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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\u201cAfter next weekend\u2019s gun show, the building I grew up selling sodas in will be surveyed for a future discussion,\u201d said Lee County Commissioner Mike Greenwell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Greenwell said the other near dozen facilities on the more than 100 acres property on Bayshore Road will be closed immediately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have a decent opening here now that the fair has been wrapped up and there\u2019s no future shows at the moment on the schedule to start this process,\u201d said Greenwell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair Association has manned the property for the last 25-plus years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOver that time of our partnership with the County, we (fair association) have dumped millions into this property, so we are optimistic for the future of this place,\u201d said the president of the fair association, Michael Peak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right now, there are estimated costs for the pros and cons of rebuilding versus renovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are looking at tens of millions of dollars for renovation,\u201d Greenwell said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the potential sunsetting of the current civic center, so is the contract between the county and the fair association. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat contract sunsets in September of this year,\u201d said Greenwell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below are the current projections for renovating and replacing the facilities on the fairgrounds property. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you look at the numbers and see all of the money the county would need to put into them, does it make sense to hand it back over if we aren\u2019t sold on that idea?\u201d said Commissioner Greenwell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were ensured that the 100th annual fair scheduled for 2024 will still happen no matter what the county decides. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will have a 100th fair,\u201d Greenwell said. \u201cYou have my guarantee on that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the day-to-day management and future of the fairground property could be changing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we can keep the fair on the current property, we are all for it,\u201d said Peak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
No decisions have been made at this time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fairgrounds will close entirely after the scheduled gun show at the civic center, which is scheduled for April 1-2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe gun show will be where we wrap up a long and overdue chapter,\u201d said Greenwell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lee County Commissioners will present options for the fairgrounds at the next commissioners meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 4. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe want to hear what the public wants for the property we all have come to love and share memories on,\u201d said Greenwell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n