Margaritaville expansion update; luxury furniture store coming to Lee
In the present day: Updates on Margaritaville, Large Hickory Waterfront Grille, short-term public housing and Clive Daniel Dwelling.
With its rapid expansion within the COVID age, it was solely a matter of time earlier than Clive Daniel Dwelling and its furnishings and design gig would have a setup in Lee County.
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Birthed in Naples greater than a decade in the past, it expanded to Boca Raton in 2016 and Sarasota last year. On the identical time it was rising partnerships with builders within the recent housing boom to outfit new Southwest Florida pads.
Now within the wake of Hurricane Ian’s pummeling, particularly Lee, and the large demand throughout the restoration that is serving to drive the native financial system, the corporate is parking within the ex-Winn Dixie, amongst different manufacturers, at Gladiolus Crossing, which sits at Gladiolus Drive and Winkler Highway in Fort Myers.
“We have now a major variety of purchasers in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, and the islands, so opening a close-by showroom will make it that a lot simpler for them to work with our merchandise and designers,” mentioned Daniel Lubner, CEO of Clive Daniel. “Following the hurricane, we really feel a constancy to help all that should occur over the following few years to revive our neighborhood.”
The 46,872 sq. toes ought to debut in September, Lubner mentioned Wednesday, recent from signing the lease with the assistance of LandQwest Commercial Actual Property Providers.
“Some would possibly name it a homecoming, however actually it’s been house all alongside,” mentioned Lubner, a Fort Myers High graduate who lives in Lee County and informed me after the horrific storm in regards to the road ahead for his business and others domestically as residents rebuild.
“The necessity shall be extraordinary. We have now gone by means of a number of climate occasions and perceive the staggered restoration timing that the neighborhood will undergo,” he informed me. “The calls to help with our previous residential and business purchasers have been plentiful. Fortunately, we’ve a group of over 75 designers and are in a position to present assist at scale. We’re dedicated to serving to my house city, and nonetheless present city.”
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Contemplating that creativity is their jam, search for the luxurious showroom to combine a number of the current parts of the previous grocery, reminiscent of incorporating a chef’s desk for particular occasions, Lubner mentioned.
Thus far, no signal within the exterior rendering he shared with me of that Winn Dixie coloration palette many people grew up with within the Sunshine State or these headband-clad Winn Win Twinns from the TV commercials.
The week had already began sturdy for Clive Daniel, with its hiring by Inventory Customized Houses to fairly up new abodes in Estero’s WildBlue neighborhood as a part of an settlement that additionally consists of R.G. Designs.
Offers within the neighborhood of Margaritaville; debut of growth set for 2025
We heard again from the builder of the rising Fort Myers Beach Margaritaville after we first reported that the developer had purchased land the place the island’s oldest resort had stood till Hurricane Ian.
Minnesota-based TPI Hospitality, by means of its TPI-FMB Suites LLC, picked up the stays of the Silver Sands Villas for $7.1 million. It was not a giant shock, contemplating I had informed you in December that TPI Co-CEO Tom Torgerson had his eye on close by investments within the Ian aftermath.
Firm management did not reply to a request for remark in time for final week’s column, however after we broke the story, TPI issued a press release, saying it deliberate “an extension of the Margaritaville Resort comprised of balcony suites with parking beneath and a few retail alongside Estero Boulevard. The venture is presently within the design stage with software mid-year to the town, adopted by building subsequent 12 months.”
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That wasn’t the one main deal within the neighborhood of the advanced at virtually the identical time.
Throughout the road from about the place the foyer is slated, the home of Torgerson’s daughter went pending solely 4 days after being listed Jan. 5 for $4.3 million, one of many larger pending offers of the 12 months already in Lee County, in accordance with knowledge by actual property specialist Paige Rausch. Earlier than the 2020 building of the digs, land information present the property itself bought for $800,000 in 2018.
TPI, which has scheduled a topping off ceremony for Friday, expects its presently rising $200 million edifice of 254 items and crooner Jimmy Buffett-themed entertainment to be accomplished by the top of this 12 months, with the growth debuting in mid-2025.
