LATIMER CROSSING | CASE STUDY

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A mixed-use and mixed-income community where sustainable building practices support housing, resilience, and long-term community value.

Latimer Crossing is a 92-unit mixed-use and mixed-income residential community located along Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers, Florida. Developed as the first phase of the Greater Dunbar Initiative, the project was created to expand access to quality, attainable housing while contributing to the broader revitalization of the surrounding community.

Completed in November 2025, Latimer Crossing includes four residential buildings on a five-acre site, along with community, administrative, recreational, and commercial spaces. The development offers a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and includes amenities such as a fitness center, community room, business center, playground, and outdoor spaces.

Latimer Crossing achieved NGBS Green Certification at the Silver level, recognizing the project’s commitment to incorporating sustainable building practices into the development.

From the beginning, the design and ownership team was committed to establishing clear goals and making sure sustainability was considered throughout the project. It was about more than meeting compliance requirements—it was an integral part of the work. 

Creating quality affordable and mixed-income housing is about more than delivering new residential units. Successful communities need to balance affordability, resident needs, building performance, environmental responsibility, and long-term value.

Latimer Crossing was envisioned as part of a larger community investment in the Greater Dunbar area, one that would provide new housing and economic opportunities, while supporting a healthier, more connected, and resilient neighborhood.

For the project team, sustainability was therefore an important part of delivering a development that could serve residents today while contributing to the community’s long-term future.

Community Development Reimagined supported the project team in pursuing NGBS Green Certification, helping integrate sustainability considerations into the development process and supporting the project’s path toward certification.

CDR’s approach goes beyond treating green certification as a checklist. By bringing sustainability considerations into the project process, CDR helps teams translate certification goals into practical strategies that support building performance, resident well-being, and long-term community value.

For Latimer Crossing, this work contributed to the project achieving NGBS Green Certified Silver.

Latimer Crossing incorporates a number of features that support efficient, comfortable, and connected living. The community's apartments are designed as energy-efficient homes, oversized windows that provide natural light, highly efficient HVAC equipment, eco-friendly materials, and modern building systems and finishes.

Beyond the individual units, the development includes shared spaces designed to support community connection, including a community room, business center, fitness center, playground, and outdoor areas. The project also incorporates commercial spaces, opening the opportunity to residents and the community for economic development.

The project's location also contributes to connectivity, with access to major bus routes and nearby healthcare, shopping, dining, and other services.

Together, these elements demonstrate how sustainability can be approached at multiple scales, from building performance and resident comfort to access, connectivity, and community amenities.

Latimer Crossing opened in November 2025 as a 92-unit mixed-income community.
Its NGBS Green Silver Certification represents an important sustainability milestone for the project, while the development itself contributes to a broader effort to expand housing choices and strengthen the surrounding neighborhood.

For CDR, Latimer Crossing reflects the value of bringing sustainability expertise into projects where building performance, housing, and community development intersect.

Project: Latimer Crossing
Location: Fort Myers, Florida
Project Type: Mixed-Income Multifamily
Units: 92
Site: 5 acres
Building Area: 90,820 SF
Certification: NGBS Green Certified Silver
Completion: November 2025
Client: Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers
Architect: Parker/Mudgett/Smith Architects
Construction Manager: Chris-Tel Construction
CDR Role: NGBS Green Certification / Sustainability Consulting

Latimer Crossing demonstrates that sustainable development and attainable housing can move forward together. By integrating sustainability into the development process, project teams can create buildings that are not only more efficient, but also more responsive to the people and communities they serve.