matters.”
The redevelopment will convert the historic site into a small, Gulf-front residential neighborhood designed to withstand modern coastal risks, with prices starting at $2.6 million. The first cottage now under construction is a 2,143-square-foot residence. Two additional cottages are planned for 2026, including a 3,607-square-foot Gulf-front home with a pool beneath the residence and a 2,053-square-foot Gulf-side cottage near beach access. Individual homesites are also available.
Community members, former guests and development partners gather Jan. 14 for the groundbreaking of the Cottages of Paradise Point redevelopment on Fort Myers Beach.
Cottages of Paradise Point
All homes are planned to meet or exceed current Federal Emergency Management Agency flood requirements, be engineered to withstand 160 mph winds and include impact-resistant windows and doors, blending storm resilience with architectural nods to the original cottages.