Fifth Avenue and hopefully not Gulf Shore. The renovation would involve tearing down the hotel and rebuilding a smaller resort. If all goes as planned, the sale of the property is expected to be finalized in May 2021. Additionally, she said, she's been impressed by The Athens Group's efforts to preserve the Watkins family traditions, while working with the city and residents to address their issues. Let's just say I'm 98.75 feet tall. That's consistent with our code.". The Athens Group is requesting several deviations from code for the hotel, including one that would allow a landmark cupola to be built on top of it, increasing the project's height. The city is slated to make a final decision on the hotel, but a second hearing will be required for the revised plans related to the residences. That external parking surfaces must be obscured by landscaping and that monuments planned along the roadway to make a statement about the ultra, high-end development — and to welcome affluent residents and guests as they arrive — not exceed 10 feet in height. For more information, please click here for the Naples Beach Hotel Project website.. Click here for frequently asked questions as provided by the developer .. Click here to review the construction Management Plans.. Additional information will be added to this website as it becomes available. "The 98 feet they've called out as their maximum height for those buildings is measured from FEMA. Members; Members; Join; Contact; Chat ; Home. © 2021 www.naplesnews.com. After a day-long hearing last month, the city's Planning Advisory Board voted 6-1 for all the changes and deviations the developers sought for the project, with two agreed upon conditions. In an emailed statement, Michael Watkins, an owner and president of Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, said employees who stay on until the sale becomes final will be rewarded for their years of service. New material will be uploaded shortly. The Watkins family, who has owned the 125-acre property for over 70 years, recently partnered with the Athens Group– a real estate development firm out of Arizona. He said he appreciates all the input the company has received and its "committed to creating a project that the community will be proud of for generations to come.". Those changes include agreeing to put a construction access road through the golf course to minimize the impact on nearby residents during the multiple stages of development, adding landscaping to improve the project's look from the street, increasing the setbacks between and in front of the buildings, and creating more beach parking for the public near the hotel on Eighth Avenue North. FEMA requires that new buildings in flood zones be built above a certain height to account for potential flood levels, which means the building might end up being taller, said Erica Martin of the city's planning department, but its height was calculated according to the city's code. The other three would be built on the beach side, near the new hotel. In a recent vision survey, city residents expressed that they'd had enough of site plan deviations and that they want to preserve the ‘Old Florida’ quality of the city, while encouraging appropriate development. Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club (Credit: PGA) A Phoenix-based group agreed to redevelop and acquire the family-owned Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, a 125-acre landmark in Naples. 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. The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club consults with an assistive technology vendor to periodically conduct testing of our website portal using assistive technologies in order to ensure full compliance to WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA. She's grateful, she said, that the golf course will not be developed. "We're not really Old Naples anymore. © 2021 www.naplesnews.com. There is no other place I want to be.". “It is a very thoughtful and mindful development that pays homage to the history of the Beach Hotel," Glover said, "and it's rare in this day and age to see a developer that cares that much about being integrated into the community.”. There have been mixed reactions to the redevelopment plans in the community, from total support to angst about how they could further chip away at the city's small town charm. The second phase of this project consists of over a dozen site plan deviations and conditional use exceptions. "I think that is something residents will be incredibly proud of.". The initial development plans included building up to 195 residential condos in eight buildings that would come with hotel services from ironing to room service. The redevelopment of the historic Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club represents a generational opportunity to build on the rich traditions and warm hospitality of the Watkins family to create an unforgettable gathering place to be cherished and enjoyed by the community and visitors alike for generations to come. ", More:Naples City Council approves Old Naples Hotel project. Once the Athens Group gets all of their zoning entitlements, the Design Review Board will still have to approve each phase of the multi-million-dollar development. "So the bottom of the first finished floor ... would likely start around 18 or 19 feet," Martin said. There would be five residential buildings on the east side of the property, next to the golf course. In case you missed it:Partnership announced to redevelop Naples Beach Hotel, And:Plans unveiled to tear down Naples Beach Hotel, redevelop resort, add condo towers. Athens also intends to halve the existing 34,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space at the resort and refurbish Naples Beach Hotel’s retail and restaurant offerings, including its signature restaurant, HB’s on the Gulf, beginning early in 2021. November:Naples Beach Hotel proposed redevelopment clears city's first hurdle. Phone: (954) 290-4152. The Athens Group has made a handful of changes to their development plans to address neighborhood and community concerns. Board members liked many aspects of the proposed project, but they raised some concerns about it, including its size. That number has since been reduced to 185. The existing 319-room hotel