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Rod and gun club proposed as first compact rural community in eastern Collier County 984 426 Madison Silvers

Rod and gun club proposed as first compact rural community in eastern Collier County
rendering of a residential area with small cottages and walkable paths set into green space

It’s a sometimes overused word, but a new community planned in eastern Collier County is unique.

It’s not a town, or a village.

It’s a compact development, the first one proposed under the county’s Rural Lands Stewardship Area, or RLSA, program.

The community’s name reflects its rural character. It’s dubbed the Collier Rod and Gun Club at the Preserve, with an emphasis on the word preserve.

Naples-based Barron Collier Cos. is behind the proposed development, about five miles east of Ave Maria and 10 miles south of Immokalee.

The project is still winding its way through the regulatory channels. It will go before county commissioners for final approval on Tuesday, but remains under review by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District, for its required permits.

The long-time local developer has proposed a seasonal, nature-inspired retreat, with no more than 225 single-family homes, or “cabins,” on about 260 acres, with a main entrance off State Road 29.

The Collier County Planning Commission and county staff are recommending approval of the two petitions.

When asked to share his thoughts on the development by the planning commission at a hearing in August, Mike Bosi, the county’s planning and zoning director, said: “Staff’s a pretty muted group, but we like it.”

Louise Le Gardeur, an associate principal with Hart Howerton, a design firm and consultant on the project, told the advisory board that the development would celebrate, rather than try to tame, the Everglades’ “powerful ecology.”

“Our firm’s and our client’s shared goal is to create a club community that respects and builds upon the existing natural characteristics and land’s heritage, the indigenous ecology, and the preservation of native features,” she said in her presentation. “In order to accomplish this, these projects preserve wetland areas and extend forested areas, enhancing the overall natural environment.”

Read the full article in the Naples Daily News.

Naples Beach Club presents new plans for mixed-use multifamily development 1024 585 Madison Silvers

Naples Beach Club presents new plans for mixed-use multifamily development

aerial rendering . diagram of a resort set on the beach with dense greenery surrounding

Naples Beach Club in partnership with Hart Howerton architectural firm presented a preliminary design concept for multiple buildings across what will be a Four Seasons resort at the site of the demolished Naples Beach Hotel.  

The Athens Group, which owns luxury hotels across the country, purchased the property in 2021 for more than $362 million, but Naples Beach Club still owns 10 acres on the east side of Gulf Shore Boulevard North.  

The preliminary design review was originally heard in 2018 for redevelopment of the entire Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club property, including the hotel. Since then, the area underwent a lot of change due to the COVID-19 pandemic, entering an operating agreement with Four Seasons and Hurricane Ian. The changes prompted a need to restart the review process.  

“The combined influence of both physical and operational factors resulted in today’s hearing,” Hart Howerton architect Tim McCarthy said.  

There are three separate buildings up for review, across Gulf Shore Boulevard from where the new Four Seasons resort will stand. The northernmost building is proposed to be a six-story multifamily mixed-use structure. The center building is planned for a three-story commercial structure with a single-story food and beverage location. The southernmost building will be a two-story clubhouse structure. Underneath the property will be a below-ground garage. 

There are a handful of changes to the new site plan compared to what Naples City Council approved in 2019. “We’ve remained consistent with the vision outlined in our public outreach, provision that will protect preserve and enhance the unique components of the property, while incorporating world-leading trends for best-in-class development,” McCarthy said. 

Specific changes include eliminating the previously approved family barn in favor of having more open space and landscape. Within that area will be a smaller ice cream pavilion that downsizes and relocates the previously proposed Sugar Shack and treehouse.

Read the full article in Gulf Shore Business.

Design Review Board gives final thumbs up to revised plans to upgrade, expand HB’s in Naples 722 406 Madison Silvers

Design Review Board gives final thumbs up to revised plans to upgrade, expand HB’s in Naples

seaside rendering looking at the beach from the water. A large resort like complex sits on the sand wit clear blue water, lush greenery and beach goers

The Naples Design Review Board has approved a revised plan to upgrade and expand the popular HB’s on the Gulf restaurant.

The board voted 4-1 in favor of the scheme on Wednesday, paving the way for permitting.

The new architectural design includes the addition of a private dining room that will offer a chef’s table experience.

The experience would allow diners to get up close and personal with the chef and enjoy a more memorable interactive meal, explained Tim McCarthy, a project architect with Hart Howerton in New York.

