Bernice S. Saxon, managing partner and co-founder, and Jozette V. Chack-On, a partner, of Saxon, Gilmore, Carraway & Gibbons, P.A., attended the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony of the Judge Isaac Anderson, Jr. Administrative Offices and HOPE VI Renaissance Preserve Project on October 18, 2011. The ceremony was held by the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, Florida (HACFM). In October 2005, the HACFM was awarded a $20 million HUD HOPE VI revitalization grant to transform an obsolete public housing project into the new Renaissance Preserve development. The redevelopment provides high quality, affordable housing for people in the community. Ms. Saxon and Ms. Chack-On, as well as other members of the firm, are happy to be a part of this success story by continuing to provide legal services in bringing the project to completion.
Marcus D. Goodson, Executive Director of HACFM, gave the opening remarks, followed by Pastor James A. Bing, for the Invocation/Blessing of the Community. Darlene Mitchell sang the National Anthem. Special guests included Jose Cintron, Director U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Councilwoman Teresa Watkins Brown, Rick Higgins, President of Norstar Development U.S.A., Joseph P. D’Alessandro, HACFM Chairman, Audrea Anderson and Justin Anderson.
The Administrative Offices building is named in honor of Judge Isaac Anderson, Jr., who was a native of Fort Myers. Judge Anderson was a man of strong character, and had a sincere desire to help people. He served as Director of Community Affairs for Fort Myers and later as Lee County’s lobbyist for state and federal funds. He opened his law office in Fort Myers to practice civil and criminal defense, and later was elected as a judge to the Circuit Court where he spent the remainder of his career. Judge Anderson was strongly committed to community service. He worked for the Dunbar Coalition and the Dunbar Improvement Association, whose mission is to provide affordable housing for the elderly and handicapped. His wife, Audrea, and son, Justin, spoke at the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony, and were accompanied by his eldest son, Isaac.
For full details on the event, please click here.