will be torn down and replaced with a new 220-room luxury hotel. Naples City Council will once again take up the Naples Beach Hotel redevelopment project. Proposed Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club Redevelopment Project (2) The Athens Group plans to tear down the historic beach hotel and build a smaller resort, with residential condos along Gulf Shore Boulevard. Bringing their award-winning approach to the Naples Beach Club Hotel, Residences and Golf Course, Athens intends to create a resort that meets the stringent requirements for LEED certification and embraces the natural attributes of this unique beachfront setting. Fax: 239-213-1033 Richards said if all goes well, construction will begin in 2021 and the new facilities could open by Thanksgiving 2023. "We expect the plan to benefit 300-plus employees.”, Read:As season gains steam, employers face problems finding, retaining workers in Southwest Florida. Zillow has 24 homes for sale in Redevelopment Area Naples matching Naples Beach. The residential buildings will range in height from four stories to seven, with parking underneath. Some tweaks have come since the Planning Advisory Board meeting. The city Planning Board unanimously approved a proposal Wednesday to redevelop the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. Michael McCabe asked as he climbed onto a chair. The initial phase of the redevelopment is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. The Athens Group releases redevelopment plans for The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club November 15, 2018 The Athens Group, the luxury resort and hotel development company selected by the Watkins family to redevelop The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, has released its initial plans and rendering for the redevelopment of the property. Beaches; Naples Beach Hotel Redevelopment; Members . The Information on this page is provided to the residents of Naples for informational purposes. "They have an excellent reputation and the renderings that have been presented are very impressive," she said. The City of Naples Planning Board unanimously approved a major redevelopment project for the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. The Athens Group will plan the entire redevelopment, and obtain the required city, state and federal approvals. "They're saying their seven-story building is 98.75 feet tall. Read:With big investments in Southwest Florida, Hoffmanns hope to create a 'Disneyland for adults'. Chae duPont was the lone dissenter on the advisory board. Mid-rise buildings for luxury residences would be added on both sides of Gulf Shore Boulevard. Read:Planning board approves changes to Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club redevelopment plan. And: Plans unveiled to tear down Naples Beach Hotel, redevelop resort, add condo towers HB's on the Gulf, the hotel's signature restaurant, and the Sunset Beach Bar & … View listing photos, review sales history, and use our detailed real estate filters to find the perfect place. The board decided to give the developer time to address concerns of city staff and residents. Tempelman said she's not opposed to change, but she'd like to see a redevelopment plan that's less dense, which she feels would fit better with the character of Naples. The project still has to go before the Naples … Other parts of the project won't be up for a final vote for a few weeks, but they'll be discussed on first reading. The redevelopment plans include building as many as 195 condos in eight buildings, ranging in height from four stories to seven, with parking underneath, according to the way the city calculates building heights. In case you missed it:Stock Development revises controversial plans for One Naples near Vanderbilt Beach. We plan many updates! We're new Naples," she said. The Naples Planning Advisory Board (PAB) is meeting this Friday, October 11th to review Phase II of the Naples Beach Hotel redevelopment project. According to the redevelopment proposal, the hotel's meeting space would be cut in half but updated. Am I still 98.75 feet tall?" For the hotel, council will hear about everything from its design to its parking plan. The City Council, which will have the final say, is … "The residents are tired of the variances leading to the canyon effect, i.e. John Passidomo, the Naples attorney representing the developers, agreed to a future hearing. But some supported the project, saying it would enhance the community. Some area residents couldn't be more pleased with the redevelopment plans, including Budge Huskey, president of Premier Sotheby's International Realty, who has been vocal about his support at public hearings and community meetings. The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club consults with an assistive technology vendor to periodically conduct testing of our website portal using assistive technologies in order to ensure full compliance to WCAG 2.0/2.1 Level AA. The Naples (Fla.) Beach Hotel & GC Plans Redevelopment By Brandi Shaffer | March 7, 2018 The Watkins family, which has owned the property since the 1940s, has entered into a strategic partnership with The Athens Group to redevelop the property but maintain the hotel, beach bar, and golf course. Editorial:Beach Club redevelopment, FGCU wetlands research park top busy week ahead, More:Is Naples area becoming like Miami? Plans include creating a calming, lush garden experience along Gulf Shore Boulevard, as well as making road and sidewalk changes designed to improve traffic flow in the neighborhood for drivers and pedestrians. Naples resident Norine Tempelman said the city has already lost some of its charm because of so much redevelopment — and she's concerned this project might further chip away at that charm. Naples Pier; Beach Conditions; Getting Around; Citizens Guide; City Maps; City Calendar ; Cycling in Naples; Upcoming Events; Column 2. In addition to rebuilding the new hotel, the developer plans on building luxury towers along both ends of Gulf Shore Boulevard. On Wednesday, council will hear the finer details of the project, as they consider a revised development plan and two site plans with deviations — or exceptions — from city codes. The 18-hole golf course would not be touched, other than for upgrades. "We