The board applauded the more immersive dining approach.

“I’ve not seen that,” said member Lindsey Bulloch.

Other tweaks include moving a chimney and adding a fabric awning to the roofline and to provide more shading across the western edge of the waterfront restaurant, steps away from the Gulf of Mexico.

“We moved away from a solid roof,” McCarthy said.

The awning replicates ones from HB’s early days, harkening to its legacy of warm hospitality in Naples — with an old Florida feel.

Opportunities to improve the renovation plans

The Design Review Board approved plans for a rebuild of HB’s and the neighboring Sunset Beach Bar more than a year ago, presented by its previous longtime owners, the Watkins family.

The new owners and developers of the property, The Athens Group, supported that plan, but saw opportunities to improve upon it, McCarthy said.

The developer faced a few hiccups and hurdles before getting back to the Design Review Board.

With its revised plan approved, the developer can now apply for building permits to start the renovations. That right had expired, under the initial plan proposed by the Watkinses.

From the get-go, The Athens Group has promised to ensure HB’s and the Sunset Beach Bar and their traditions remain a focal point of its upscale resort development known as Naples Beach Club.

The resort project will feature luxury condos and a Four Seasons Resort on a 125-acre site, including the existing 18-hole golf course and a new Market Square.

The new development will replace the landmark Naples Beach Hotel, owned and operated by the Watkins family for more than 70 years.

While it took longer than expected, The Athens Group can carry out the renovations in the safest and smartest way possible now, taking advantage of the latest building codes and science in Florida, McCarthy said.

That’s because during the delay the developer secured a change in the property’s flood zone designation by the Federal  Emergency Management Agency, he said, which will allow for the use of better construction technology, including dry floodproofing.

Importantly, McCarthy said, the “toes-in-the-sand” feel will not be lost.

The plan is to expand HB’s by 3,500 square feet, while preserving its views and unassuming, coastal building style, including its metal roof.

Design Review Board, public weighs in on improvements to HB’s

Board member Luke Fredrickson liked the latest changes.

“It’s fun to see the evolution come together and see talented architectural firms deal with these issues and make changes in my opinion that actually improve the design of the project,” he said.

Others agreed.

Several board members felt the improvements to HB’s could have been even better, considering the caliber of its architects and the big financial commitment by the developer and its investors. They suggested there could have been lusher landscaping and vaster shading, setting a new bar for others to follow in Naples.

While she clearly liked some of the new features, member Adriane Orion shot down the final plan, saying it wasn’t climate-responsive and sorely lacked the required energy-efficient architectural and design features to reduce its impact on the natural environment.

“Absolutely not. No,” she said in casting her lone no vote.

Naples resident Miranda Sharkey spoke in favor of the planned improvements to HB’s and the Sunset Beach Bar, encouraging the Design Review Board to move them along.

HB’s, she said, holds a special place not only in her heart, but in the hearts of her family and friends, who’ve shared special moments there, enjoying its delicious food and friendly, customer-focused atmosphere, while taking in its beautiful sunsets.

She looks forward to the opening of the much-improved restaurant and bar.

“The community will be grateful for this gift,” Sharkey said. “I know I am, and my family.”

Project marches on despite opposition from angry neighbor

Neighbor Greg Myers continued to voice his opposition to the planned renovations to the restaurant and bar, urging the Design Review Board not to give them the green light.

After making his brief comments, he said: “I see stares from the board. I have no faith in this board, other than a few people. And I doubt you will do the right thing.”

Myers also objected to a final landscaping scheme for a maintenance building and chiller plant on the golf course, which the Design Review Board also approved Wednesday,

Myers told the board if it didn’t do the right thing, a judge would, suggesting he might pursue a legal challenge if the votes didn’t go his way.

In his persistent attempts to stop the Naples Beach Club redevelopment project, on the whole, Myers has filed a string of suits against the city, the developers and others over the past 15 months, most of which are pending.

In May, a Collier Circuit Court dealt him a big blow in his property rights dispute, granting summary judgment in favor of the developers and current and previous owners.

Based on publicly recorded plats and easements, Myers asserted he and his wife had an interest in the resort property, so they should have more power to determine what becomes of it.

Judge Lauren Brodie found otherwise, ruling that the couple failed to present evidence “sufficient” to “sustain their claims” of any such right to influence or block the development.

