Fort Myers City Council is exploring plans to restore the Hall of 50 States, a 1927-era music and community hall downtown that has stood vacant for decades.
Council members at their Oct. 20 meeting voted to restart a process to consider proposals to restore the hall. There are two proposals currently on the table.
Earlier this year, Lee County restaurant industry veteran and performer John Healy and business partner Greg Dart presented plans to turn the hall into a live music venue. Healy’s plans call for a “transformative revitalization” of the property, including a multipurpose entertainment venue with music, theatrical, art and other cultural events.
On Oct. 20, council members also heard a proposal from Jim Becker, a Fort Myers music producer and recording engineer known for his work with both nationally recognized and local musicians. Since 1977, Becker and his family have owned and run Sound Check Studios downtown.
Fort Myers City Council members discuss redevelopment proposals during their Oct. 20 meeting, where they voted to restart the process to restore the Hall of 50 States.
Evan Williams
For years, Becker has pursued a passion project to turn Hall of 50 States into a concert hall and community event venue that is also a professional audio recording studio, according to a written proposal he provided city officials.
“I’m going to make [Hall of 50 States] what it originally was — a venue for concerts,” Becker told Council. “And also, a recording studio.”
It is a detailed proposal that includes a business plan with a breakdown of renovation costs and revenue, Becker’s vision for daily operations and letters of recommendation from local business and nonprofit arts leaders.
“We, at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, are excited for Sound Check Studios’ proposed use of the historic Hall of 50 States building,” wrote former Art Center President and CEO Jim Griffith in a letter dated May 17, 2024. “Mr. Becker is a lifelong member of our community and he exemplifies all of the admirable qualities that you look for in a servant of the community.”
In his plan, Becker offers to pay an estimated $1.125 million in renovations to the building in exchange for a 50-year lease for $1,000 per year with an option for him to purchase the property at any time during the lease with three months’ notice. He would also transfer his Sound Check studio equipment and operations on Jackson Street to the Hall of 50 States at 2254 Edwards Drive.
Cracked stucco and exposed brick mark years of wear on the Hall of 50 States building. A proposed restoration plan would repair structural damage and modernize the facility.
Evan Williams
Becker’s plan includes revitalizing the building in eight months, city permits notwithstanding. That includes fixes or upgrades to interior walls, handicap ramps, bathrooms, HVAC equipment, bathrooms, a sprinkler system, window replacements, stage upgrades and soundproofing the building.
He also envisions incorporating an attraction featuring Thomas Edison’s 1877 phonograph, the first device to both record sound and play it back.
The Hall of 50 States was part of the upstairs portion of the old Fort Myers Pleasure Pier constructed in 1927 off Carson Street. According to local historians, their pier was torn down in 1943 after being deemed unsafe. The upstairs hall was transported by barge and placed at its current location. It was later used as a USO hall, Chamber of Commerce building and civic center but fell out of use after the Harborside Event Center, now Caloosa Sound Convention Center, was built.
Becker has many other ideas for how to use the old hall. They include offering master recordings for groups that perform there along with local high school bands and choirs. His recording services also extend to audio commercials, voice overs and audio books.
The Hall of 50 States in downtown Fort Myers, built in 1927, once hosted community events and concerts. City officials are now considering proposals to restore the long-vacant landmark.
Evan Williams
Becker’s proposal boasts his studio’s work on a wide variety of genres including country, rock, gospel, blues, pop, rap and hip-hop. His commercial clients have included musicians such as The Chicks, Ray Charles and Mels Tillis and companies such as UPS, Castrol motor oil and Coca-Cola.
“Once opened, [Hall of 50 States] will be a draw for locals, and the concerts could even attract attendees from around the state and beyond,” Becker’s proposal reads.