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Margaritaville growth: Saving Fort Myers Seashore or ending its ‘allure’?
With greater than 3,000 feedback, reactions and shares on my Margaritaville column through the News-Press and Daily News Fb pages and electronic mail, readers had a lot to say:
▸Bonita Springs resident Nancy Leary was too good in saying that “I at all times take pleasure in your columns” however pained sufficient by what she was seeing on Fort Myers Seashore that she will not take heed to Buffett ditties anymore.
“They’re wolfing down the, to many people, sacred areas on the seashore.” Leary informed me. “I used to be a long-time devoted fan of Buffett, attended many live shows, had his station in my SiriusXM presets. I’m now utterly turned off by something related to him.”
▸”Fort Myers Seashore goes to turn out to be the playground of spring breakers and wealthy folks,” Fort Myers resident Nicholas Yunker mentioned. “Gone are the times of household holidays and small city seashore really feel.”
▸”We have already got stuffy resort islands,” Naples crusing captain Dan Spence mentioned. “Fort Myers Seashore was our final actual spot the place locals mingled with vacationers, fishermen and sailors, wealthy and poor alike. The very last thing we’d like is one other island stuffed with concrete eyesore and companies that cater to nothing however the extremely rich. (I) will miss the those that lived in these trailers. They served drinks within the bars, frolicked on the docks labored on boats. (Relaxation) in peace, Fort Myers Seashore. We are going to miss your quirkiness, your allure and your laid again fishing city vibes greater than you already know.”
▸”Margaritaville will change this island without end,” mentioned mortgage mortgage officer Natalie Smith. “I mentioned it earlier than Ian. Ian simply helped it alongside. The progress is stifling. This stunning island won’t ever be the identical ever, in my lifetime. Damaged hearted for therefore many lives without end modified.”
▸”Grateful I used to be in a position to increase my three boys on Fort Myers Seashore the best way it was,” resident Rebecca Scoville mentioned. “With my youngest going to varsity quickly, this can make it exhausting for me to discover a cause to remain. The allure and small city really feel (is) slipping away rapidly. Is likely to be a superb time to go away and make room for another person.”
▸”I agree there needs to be hurricane codes so this devastation doesn’t occur once more. however hope it stays easy and reasonably priced,” Cape Coral resident Sandy Yohe Guffey mentioned. “It might be good in the event that they stored the buildings throughout the road and go away the seashore alone. Praying for a easy seashore once more, and all who misplaced can rebuild.”
▸”Somebody with deep pockets wanted to step in and rebuild,” Cape Coral resident Joe Morone mentioned. “Native allure is now not an opinion. It went away with Ian.”
▸”I labored on the seashore,” Cape Coral advertising specialist Michael Dest mentioned. “Clearly, the devastation is tragic, however I additionally suppose it’s a superb alternative to revitalize the realm. (The) seashore was in determined want of an replace. A part of the rationale the damage was so extensive was as a result of so a lot of these companies hadn’t been up to date in a long time.”
▸”Perhaps they are going to construct one thing nicer than these previous shacks,” Naples resident Boris Badenof mentioned.
▸”When you have been to Margaritaville earlier than, it matches the vibe of Fort Myers Seashore,” Fort Myers resident Gage Leal mentioned. “I am unable to watch for this to be constructed so shut. Staycations on a regular basis.”
▸”This isn’t a nasty factor,” Lee County music trainer Stephen Johnson mentioned. “Somebody must rebuild the island. And the Margaritaville proprietor has already agreed to construct public parking garages. We’d like these desperately. Parking was once a wild goose chase down there. Out with the previous; in with a hopefully more functional new Fort Myers Seashore.”
▸”Generally the reality and actuality hurts,” mentioned Fort Myers Seashore resident Cathy Wetzelberger. “Updates have been undoubtedly wanted. I misplaced my house. But when I had upgraded to hurricane requirements, it would nonetheless be right here.”