Reaction to Design Review Board’s favorable votes

After Wednesday’s Design Review Board meeting, Myers shot off an email to its members and city leaders, including the mayor, expressing his disappointment with its favorable decisions.

He claimed the board approved “18,500 square feet of commercial/industrial buildings on land designated ‘public, semi-public and private recreation and open space'” in the city’s comprehensive plan, which allows for “zero density/zero intensity.”

“What a bunch of dopes,” he wrote.

Further, Myers warned that if The Athens Group “elects to move forward knowing that the zoning approvals are inconsistent with the comprehensive plan’s future land use designation, they do so at their own peril.”

He concluded his email with two words: “Fed up.”

In a reply to his email, board member Orion said: “Sir, you are rude and it is distasteful.”

Although there are disagreements, she wrote, the board and everyone else involved in the redevelopment project are “all trying to do their best for our community.”

City planners have found the planned development consistent and compatible, with no concerns about any part of it, including the upgrades to HB’s and the Sunset Beach Bar.

The Athens Group has described Myers’s lawsuits and legal and procedural challenges as baseless and “without merit.”

His motives are unclear.

In a statement, Jay Newman, the developer’s chief operating officer, said the company’s leaders are pleased with the Design Review Board’s continued support and appreciated its time and ‘thoughtful input” on Wednesday.

“We look forward to renovating HB’s and the Sunset Bar, carrying on the legacy, and returning them much improved and more beautiful than ever to the community,” he said.

Read the article in the Naples Daily News.

This Florida Coastal City Is One of the Best Places to Move in the U.S. — Here’s Why 1024 669 Madison Silvers

This Florida Coastal City Is One of the Best Places to Move in the U.S. — Here’s Why

Spoilers, it’s not Miami.

sunset pier beach scene / photo

Naples has always been popular with vacationers and second home buyers seeking a fun, family-friendly environment to escape to in the Sunshine State. Known for its dreamy, white-sand beaches and world-class golf courses, this Gulf of Mexico city is also emerging as a major luxury destination in which to invest and live. The city has been part of the Blue Zones Project since 2015, which works to make communities across the country healthier and happier. Since then, East Naples has had the most significant improvement in Southwest Florida, up 6.7% since the project started.

“Once you move to Naples, you can take 10 years off your age,” Ardel McKenna, real estate associate at Coldwell Banker, joked, pointing out some of the city’s major recreational draws such as sailing, fishing, and almost 90 golf courses. “If you want to be outdoors, it’s the best place in the world because it’s always sunny.”

And with more people working remotely than ever, Naples has quickly become the primary home of many urbanites relocating from cities such as Chicago and New York City. In fact, it now holds the title of the safest place to live, according to a recent U.S. News survey, and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, attracting not just retirees but also younger couples. In 2021, Naples had the most home sales per capita of all mid-size markets in the U.S., and the average home price jumped a whopping $200,000 year-over-year (more than 30%). In June 2022, the median home price in the city was $739,000.

“Our average buyer is now 42 years old. [Naples] is very vibrant. It has restaurants, nightlife, and a lot of fun things. There is always something new on the horizon in Naples,” Dawn McKenna, a Coldwell Banker broker specializing in luxury real estate, told T+L. “I would say we are probably closest from a real estate perspective to Palm Beach. The difference is Palm Beach Island is — like all of Naples — walkable. But Palm Beach Island is very small, so when you go out to West Palm Beach, it gets very dense. Naples is a little bigger and doesn’t have that.”

Lower density is just one factor that makes Naples a more attractive destination than traditional luxury markets such as Miami or Palm Beach. Naples Municipal Airport (APF) is just a 10-minute drive from the city’s downtown and caters to private and chartered flights (in 2020, it was one of only three private airports countrywide that saw an uptick in activity). Naples’s 5th Avenue South and Waterside Shops are home to some of the best designer shopping, and new luxury developments are popping up all over town.

Four Seasons is making its debut on the Gulf Coast with Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, a sprawling 125-acre community that will consist of a 216-room hotel and 185 luxury residences. The property, designed by Hart Howerton with interiors by Champalimaud Design, is projected to open in 2024. Kalea Bay, five high-rise towers in North Naples offering gorgeous Gulf of Mexico views, an open-air gym, several pools, and tennis courts, among many other amenities, features three- and four-bedroom fully furnished residences. Most of the Kalea Bay condos have been sold for two years, and residents will finally move in this fall.

