Fort Myers’ Iconic Rainbow Cottages Are Being Rebuilt After Hurricane Ian

When Hurricane Ian tore through Florida in 2022, it destroyed not just thousands of homes, but decades of history—particularly in Fort Myers, where a collection of beloved rainbow-hued beach cottages were decimated by the horrifying storm.

The properties, which made up an idyllic beachfront community called Paradise Point, had originally been built in the 1960s and had become a local treasure in the six decades before the Category 5 hurricane touched down in the Sunshine State.

Further devastation came when the owners of those cottages, Dennis and Lisa Greenspon, announced that they would not make an effort to rebuild, saying in a statement that the structures were “no more.”

“We will miss all the close friendships that we have formed over the past 20 years,” the couple wrote on Oct. 4, 2022. “We will not be rebuilding. Cottages of Paradise Point is now a beautiful, cherished memory.”

But nearly four years later, it seems a rainbow is set to rise on Fort Myers Beach once again—with work now underway to restore the brightly colored homes, albeit as part of a very hefty investment that will see the once-quaint cottages turned into multimillion-dollar abodes.

Work—which is being overseen by Marvin Construction—on one of the cottages began in January, with at least two more planned to begin construction this year. But the newly built cottages will look far different from what stood on the Greenspons’ property before.

The old dwellings were dedicated as old-world Florida rentals; the new builds will be modernized and listed for sale, with prices starting at $2.6 million.  

They will also be designed to withstand extreme weather, perched much higher above the ground in a bid to protect them from potential flooding.

“The cottages, like many on Fort Myers Beach, were built in the late 50’s and early 60’s and as such they were built to the codes of that time,” Marvin Homes President Richard Durling tells Realtor.com®, in an email. “Constructed on wood piles and elevated slightly off the ground they survived over the decades, weathering storm after storm.

“But that was until Hurricane Ian came ashore on September 28, 2022. The little neighborhood of Paradise Point on the North end of Fort Myers Beach was hit hard. The 12 cottages there were completely destroyed.

“What was once colorful little beach cottages was now a pile of debris buried in the sand.”

Durling notes that the Greenspons are also ready to begin a new chapter of their lives, explaining that, while the couple is happy to rebuild the community where they enjoyed such success with rentals, they are planning to sell the cottages that will be built in their place.

“They were quite successful with those rentals,” Hurling explained to Business Observer. “But at this point in their lives, they’re thinking they just want to rebuild them and sell them. And then whoever buys them can rent them.”

Work on the first cottage—a bright pink structure spanning just over 2,100 square feet—is nearly completed, and construction on several other dwellings—one measuring 3,600-square feet and another that will be 2,053 square feet—is underway.

There are a total of 12 lots, with three rows and four lots in each, spanning from Estero Boulevard to the Gulf. The Greenspons own eight of the 12 lots, having purchased the first one in 2001.

Marvin Homes has already built a new home on one of the lots for the owner, and another is currently under construction for another owner under a different contractor. The other two lots remain vacant.

Built in the 1960s, the original cottages were constructed very low to the ground on wood pilings. While this method is typically acceptable, they aren’t as resilient as modern guidelines.

The new cottages will be built 15 feet above the ground on concrete pilings and reinforced to withstand 160-mile-an-hour winds. They will also feature hurricane-impact windows, doors, and metal roofs.

In tribute to the culture of Fort Myers Beach, the homes will each be brightly colored and have a uniquely designed floor plan.  

“The look and the feel we wanted to convey is that it is a beach home, a beach community, similar to what was there, but, obviously, not the same construction,” Durling explained.

The high-end reconstruction of the Cottages of Paradise Point follows the same pathway that much of Fort Myers Beach has undergone after Hurricane Ian, as the traditional, old-world community is being remodeled into a more modern, luxurious neighborhood.

The Fort Myers Beach Town Council is working to redevelop the destroyed community, holding its first reading and public hearing on Aug. 3 on a proposal to reconstruct the Silver Sands Resort on Estero Boulevard as well.

The proposal would rezone the property to permit a six-story, 60-room boutique hotel with ground-level parking, retail space, and a rooftop pool that overlooks the Gulf. Developers also would include access to Margaritaville’s facilities, such as the beach club and restaurants.

The original Silver Sands Resort had 22 small cottages but was destroyed by the hurricane. The Aug. 3 public hearing will be followed by a second reading and vote on Sept. 9, where approval would mean the project is slated to move forward.