Bonita Springs council approves demolition certificate for deteriorated downtown structure

Bonita Springs City Council voted unanimously to approve a special certificate of appropriateness allowing the demolition of the long‑deteriorated Good Bread building after council members said the structure is effectively a shell and an ongoing public‑safety and fiscal burden.

The motion to approve the demolition was moved and seconded during the consent‑agenda discussion and carried on a roll‑call vote. Supporters said the site is in such poor condition that preservation would be infeasible without substantially greater public expense and that the city already invests in other historic properties.

Council member Jesse, who moved the action, said the decision reflected a difficult but necessary choice: "Sometimes doing the hard thing isn't always the easy thing. ... We have given multiple bites at the apple. Now it's time for us as a city to act." Nigel argued the structure is not a usable building and presents safety risks, saying the downtown facade is essentially artificial plywood surrounding an unsafe shell and that removal removes an ongoing liability. Council member Chris characterized the surviving elements as more like a theatrical set than a preserved historic structure, and urged moving forward with property improvements near the Lyles Hotel.

Opponents at the dais and in council discussion urged continued effort to preserve local touchstones and asked the city to prioritize partnerships to protect other historic properties. Council member Jim Kim, while voting to approve demolition, asked the council to develop stronger preservation partnerships to protect other landmarks in coming years.

The council approved the special certificate by roll call (all members voting in favor). The mayor and staff indicated next steps will be to proceed with permitting and contract procurement for demolition and to explore ways to honor the site's history after removal.

The decision concludes repeated council and planning‑board review of the site; council members noted previous discussions, emails and public comment on the issue and emphasized the limits created by the building's condition and FEMA requirements cited in the discussion.

The council did not adopt a preservation plan for this property during the meeting; council members said they remained open to community proposals for commemorating the site once the physical structure is removed.