Read the full article at Travel + Leisure.

Design Review Board approves plans for new hotel at Naples Beach Club 722 406 Madison Silvers

Design Review Board approves plans for new hotel at Naples Beach Club

Plans for the hotel to replace the historic Naples Beach Hotel were granted final design approval last week by a 3-2 vote of the city’s Design Review Board. 

After months of legal challenges, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club sold Oct. 14 for more than $362 million. The Athens Group and MSD Partners acquired the nearly 125-acre Gulf-front property in Naples for redevelopment of the Naples Beach Club with a 216-room hotel and resort managed by Four Seasons, up to 185 luxury residences and upscale club amenities. After being owned and operated for nearly 75 years by three generations of the Watkins family, the Beach Club permanently closed last May but its sale was delayed by legal challenges filed by Greg Myers, a neighbor on Gulf Shore Boulevard North, who opposes the redevelopment. 

During the public comment period near the end of last week’s Design Review Board meeting, Myers threatened to name DRB members in a lawsuit if they approved the proposed plans because he said only City Council, not the DRB, is authorized to make changes to the resolution made in November 2019 regarding site plan deviations for the development. Myers deemed the entire process outrageous. “It is my position that no part of this 124-acre project is lawful,” he said. Subsequently, DRB members David Driapsa and Adriane Orion both voted no on the hotel design plans. 

The hotel project was initially approved in 2018 by the DRB, which later rescinded its approval after inconsistencies found with the site plan deviations became a zoning matter. Since then, a kiddie pool that encroached on a front yard setback was removed, the hotel wing near the shore was narrowed and modifications were made to the transition between two outdoor swimming pools. Other adjustments were made to parking spaces outside of the hotel. 

As part of the preliminary design review of the project in 2018, the DRB included 10 conditions to the approval, said Leslee Dulmer, the city’s deputy planning director. “Following that, the project went through entitlement, an extensive entitlement process, and then returned for final design approval in June of 2021 for the hotel property and the Market Square property,” Dulmer said. “Following that design review approval, some inconsistencies with the design and the entitlements, specifically the site plan with deviations approvals granted by City Council were identified, and in October this board rescinded and vacated those approvals for the hotel and for the Market Square properties.” 

Since last summer, the petitioners completed a revision to their site plan proposal. In March, city staff found those changes sufficient, Dulmer said.

In addition to a new hotel, the developer plans to build luxury towers along both sides of Gulf Shore Boulevard as well as the Market Square public amenity space on the eastern side of the boulevard. The recent DRB petition submitted and approved was only for the hotel and did not include the property’s golf course, Market Square, beachfront condominiums proposed north of the hotel, property east of Gulf Shore Boulevard nor proposed renovations to HB’s on the Gulf restaurant. 

Staff recommended two conditions for approval involving landscaping and signage. Renovations to HB’s and the adjacent Sunset Beach Bar & Grill will be considered under a separate petition at a later date, Dulmer said. 

A construction timeline for the hotel has not been revealed yet. Some landscaping has already been cleared on the property and work is actively underway to secure demolition permits for the old hotel, said Leslie Neville, an associate principal at New York-based Hart Howerton architectural firm, who presented the architectural plans to the City Council-appointed volunteer board on March 30. Her presentation to the DRB provided an elaborate tour of the proposed 46,832-square-foot Naples Beach Club Four Seasons hotel to be built at the resort site on the southwest corner of Gulf Shore Boulevard North and Eighth Avenue North. The seven-story hotel, which will feature an iconic cupola, will step down to five stories nearest the Gulf. 

“Our architectural approach to a building of this scale in this neighborhood is to break it down into traditional proportions and composition,” Neville said. “So, throughout, you’ll see an articulated base that is different from a middle portion of the building that is different from the topmost portion of the building, where we vary materials to break down the scale.” 

Read the full article at Gulfshore Business.

Four Seasons to debut in Naples, Florida 384 384 Madison Silvers

Four Seasons to debut in Naples, Florida

The Athens Group and MSD Partners, L.P. have announced the acquisition of Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, which will become the first Four Seasons and First Discovery Land project on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Here’s what we know…

seaside rendering looking at the beach from the water. A large resort like complex sits on the sand wit clear blue water, lush greenery and beach goers

The Athens Group and MSD Partners, L.P. have announced that they have acquired the legendary former Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, set on 1,000 feet of white-sand beach in iconic Old Naples. Athens and MSD will be redeveloping the site into the Naples Beach Club, a 125-acre resort and residential beachfront development offering a one-of-a-kind, luxury lifestyle destination to residents, members, and guests.

