Developers of the mini-triangle parcel on the southeast corner of Davis Boulevard and U.S. 41 seek approval of the Collier County Planning Commission for a zoning decrease in commercial uses and an increase in condominium units.
Bayshore Gateway Triangle Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) purchased the 5.3-acre piece of land in 2009 with the intention of revitalizing the intersection to spear redevelopment in the rest of the Gateway Triangle area in East Naples. In 2020, the CRA closed on two land transactions – one to Naples Triangle Development for 1.6 acres and the remaining 3.75 acres to Metropolitan Naples. The commissioners approved the slice of land to be split into three separate parcels, one parcel going to Naples Triangle Development and two going to Metropolitan Naples.
The Ellington, a 10-story mixed-use project with luxury apartments and a 125-room hotel, is planned for Naples Triangle Development’s parcel. Metropolitan Naples is building Aura, a 15-story condominium, on one of its parcels. The third and final parcel is what developers Fred Pezeshkan and Jerry Starkey, the owners of Metropolitan Naples, will be discussing this week with the planning commission at Thursday’s meeting.
Aside from the current zoning of the site allowing for 377 multi-family dwelling units and 200,000 square feet of commercial use, it also permits 228 hotel rooms. Due to an influx of hotels to the area, including The Ellington which will be adjacent to Pezeshkan and Starkey’s developments, the concept of a new hotel is no longer in the picture. Metropolitan Naples also had plans for a movie theater, but the new CMX CineBistro in Coastland Center mall eliminated that idea.
Although the proposed changes still allow for a hotel, Metropolitan Naples will be asking to increase the allowed multi-family dwelling units by 114 to allow for another condo. Now that the movie theater plans are no longer being considered, Pezeshkan and Starkey would like to decrease the maximum commercial space by 70,000 square feet to 130,000. It is yet unknown what shops or entertainment venues are in mind for Metropolitan Naples.
“I think they’re trying to prepare to have the most flexibility to bring in the right tenants and components of that third parcel,” said Debrah Forester, director of the Bayshore Gateway Triangle CRA.
Thursday’s planning commission meeting starts at 9 a.m. on the third floor or the Board of County Commission Chambers in East Naples. If approved by the commission, the issue will go to the board of commissioners for final approval.
“It’s going to have a major impact on that intersection and on the future of the Gateway Triangle area,” Forester said.
