Goodland Fishing Cottage Restoration Plan Unveiled

They arrived on foot and by car. But mainly Goodland residents arrived by golf cart and low-speed vehicles. They were invited to share their opinions on the restoration of three 1920s-era fishing cottages, saved from the wrecking ball, during their April 18 Goodland Civic Association meeting in the Community Center on Mango Avenue.

Residents were assured by Marco Island Historical Museum Manager Rebecca Mazeroski that they are getting in on the ground floor of the project, slated to be completed in 18 months. County Commissioner Rick LoCastro, perhaps attempting to temper expectations, warned residents that the project's timeline is “very aggressive” by county standards. 

The project is being funded by a $500,000 preservation grant, a one-for-one grant that is funded equally by the county and the state.

"Rebecca and a whole bunch of people have done one thing super aggressively,” LoCastro said, “getting the money. I will tell you, just watching contracts from the county, that timeline is very aggressive. I mean, it took us half a year to install the Treviso Bay stoplight. Post-Hurricane Ian, all the people that do this work, poof, they're all in Fort Myers. The bottom line is we're way closer to restoring those cottages than we've ever been. Those things were supposed to be torn down years ago, as you guys know. So the good news is we have the Marco Island Historical Society, Parks and Rec, county leadership, all on board. We're all paddling in the same direction. We've got the money." 

The purpose of Mazeroski’s appearance was to get feedback from the Goodland residents. Mazeroski asked residents a series of open-ended questions about their wishes for the restoration project that will be executed on the east side of Margood Harbor Park on Pear Tree Avenue, where the three 1920s-era fishing cottages are currently located, along with a larger, 1950s-era fishing cottage that is targeted for demolition.

First, Mazeroski laid out the project’s timeline.

"In March, we received the okay to move forward,” Mazeroski said. "We want to be going to bid by the end of May, working with the architect that came up with the original plan. They're going to help us develop the bid that will go out to the contractors. It might take us about a good 30 days to write a solid bid because a poor bid is just as bad as no bid at all. Then we're going to have about 60 days to have that bid go out and then choose a contractor. So what you'll likely see sometime around October is the demolition and the abatement of the 50s-era fishing cottage. It's just the one cottage, I promise. And then after that, it’s going to be a little bit of a process. You're going to have to clear all that out, and then we're going to finally see everything we want to see, everything we think this whole project is about, which is the restoration piece. December is when we're going to see that, a good six months. Then we're going to have the installation of the interpretation signs, those final little pieces. So we're looking at about an 18-month process from soup to nuts.”

Mazeroski led a lively back and forth with residents about topics ranging from uncovering historic images to discovering the story residents want to tell future generations about their fishing village and artist enclave, nestled into the eastern shores of Marco Island. 

Goodland artist and community leader Tara O’Neill was quick to mention that certain families need to be recognized.

“The local fishing families that lived in the area,” Tara O’Neill said. “The Kirks, the Stevens. There are a lot of local people that are gone now. But they're all part of that history. I can think of three people right off the bat that I think could absolutely tell you the entire timeline without going through problems and down rabbit holes.”

Mazeroski said now is the time for residents to come forward with their images of Goodland from bygone years.

"I've already heard a couple people say they've got stuff squirreled away,” Mazeroski told the gathering. "You wouldn't necessarily have to donate the image to us. Just the rights to use the image. We would credit you and tell that it flows to your collection or your family.”

The 1920s-era fishing cottages were moved to Goodland from the Caxambas and Old Marco areas of Marco Island in 1949. Once comprised of fishing cottages, Goodland is losing their cottages and vintage homes year by year as property values on the island soar.

"I never like to assume I know it all,” Mazeroski said. “That's one of the reasons why I'm asking these questions. I think I have a lot of information to write the panels on my own or with Austin Bell, who's actually going to do the interpretation writing on this. Austin Bell is the curator of collections at the Marco Island Historical Society. I work together with him at the museum. A lot of the exhibits, the permanent exhibits at that museum, are being curated by him. So that's why we're tapping him to help us with the interpretation. He'll do research, and you guys will give the stories and background information to go with it.”

LoCastro urges Goodland residents to get behind the project. He also cautions that there is a lot of work to be done.

 “We're headed in a great direction,” LoCastro said. "Keep brainstorming. The way you can actually help us right now is to send anything to Rebecca. An old picture you found. We're going to need all that stuff way down the road. But at the county, we're working this thing right now so aggressively, the money, the contractor, and how far it goes, and then making command decisions. When we get that big chunk of money from the state, we don't just take it, and then the state goes away. There's going to be a lot of moving parts that we might not be able to perfectly control. They're going to have to approve the contractor. You're going to have a sneak peek into everything that's going to go out there.”

O’Neill is optimistic.

"I think the meeting offered great promise,” she said. “The museum stewards are taking on their tasks with great ability and sincere sensitivity. I was encouraged to see so much interest from the community itself. I think something beautiful is about to happen."