“Our partnership with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Discovery Land Company reinforces our commitment to develop the finest luxury resort on Florida’s Gulf Coast,” said Kim Richards, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Athens Group. “Naples Beach Club will be a contemporary interpretation of the traditions, style and spirit of Old Naples.” 

The special coastal community will include a 216-key hotel managed by leading luxury hospitality company Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, up to 185 luxury residences and unparalleled club amenities curated by Discovery Land Company, the developer and operator of world-renowned private residential club communities. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2022. 

“We are excited to partner with The Athens Group on the development of this extraordinary property, and we are thrilled to be working with Four Seasons and Discovery Land on what will be a first-time collaboration for this world-class team,” added Barry Sholem, Partner and Chairman of Real Estate, MSD Partners. 

“We are proud to be a partner in this exceptional project, bringing the vision of MSD and Athens to life by setting a new standard of luxury in Naples.” – John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.

The 216-room Four Seasons Resort will complement the luxury residences as a retreat exuding the grandeur of a private beachfront Floridian estate. 

“The incredible Naples Beach Club marks the debut of Four Seasons on Florida’s Gulf Coast, complementing our existing portfolio of luxury properties throughout the state,” said John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are proud to be a partner in this exceptional project, bringing the vision of MSD and Athens to life by setting a new standard of luxury in Naples and delivering our brand’s personalized service and quality excellence to this beloved beachfront community.” 

The Resort will include spacious guestrooms and suites with lounging porches, walk-in closets and luxurious five-fixture bathrooms. Resort amenities will include inspired indoor and outdoor lounges and restaurants flowing from the hotel lobby, a beachside garden with outdoor pools, cabanas and an event lawn, upscale retail stores, an event ballroom, and multiple dining experiences with dramatic views of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, Market Square, located near the golf course, will be a vibrant gathering place for the Naples Beach Club community, offering a general store, a bar and grill with a game room and a bowling alley, a Kids Club, casual eateries, including an ice cream pavilion, and an expansive lawn. 

“Naples Beach Club represents a natural extension of our portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts, including our Four Seasons properties in Wailea and Hualalai, the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, and The Boca Raton.  We are delighted to be partnering with Athens, Four Seasons and Discovery Land on this iconic development,” said Coburn Packard, Partner and Head of Real Estate, MSD Partners.     

The newly imagined Naples Beach Club will feature up to 185 homes designed by renowned architectural firm Hart Howerton with interiors by Champalimaud Design. The first phase of homes will include 58 Beachfront Residences with four Beach Houses and four Penthouses as well as 12 Golfside Residences, all conveying the Gulf Coast’s relaxed aesthetic.

Additionally, Naples Beach Club will offer residents and members unmatched and inspired club amenities curated by private-club developer and operator Discovery Land Company. Exceptional multi-generational and health-focused experiences will include a variety of wellness amenities along with golf and tennis, an indoor/outdoor fitness centre and a world-class spa.

“The Residences at Naples Beach Club will set a new standard for Naples living, located in the heart of the vibrant Naples community, while also providing owners with an intimate club experience located directly outside their door,” said Michael Meldman, Chairman, Discovery Land Company. 

Read the article at Hotel Designs.

THE ATHENS GROUP AND MSD PARTNERS, L.P. ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GOLF CLUB AND ITS REDEVELOPMENT AS THE NAPLES BEACH CLUB, A RESORT AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IN ICONIC OLD NAPLES 722 406 Madison Silvers

THE ATHENS GROUP AND MSD PARTNERS, L.P. ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF NAPLES BEACH HOTEL & GOLF CLUB AND ITS REDEVELOPMENT AS THE NAPLES BEACH CLUB, A RESORT AND RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IN ICONIC OLD NAPLES

Naples Beach Club will be the first Four Seasons and first Discovery Land Project on Florida’s Gulf Coast

seaside rendering looking at the beach from the water. A large resort like complex sits on the sand wit clear blue water, lush greenery and beach goers

The Athens Group and MSD Partners, L.P. announced today that they have acquired the legendary former Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, set on 1,000 feet (300 metres) of white-sand beach in iconic Old Naples. Athens and MSD will be redeveloping the site into the Naples Beach Club, a 125-acre (50 hectare) resort and residential beachfront development offering a one-of-a-kind, luxury lifestyle destination to residents, members, and guests. This special coastal community will include a 216-room hotel managed by leading luxury hospitality company Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, up to 185 luxury residences and unparalleled club amenities curated by Discovery Land Company, the developer and operator of world-renowned private residential club communities.

