Fort Myers City Council is moving forward with music producer and sound engineer Jim Becker’s proposal to transform the vacant Hall of 50 States into a downtown concert hall, community event venue and professional recording studio. Becker, owner of Sound Check Studios in downtown Fort Myers, gained Council’s support with a written proposal outlining his plans for the 1927-era music hall.
At an Oct. 27 work session, council members opted not to restart the solicitation process for new proposals. Earlier this month, they also declined a competing proposal from restaurant industry veteran and performer John Healy and business partner Greg Dart.
City staff said the next step will be drafting a letter of intent outlining tentative terms between Becker and the city. Becker offered to fund renovations, estimated at more than $1 million, in exchange for a 50-year lease with an option to purchase the property during the lease term.
Council member Liston Bochette asked when Becker could begin work.
“Immediately, once all the paperwork is in place,” Becker said, estimating the project would take about eight months to complete, pending permits.
A draft rendering shows proposed renovations for the rear wall of the historic Hall of 50 States in downtown Fort Myers. Music producer Jim Becker plans to transform the building into a concert hall, event venue and recording studio.
Fort Myers government
Mayor Kevin Anderson said he’s eager to see progress on the long-vacant building.
“I really don’t want to be having this conversation in five years,” Anderson said at an Oct. 20 Council meeting and again during the Oct. 27 session.
The Hall of 50 States was originally part of the Fort Myers Pleasure Pier, constructed in 1927 off Carson Street. After the pier was deemed unsafe and demolished, the hall was moved by barge to its current location on Edwards Drive. Over the decades, it has served as a USO hall, Chamber of Commerce building and civic center.
Becker’s proposal includes hosting concerts and community events while relocating his existing recording studio to the new site to provide full audio production services. He founded Sound Check Studios in 1977 and has worked with a wide range of national and local musicians and companies.
Plans also include an exhibit featuring Thomas Edison’s 1877 phonograph, the first device to both record and play back sound, as well as nonprofit initiatives such as training programs for sound engineers and free recording sessions for local school bands and choirs.
“It’s going to be a for-profit business,” Becker said, “but I’m doing some nonprofit.”