do not need Naples turning into Miami," said longtime Naples resident Leigh Kistler. News Articles Get City News Sign Up City of Naples E-mail News. The Athens Group's portfolio includes such well-known hotels and resorts as the Four Seasons in Hualalai, Hawaii, and The Ritz-Carltons in Bachelor Gulch/Vail Valley, Colorado, and Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco. "It is going to be the finest property in all of Naples, the finest product in all of Naples," he said. Bookmark this page and visit this page frequently. "I'm just passionate about the city. The conditions? Richards said one of the main priorities for the project is to be traffic-neutral and should reduce traffic and congestion in the neighborhood. Construction would start shortly after the closing. It will require sign-offs from other government agencies, such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District. The flag — or brand — has yet to be chosen for the new Naples Beach Resort. Naples City Council will once again take up the Naples Beach Hotel redevelopment project. Another resident used takeout food containers to demonstrate how tall the new buildings would be in comparison to its neighbors, such as the Surfside Club. Naples Beach Hotel proposed redevelopment clears city's first hurdle, Naples City Council approves Old Naples Hotel project, Beach Club redevelopment, FGCU wetlands research park top busy week ahead, Is Naples area becoming like Miami? The storied Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club will get a new look — and new owners. Read:Stock Development revises controversial plans for One Naples near Vanderbilt Beach. With an unwavering commitment to honoring the Watkins legacy and embracing Naples’ cultural heritage, The Athens Group is embarking on a redevelopment plan that continues the property’s hospitality tradition and improves the resort’s golf course and beach bar, while thoughtfully planning the future of this special place for generations to come. After a day-long hearing at city hall, the Naples Planning Advisory Board voted for changes to the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club redevelopment project. The planning board unanimously voted Wednesday to review the proposal again at its March 13 meeting. Plans unveiled for The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club November 29, 2018 A new luxury hotel and beachfront and golf-side condominiums represent the vision of The Athens Group, the luxury resort and hotel development company selected by the Watkins family to redevelop The Naples Beach Hotel … The remaining residential condos would be built in future phases based on market demand. Plans call for the storied hotel to be torn down and rebuilt as a smaller, world-class resort. After the hearing, the developers continued to meet with residents in an effort to address any ongoing concerns and answer any outstanding questions. Naples Pier; Naples Zoo; Naples Historical Society; Chamber of Commerce; Business Tax Receipts; Email Subscriptions; Park Locations; Cycling in Naples; Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Naples Beach Hotel; Column 3. Video: Proposed Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club redevelopment project | Video Some residents think so, but others see limits. "What they're saying is you need to start counting at the FEMA high water mark, which is 20 feet high" and would make the buildings closer to 13 stories tall, he argued. All rights reserved. The Athens Group has agreed to limit its development on the residential side of the project to 5% on roughly 109 acres. Those votes are expected to come after a second hearing Dec. 4. The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club redevelopment project has cleared another hurdle. Naples City Council has approved plans for a new five-star resort that will take the place of the historic Naples Beach Hotel. That means it would cover less than six acres of that land, which includes the golf course, but not the hotel. Email. The redevelopment project still has a long way to go in the approval process. Naples Daily News business reporter Laura Layden contributed to this report. The Watkins family, who has owned the 125-acre beachfront resort property for more than 70 years, couldn't have chosen a better developer to ensure that it remains as accessible to the public as possible, he said. "The plan is designed to help employees financially while they transition to a new career," he said. The Naples Community Redevelopment Agency recently held public outreach meetings for the River Park (East and West) neighborhoods, the Lake Park neighborhood in the Redevelopment Area south of 7 th Avenue North, and in the 41/10 commercial district. Plans call for the storied hotel to be torn down and rebuilt as a smaller, world-class resort — and for luxury residential towers to be added on both sides of Gulf Shore Boulevard. The Watkins family, which has owned the hotel for decades, plans to continue operating the hotel and golf club through the 2020-21 season. Some residents think so, but others see limits, Partnership announced to redevelop Naples Beach Hotel, Plans unveiled to tear down Naples Beach Hotel, redevelop resort, add condo towers, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Dirt could soon be moving on a long-eyed redevelopment site in East Naples. "Traffic is a major concern," she said. Kim Richards, CEO of The Athens Group, which would develop the project, said his company determined early on the importance of keeping a hotel and a golf course on the property as key community assets. "We have met with more than 2,000 neighbors and residents through an extensive learning and listening process that has truly benefited the project and, by extension, the Naples community," said Kim Richards, CEO of The Athens Group, in a statement. The Naples Beach Hotel redevelopment project has reached another milestone. After that, ownership would transition to The Athens Group, which would redevelop the property in phases. Many residents at Wednesday's standing-room-only meeting echoed the concerns of the Design Review Board members, arguing that the proposed buildings would be too tall and create a canyon effect on Gulf Shore Boulevard. One of most significant aspects of the project is