“Our partnership with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Discovery Land Company reinforces our commitment to develop the finest luxury resort on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Naples Beach Club will be a contemporary interpretation of the traditions, style and spirit of Old Naples,” said Kim Richards, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Athens Group.

“We are excited to partner with The Athens Group on the development of this extraordinary property, and we are thrilled to be working with Four Seasons and Discovery Land on what will be a first-time collaboration for this world-class team,” added Barry Sholem, Partner and Chairman of Real Estate, MSD Partners.

Four Seasons Resort Debuts in Naples

A 216-room Four Seasons Resort will complement the luxury residences as a retreat exuding the grandeur of a private beachfront Floridian estate.

“The incredible Naples Beach Club marks the debut of Four Seasons on Florida’s Gulf Coast, complementing our existing portfolio of luxury properties throughout the state,” said John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are proud to be a partner in this exceptional project, bringing the vision of MSD and Athens to life by setting a new standard of luxury in Naples and delivering our brand’s personalised service and quality excellence to this beloved beachfront community.”

The Resort will include spacious guest rooms and suites with lounging porches, walk-in closets and luxurious five-fixture bathrooms. Resort amenities will include inspired indoor and outdoor lounges and restaurants flowing from the hotel lobby, a beachside garden with outdoor pools, cabanas and an event lawn, upscale retail stores, an event ballroom, and multiple dining experiences with dramatic views of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, Market Square, located near the golf course, will be a vibrant gathering place for the Naples Beach Club community, offering a general store, a bar and grill with a game room and a bowling alley, a Kids Club, casual eateries including an ice cream pavilion, and an expansive lawn.

“Naples Beach Club represents a natural extension of our portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts, including our Four Seasons properties in Wailea and Hualalai, the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, and The Boca Raton.  We are delighted to be partnering with Athens, Four Seasons and Discovery Land on this iconic development,” said Coburn Packard, Partner and Head of Real Estate, MSD Partners.

Extraordinary Luxury Residences and Amenities to Inspire Community

The newly imagined Naples Beach Club will feature up to 185 homes designed by renowned architectural firm Hart Howerton with interiors by Champalimaud Design. The first phase of homes will include 58 Beachfront Residences with four Beach Houses and four Penthouses as well as 12 Golfside Residences, all conveying the Gulf Coast’s relaxed aesthetic.

Additionally, Naples Beach Club will offer residents and members unmatched and inspired club amenities curated by private-club developer and operator Discovery Land Company. Exceptional multi-generational and health-focused experiences will include a variety of wellness amenities along with golf and tennis, an indoor/outdoor fitness centre and a world-class spa.

“The Residences at Naples Beach Club will set a new standard for Naples living, located in the heart of the vibrant Naples community, while also providing owners with an intimate club experience located directly outside their door,” said Michael Meldman, Chairman, Discovery Land Company.

Construction is scheduled to commence in 2022. Pre-sales for the first phase of residences launched earlier this year.

For more information, visit www.naplesbeachclub.com or email directly info@naplesbeachclub.com.

About The Athens Group

For more than 30 years, The Athens Group has been widely regarded as one of the nation’s preeminent developers of upscale resort communities, luxury resort and urban hotels, golf courses and related residential and recreational properties, having developed properties including Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, Montage Laguna Beach and Montage Deer Valley.

About MSD Partners

MSD Partners, L.P. is an SEC-registered investment adviser that utilizes a multi-disciplinary strategy focused on maximizing long-term capital appreciation by making investments across the globe in its core areas of expertise – Credit, Real Estate, Private Capital and Growth. MSD Partners was formed in 2009 by the partners of MSD Capital, L.P., which is the family investment office for Michael Dell, the Founder & CEO of Dell Technologies. MSD Capital was originally established in 1998. Michael Dell and his family are substantial clients of MSD Partners. Together, MSD Capital and MSD Partners manage over USD 22.0 billion of assets and are currently invested in nearly USD 8.0 billion of real estate. In addition to Naples Beach Club, MSD’s investments include Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii, the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, The Boca Raton, significant holdings on Knox Street in Dallas, over 13,000 multifamily units and numerous developments in Austin, Texas including 601 W. 2nd Street, which will, upon completion, be the tallest office tower in Austin.  Additional information regarding MSD Partners, which operates from offices in New York, Santa Monica and West Palm Beach, may be found at msdpartners.com.