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Extra on DeSantis RVs; FEMA places in new guidelines to broaden public housing
The governor and his employees responded to my column on points with temporary public housing within the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
We had reached out previous to its publication however did not hear again after ready virtually a day to publish. Nevertheless, after the operating of the column on Fort Myers Seashore residents’ issues that Gov. DeSantis has not fulfilled his promise of “immediately” offering travel trailers on the island that had 97% of its structures destroyed or broken, his crew adopted up with me.
Whereas not all my questions have been addressed, a form state Division of Emergency Administration Press Secretary Marnie Villanueva did present just a few particulars in regards to the DeSantis RV program as a part of the Unite Florida initiative.
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As of Jan. 11, “we’ve acquired a complete of 5,220 Unite Florida purposes, with greater than 2,500 purposes from Lee County residents, 173 purposes from Collier County residents and 766 purposes from Charlotte County residents,” Villanueva mentioned of the statewide program. “Out of all of our purposes, greater than 610 are authorised and awaiting subsequent steps. Greater than 1,900 complete purposes are pending attributable to extra info wanted from the family, so we encourage candidates to frequently verify on their standing and maintain their purposes up-to-date.”
Whereas not disclosing the place in Florida, Villanueva mentioned, “we’ve put in 81 journey trailers for survivors in accordance with native jurisdictions’ guidelines for allowing and in coordination with native utility suppliers. The division is prioritizing the secure placement of trailers on non-public property, and exploring leasing settlement choices for renters in want of a business park web site to obtain a unit.”
She mentioned she is aware of the mission’s not full.
“The division is working across the clock to authorize Unite Florida purposes and place trailers for Hurricane Ian survivors in want,” Villanueva mentioned. “There may be presently no deadline to use via the Unite Florida portal, and we’ll proceed to just accept purposes and place trailers primarily based on demand.”
And:A SWFL Margaritaville mystery comes to light. How will it affect beach traffic?
Alternatively, FEMA, which has supplied greater than $4.5 billion in Hurricane Ian help, did rapidly reply to interview and query requests inside about three hours in time for that previous housing column associated to criticism of the federal company.
And after I had reached out to a number of members of his group and the column ran, FEMA Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Keith Denning rolled out unprecedented new rules Thursday he hopes will tackle many issues.
“Housing missions are advanced. It’s the most difficult a part of any catastrophe restoration, particularly in areas as hard-hit Southwest Florida, the place the housing market was already restricted and now could be severely broken,” Denning mentioned, as lined by my colleague Samantha “Sam” Neely. “This would possibly not cease us ― it calls for we create short-term housing options that weren’t right here earlier than. That is why FEMA is doing issues that it usually would not do. (These) are extraordinary circumstances.”
Extra:Amid Hurricane Ian’s devastation on Fort Myers Beach, hope persists to rebuild
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Amongst different directives, FEMA goes to permit short-term housing in what are generally known as Particular Flood Hazard Areas, which incorporates Fort Myers Seashore, with circumstances to “decrease the impact of floods on human well being, security, and welfare.”
“All of us want to think about the affect of short-term items in these areas,” Denning mentioned. “If one other storm strikes, defending life and remaining property are paramount.”
The brand new coverage permits residents who have been beforehand denied housing to name or go to one of many Disaster Recovery Facilities and maybe get one other shot at it.
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$6M deal for Bonita Seashore’s Large Hickory Waterfront turns into official
We first reported final week that a deal was about to come together by the Bonita Springs Hearth Division to buy the bashed Large Hickory Waterfront Grille & Marina.
Now it is official: A $6 million deal that features adjoining business area. Whereas the company goals to resuscitate a substation there, it hasn’t determined what it plans for the remainder of the land the place there’s been enterprise exercise for a couple of half-century on the north finish of Bonita Seashore.
Primarily based on the Naples Every day Information, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com), who grew up in Southwest Florida, writes Within the Know as a part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Assist Democracy and subscribe to a newspaper.
