{"id":175061,"date":"2026-03-02T15:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T15:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/175061\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T15:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T15:21:08","slug":"chr-purchases-former-fish-house-property-sanibel-captiva","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/175061\/","title":{"rendered":"CHR purchases former Fish House property – SANIBEL-CAPTIVA"},"content":{"rendered":"


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COMMUNITY HOUSING & RESOURCES
\nFrom left, Community Housing & Resources Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale and Board President Erika Steiner with Sanibel Captiva Community Bank Senior Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer and Portfolio Manager Rudi Hamer.<\/p>\n

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COMMUNITY HOUSING & RESOURCES
\nCommunity Housing & Resources reported that construction work on the new Harkey House at Riverview on Sanibel was about one-third of the way completed as of mid-February.<\/p>\n

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COMMUNITY HOUSING & RESOURCES
\nFrom left, Rachel Bielert with Community Housing & Resources Board Member Chuck Sterret and Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale at the Harkey House at Riverview.<\/p>\n

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Community Housing & Resources (CHR) recently acquired a new property on Sanibel and is moving through the process to develop it as additional affordable housing, with commercial space included.<\/p>\n

Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale reported that CHR purchased the former Fish House property on Periwinkle Way, located next to its Harkey House at Riverview project, in early February for $3.5 million. The owner donated $500,000 toward the $4 million total price, cutting the cost.<\/p>\n

It also received a $1 million donation from Bill and Laurie Harkey to buy the property.<\/p>\n

\u201cCHR is part of the economic resiliency of the community,\u201d she said, explaining that the need for workforce housing is going to increase as businesses return after the recent storms or new ones open.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past year, we\u2019re had over 100 inquires for housing,\u201d Decker-McHale noted.<\/p>\n

She added that if the project is approved, it will be a historic moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will enable, for the first time in 50 years, CHR and the city of Sanibel to reach the 3% goal of affordable housing that the state initiated when the city wanted to incorporate,\u201d Decker-McHale said.<\/p>\n

She reported that CHR had been using the Fish House property for staging for the Harkey House project \u2014 which will feature 15 residential units \u2014 when it was approached by the owner, who was willing to work with CHR on the purchase. Testing revealed that it would be an ideal acquisition.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe identified that this property will enable CHR to have a better ingress and egress for the Harkey House at Riverview by combining them,\u201d Decker-McHale said, noting that it would also address safety concerns for the fire district by providing more room for the large apparatuses during an emergency.<\/p>\n

The property features over two acres of mixed use for residential and commercial.<\/p>\n

A $17.5 million project is in the works to transform it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to have two buildings that are connected by a walkway and an elevator,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The plan consists of parking on the first floor, with three stories above it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re going to be raised for flooding issues,\u201d Decker-McHale said. \u201cSimilar to the Harkey House and very similar in design, except this building will be all concrete.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will be building the building resilient,\u201d she added. \u201cEverything will be energy efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n

The property will feature 39 one-bedroom, one-bathroom affordable housing apartments with almost 600 square feet for each, plus an additional 2,500 square feet dedicated for the commercial space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have more single individuals applying for housing,\u201d Decker-McHale said. \u201cWe will have commercial space on the property, as well, that will benefit the city with tax revenue.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Feb. 24, the Sanibel Planning Commission approved the density for the site.<\/p>\n

She reported that if the project receives approval from the Sanibel City Council at its March 17 meeting, there is a possible $9.75 million grant from Lee County on the table for the construction.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to have shovels on the ground in March for the county grant,\u201d Decker-McHale said.<\/p>\n

She noted that CHR will reach out to the fire district about using the commercial space for training.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce it is done, we will demolish the building and our project will go back in front of the (county) commissioners in May,\u201d Decker-McHale said, adding that if CHR is on track and hitting its milestones, it should receive approval, at which point they would sign the contracts in June regarding the grant.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we would start immediately,\u201d she said of the build.<\/p>\n

The estimated completion date is July 2028. The project must be done and occupied by 2029.<\/p>\n

Decker-McHale extended CHR\u2019s appreciation to city officials and staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve met with us to make sure that we\u2019re hitting the milestones that we need to hit and reviewing our plans and working with us to point out any potential issues,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Decker-McHale also voiced a major thank you to Jeff Good of ForthWright Construction, the company also working on the Harkey House, for helping to move along the new project quickly and efficiently.<\/p>\n

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank received praise, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve been wonderful to work with,\u201d she said, explaining that it is providing the gap funding needed for the project and pointing out Senior Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer and Portfolio Manager Rudi Hamer in particular. \u201cShe\u2019s really helped us work through the process.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I just want to thank the community,\u201d Decker-McHale added. \u201cThe community has been so supportive of CHR and understands the need for workforce housing.\u201d<\/p>\n

HARKEY HOUSE UPDATE<\/p>\n

On Feb. 12, CHR reported that the construction workers were about one-third of the way toward finishing its new residential property. The project is on pace to wrap up by the end of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are working the third-floor walls and the second-floor elevator shaft,\u201d Benchmark General Contractors Senior Superintendent James Cassen shared. \u201cOver the next few months, we will be setting the trusses on the roof, drying the building in, building out the interior framing of the units, starting the plumbing, electrical and mechanical roughs in the building, and setting the doors and windows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Named for the Harkeys, who gave $1.5 million to the project, the Harkey House is rising on the site of CHR\u2019s former Riverview, which was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Ian. CHR demolished it and launched a $7 million capital campaign to replace it, with the goal met in December. Ground broke in September on the project, which will feature 15 units designed to better withstand severe weather.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to see the new Harkey House at Riverview rising up where our old Riverview once stood,\u201d Decker-McHale shared. \u201cIt\u2019s a powerful symbol of our community\u2019s resilience and vision for every person to have a quality, affordable place to call home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Harkey House is at 1517 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.<\/p>\n

The Fish House property is at 1523 and 1531 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit sancapchr.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n


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