About Discovery Land Company

Discovery Land Company is a US-based real estate developer and operator of private residential club communities and resorts with a world-renowned portfolio of domestic and international properties. Some of their properties include Baker’s Bay in the Bahamas, Gozzer Ranch in Idaho, El Dorado and Chileno Bay in Los Cabos, Mexico, Yellowstone Club in Montana, and Kuki’o and Makena in Hawaii.

About Hart Howerton

With headquarters in New York and San Francisco, this global team of architects, landscape architects, planners, and strategists brings an interdisciplinary perspective to some of the world’s most sensitive environments—creating sustainable places that become successful hospitality ventures for their investors and lasting legacies as resorts. Past projects include Kukio Golf and Beach Club and Montage Palmetto Bluff.

About Champalimaud Design

Headquartered in New York City, this multi-disciplinary design and planning firm specialises in bespoke, high-end hospitality and residential design. The firm’s forward-thinking design teams have partnered with global clients to create some of the world’s most distinctive properties, including the Beverly Hills Hotel Bungalows and The Plaza New York.

Read the original press release here.

Find continued circulation of today’s, October 19, 2021, press release at Hospitality Net, Hotel Management, WCAX, and WKYT.

In the Know photos: Construction of the “new” Old Naples Hotel is set for May 1024 768 Madison Silvers

In the Know photos: Construction of the “new” Old Naples Hotel is set for May
Rendering of Old Naples Hotel in downtown Naples. View from the courtyard.

Rendering of Old Naples Hotel in downtown Naples. View from the courtyard.
COURTESY/HART HOWERTON

 

Naples Hotel ca 1919

Naples Hotel ca 1919
STATE ARCHIVES OF FLORIDA, FLORIDAMEMORY.COM

 

Tim McCarthy, architect for Hart Howerton, presents latest plans on Old Naples Hotel in a pop-up shop at Third Street Plaza.

Tim McCarthy, an architect for Hart Howerton, presents the latest plans on Old Naples Hotel in a pop-up shop at Third Street Plaza.
LAURA LAYDEN

See the full gallery of images at Naples News.

Naples City Council unanimously approves new resort to replace Naples Beach Hotel 540 322 Madison Silvers

Naples City Council unanimously approves new resort to replace Naples Beach Hotel

Naples City Council has approved plans for a new five-star resort that will take the place of the historic Naples Beach Hotel.

The developer has said the plans are designed to continue the traditions that have made the storied hotel an important part of the fabric of the community, but the project has drawn mixed reactions in the community.

With two unanimous votes of 7-0 Wednesday, the City Council approved a site plan with deviations — or exceptions — from city codes and a developer rights agreement setting the standards for the redevelopment of the hotel.

The decisions came after a day-long hearing, during which all aspects of the multi-million-dollar project were presented and considered in great detail.

The Athens Group plans to raze the beach hotel and build a smaller luxury resort, with “best-in-class” residential condos along both sides of Gulf Shore Boulevard North.

The Athens Group President Kim Richards issued a statement thanking the community for its support.

“Undertaking this project is a responsibility we take joyfully yet seriously, not only for the City of Naples but also for the Watkins family and the legacy of hospitality they have forged in this community,” the statement reads. “It is an honor to follow in their footsteps, and we look forward to stewarding the next generation of the Naples Beach Hotel.”

aerial image of the proposed naples beach hotel and golf club.

In a separate but related vote, the City Council also gave a unanimous thumbs-up to the revised development plan for the condos after getting some minor concessions from The Athens Group. A second hearing will be required to finalize the vote on this part of the project.

At the second hearing, slated for Dec. 4., council members will once again vote on the changes to the development plan for the residences — as well as the proposed site plan that goes with it.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the City Council had a first look at the hotel’s design, which generated a host of questions, including why the developer needed a cupola on top of it that would exceed the city’s allowable height limits.

