Community Housing & Resources gathered local dignitaries and supporters on Sept. 4 to break ground on a new affordable housing apartment complex on the former site of Riverview, which was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
CHR later demolished the Riverview complex located behind the 7-Eleven on Periwinkle Way, and launched a $7 million capital campaign to replace it. The new Riverview will feature 15 up-to-date, single-bedroom/bath living units designed to withstand harsh weather more effectively.
“This project will not only replace what was lost, but stand as a model of resilience,” CHR Executive Director Nicole McHale told the crowd of about 300 people.
“We launched a bold vision: to rebuild stronger, more resilient homes for those who make this community work and for seniors who deserve to age in place with dignity,” she added.
A rendering of the new Riverview apartment complex with 15 units
McHale also announced that the capital campaign has raised $6.8 million so far, news that prompted cheers and applause.
“Beyond the dollars raised, what matters most is the spirit of this community,” said McHale. “Families who gave despite their own losses. Businesses that understand housing is the foundation of a thriving economy. Volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and said, ‘We’re in this together.’”
CHR Board Chair Roger Grogman credited CHR staff, donors, supporters, and Sanibel’s “community of doers” for the milestone. “Sanibel is blessed with a lot of great and beneficial leadership,” he said. “The hard part isn’t getting the idea. The hard part is making it happen.”
Among those doers celebrating the new Riverview groundbreaking were donors Bill and Laurie Harkey, who gave $1 million to the effort. The local couple said they chose to support Riverview because it benefits people in the near term, allowing the Harkeys to witness that positive impact themselves.
“(The new Riverview) is going to be a great thing,” Bill Harkey said.
Sanibel City Councilmember Mike Miller emphasized the importance of CHR to employees across all business sectors, who drive the local economy. The city provides nearly $500,000 in funding to CHR to make housing accessible to these workers.
“That’s why CHR is so important—as Nicole says, providing essential homes for essential people,” Miller said.
Wanda McKittrick, a preschool teacher at Children’s Education Center of the Island, lived in the older Riverview and lost her apartment due to Ian.
“Even when I was displaced, living off the island, CHR kept checking in and making sure I was okay,” she said. McKittrick has since found new housing through CHR and helped reopen CECI after the storm.
A Bit of Bailey’s provided refreshments for the groundbreaking ceremony. Construction of the new Riverview is expected to take approximately one year. Anyone interested in contributing to the Riverview campaign to help meet the goal can contact CHR at (239) 472-1189 or visit sancapchr.org online.
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