that the developer has agreed to forever protect the golf course, preserving the green space and recreational opportunity for visitors and residents alike in perpetuity, Huskey said. “It seems like there are still a huge amount of issues that have not been wrestled down between the petitioner and the city,” said planning board Chairman David Feight before suggesting the vote be postponed. "You do see the lull in the summer time, but I think there has been heavier traffic in the past several years in the summer time also.". Also, HB's on the Gulf and the Sunset Beach Bar & Grill would be renovated and would reopen to the public. Redevelopment The Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club has some huge changes in store. At Wednesday's meeting, City Council will see and consider the plans for the new hotel for the first time — and council is expected to make a final decision on them. For over seven decades, the resort has been a Naples attraction for tourists from all over the world. "It's a great city," she said. The meetings were held in the auditorium at the River Park Community Center located at 301 11 th Street North. During the hearing, duPont objected to many of the requested deviations, including the road-side monuments that she said weren't necessary and could set a bad precedent in the city. On Wednesday, plans to redevelop the Naples Beach Hotel goes in front of Planning Advisory Board to determine if the plan should move along. Not everyone is so sure about the end result of the redevelopment project. The project received preliminary design approval from the city's Design Review Board last November. The decisions on a revised development plan and a site plan with deviations for the residential side of the project won't be made until next month. One of her main concerns is how the project might impact traffic, with the addition of the residential condos. Planning board approves changes to Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club redevelopment plan, Stock Development revises controversial plans for One Naples near Vanderbilt Beach, With big investments in Southwest Florida, Hoffmanns hope to create a 'Disneyland for adults', Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club redevelopment plan approved by City Council, As season gains steam, employers face problems finding, retaining workers in Southwest Florida, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, Enhancing the tennis and fitness centers, as well as the spa, Building a Market Square with activities for families, residents and neighbors, including a small bowling alley. “Seeing what Athens has submitted to the city and residents, (Athens) should be commended,” said Gordon Glover, a lifelong Collier County resident with more than 15 years of construction industry experience. On Monday the Watkins family, third-generation owners and operators of the landmark property, announced a strategic relationship with The Athens Group, based in Phoenix, to redevelop it and “enhance its legacy.” Naples Beach Hotel. The redevelopment plans also include building as … This is a very significant project.”. One passionate resident jumped onto a chair to make a point about how the developer is misconstruing the height of the proposed mid-rise buildings. In the meantime, the storied resort continues to operate as usual. "The reality is that this development group has gone out of its way to have the lowest impact possible on this property and still make it a successful venture," he added. Plans call for the storied hotel to be torn down and rebuilt as a smaller, world-class resort — and for luxury residential towers to be added on both sides of Gulf Shore Boulevard. Mosquito Control Report Mosquito … Passidomo said the developers will work with city staff to address some of the concerns and submit revisions by Feb. 22 to give staff, board members and residents a chance to review them before the March 13 meeting. Jeff Oris Interim CRA Manager 735 8th St S Naples, FL 34102. More:Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club redevelopment plan approved by City Council. On Wednesday, Naples City Council approved revisions to the project that will move it forward. Yet, traffic impacts continue to be a major concern for some residents. She said the city hasn't calculated how far off the ground the new construction would have to be to meet FEMA regulations at the hotel site, but measurements on the house south of the hotel came to 17 feet, Martin said. The developer anticipates completing the first phase by the end of 2023, which would include the new hotel and three residential buildings, along with the addition of Market Square and improvements to the conference center. Limiting the height of the condos to seven floors and the lush landscaping that's planned to soften their view from Gulf Shore Boulevard are big pluses in Huskey's eyes, too. A coalition comprising six homeowner associations also supported the redevelopment plan. “We think we’ve spoken with staff and addressed many of the issues that they’ve raised,” he said, “but we acknowledge there are a multitude of issues. At the Planning Advisory Board meeting, two area residents criticized the project, while 10 spoke in favor of it. All rights reserved. What's going before City Council, including a revised developer rights agreement, will require four separate votes. HB's on the Gulf, the hotel's signature restaurant, and the Sunset Beach Bar & Grill would be renovated and would reopen to the public, continuing the hotel's longstanding community connections, he said. The proposed hotel would have 220 rooms — almost 100 fewer than the what's on the property now. The city planning board decided to table a vote on a proposal to tear down the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club and build a smaller resort and add residential condos in its place. Welcome to the Gulf Shore Property Owner's Association GSPOA website. Helpful Resources; City Maps; Naples Pier; Naples Zoo; Naples Historical Society; Chamber of Commerce; Business Tax Receipts; Email Subscriptions; Park Locations; Cycling in Naples; Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 Naples Beach Hotel; Column 3. Club will Get a new look — and new owners on market.! 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