Tim McCarthy, an architect for Hart Howerton, explained the importance of the cupola, saying it represented an opportunity to “define hospitality in the future,” and a way to “extend the Watkins legacy.” The alternative, he said, would be a design that would simply not have the same panache.

The Watkins family has owned the 125-acre beachfront resort property for more than 70 years and has worked closely with the developer to ensure that it remains as accessible to the public as possible.

The public hearing opened with comments from Henry B. Watkins III, an owner of the hotel and property, who urged the City Council to support the redevelopment project as envisioned by the developer — and to make the “right decision,” describing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

 “We are proud to have been a leader in shaping what Naples has become today,” he said. “We believe our vision as a family contributed to today’s visions of what Naples’ future can be. We chose The Athens Group because we believe they were best suited to carry on this legacy.”

He reminded the City Council what his family has done for the community and the importance of continuing its traditions, which the developer has vowed to do by maintaining the golf course and keeping it open to the public.

The project, Watkins said, is in the best interest of “all citizens of Naples,” once again providing Naples with a gift of green space, beach access, sunsets, and hospitality.

“Remember once in a lifetime only happens once,” he said before the start of the developer’s formal presentation.

During the council’s discussion, many of the early concerns and questions raised centered around traffic and parking.

Some council members questioned whether a detailed parking plan presented by the developer’s team of experts would accommodate the expected increase in the number of employees needed to run the more upscale luxury resort.

While it will have about 100 fewer rooms, the new resort will have about 440 employees to meet the higher expectations of its higher-end market. That compares to fewer than 290 required to service the current hotel.

Based on his own calculations, Councilman Gary Price said he feared that parking on the busiest days might not be enough to fit all of its employees on a peak day in peak season.

“I don’t know if the calculations are appropriate, given what’s going to be there,” he said.

Jeff Perry, senior transportation planner, and project manager with Stantec, said that even on the busiest days, all of the employees would not be onsite — and not all of them would require parking spots, as many of them would likely be dropped off, or use bicycles or public transportation to get to work.

Councilman Terry Hutchison asked about the accuracy of the predictions for parking demand — and how the hotel might handle a visit from “the head of state.”

Perry quipped that it “depends on what head of state,” bringing chuckles from the audience and the council. On a more serious note, he said, the plan requires all hotel guests and visitors to valet park, with no self-parking available for them.

“I’ve looked at this every which way I can, and believe me, we have the right numbers,” Perry said.

waterfront property with a pool and large green lawn behind it. Both of which overlooking the ocean

The developer’s parking analysis shows the need for 552 spots for the hotel’s core operations at 100% occupancy in a worst-case scenario. There will be 598 parking spaces, but a total of 641 vehicles could be accommodated using two motor courts — 89 more than what’s expected to be needed on the busiest of days.

Additionally, there are remedies built into the parking plan if it should fail due to extreme circumstances, including allowing overflow parking at the driving range for the golf course. That would provide roughly another 100 spots if it ever becomes necessary, Perry said.

The developer, he said, has also committed to reducing parking demands by encouraging its employees and guests to use alternative modes of transportation, from ride-sharing services to bicycles.

While parking generated a lot of questions, the City Council asked about everything from how the trash would be handled at the development to how it can ensure that the developer keeps its promises to never build on the golf course.

Of the nearly 20 speakers who stood up to voice their opinions about the project, most supported it and applauded the developer’s tremendous outreach efforts to the community.

The Athens Group has held more than 70 meetings with neighbors and community groups to answer questions and get feedback about what promises to be one of the biggest redevelopment projects Naples has ever seen.

Naples resident Barry Fitzpatrick described the developer’s plans as “rock solid,” saying he’s confident The Athens Group will deliver what it’s promised.

“World-class is such an overused word I hesitate to use it,” he said. “But if there is such a thing, this is it.”

Joe Basili, who lives near the hotel, isn’t as enamored with what the developer has proposed. He doesn’t like that The Athens Group has asked for multiple variances and deviations from the city’s code.

“I’m all for healthy development,” he said. “That’s what’s made Naples great.”

The city has a really good comprehensive plan to guide development and there’s a good reason to follow it, Basili said.

One of his biggest concerns is parking, he said, which he believes won’t be sufficient, especially in the busy tourist season.

He urged the City Council to vote no to force more compromises from the developer.

“There is a lot of things being jammed in today,” he said, “and that’s what concerns me.”

Read the full article at the Naples Daily News.

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