A sign for the Margaritaville development coming to Fort Myers Beach. FILE

On Aug. 13, the 17th anniversary of Hurricane Charley will be noted by the developers of Margaritaville as they put shovels in the ground at the Pierview Hotel property off 1160 Estero Boulevard to ceremoniously kick off a construction project that is expected to take two years.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council approved a permit for a groundbreaking ceremony to be held on that date for a catered event sponsored by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Arts.

While open to the public on the beach side, the event in the outdoors tent will be restricted to invitees only due to the nature of the construction site, TPI spokesperson John Gucciardo said. The event will get underway at about 3 p.m. with a groundbreaking to take place at about 3:15 p.m.

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jacki Liszak said the event will include music and refreshments and run until about 6 p.m. The groundbreaking will be on the beach, she said. At Monday’s meeting, Liszak said the event will include 1172 Estero Blvd., the former Cigar Hut site.

“We are so proud to be part of the long overdue revitalization of that area,” Gucciardo said. He noted the damage brought on by Hurricane Charley to the downtown area in what was one of the worst hurricanes to hit Fort Myers Beach and Florida.

“We will be following all of the CDC guidelines,” he said. “Unfortunately, because the property in question is a construction site, access to the actual groundbreaking ceremony will be limited to invitees only.” The event will also be streamed live on the company’s Facebook page, he said.

“We hope to see many of our loyal supporters there that day,” Gucciardo said.

There will be parking available at 151 Crescent Street.

At the same meeting Monday, the town council voted unanimously to accept the conveyance of property at 1054 Fifth Street from TPI-Fort Myers Beach. The exchange of property between the town and the developers was part of the town’s approval of the Margaritaville project in 2018.