Decades after urban planner Andrés Duany transformed Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, city of Naples is moving forward with another overhaul, a colorful redesign of one block in the Design District.
The intent is to create a walkable district as well-known as nearby Fifth Avenue South or Third Street South. The Design Walk pilot project will celebrate the history of an eclectic neighborhood, utilize alleyways, unite art and design businesses, provide alternate north-south pedestrian routes and reenergize the heart of a unique destination by adding splashes of color, murals, art and landscaping.
“The idea was to set the Design District up for success as an additional commercial hub for the Naples downtown area, following Fifth Avenue South and Third Street,” CRA Administrator Anita Jenkins told the city Community Redevelopment Agency on Jan. 30. “… One of the key ideas to set this district apart was to create this Design Walk.”
The one-block pilot project focuses on the area between First Avenue South, Ninth Street South (U.S. 41), Central Avenue and 10th Street South. The Design District is bounded by Fifth Avenue South, Seventh Avenue North, Ninth Street South and Goodlette-Frank Road. One of the most prominent and visible additions to the Design District is the new Gulfshore Playhouse at the corner of Goodlette-Frank Road and First Avenue South.
City Council, which serves as the CRA board, agreed to ask staff to bring the CRA a detailed cost estimate on executing the pilot and requested that Duany’s firm, DPZ CoDesign, provide more details on recommendations for alleys, lighting, landscaping, wall paint, wall art and Design Walk sculpture signs. The CRA also asked City Manager Gary Young and Assistant City Attorney Andrew Dickman to draft details of the public-private partnership with business owners and for staff to determine what infrastructure improvements are needed, costs and a time frame, as well as review how required city policies will affect it.
Funding will come from the CRA District, which generates about $10 million yearly in taxes from property owners for improvements and projects. The 550-acre CRA district is bordered by Seventh Avenue North, Gordon River, Sixth Avenue South and Third Street South.
The Design Walk idea began in 2020, when the CRA adopted neighborhood plans that also included River Park East and West and Lake Park. The CRA accepted the Design District Master Plan in June 2022 and extensive public engagement followed, as residents and business owners outlined desires and needs.
In February 2023, the CRA Advisory Board conducted a walking tour to consider a potential pilot project area and two months later, the CRA agreed to the location. That October, DPZ CoDesign was hired to prepare the pilot project design and hanging centennial banners were installed to identify the district. Last year, the CRA and CRAAB reviewed the designs and cost estimates, and the design and costs were refined.
Under the refined design, costs would be up to $1.68 million, which doesn’t include wall art. The fiscal year 2025 CRA budget allocates $3 million to the project.
Xavier Iglesias, DPZ CoDesign’s senior project manager, noted the walls are painted various colors, so a uniform color is needed to make a statement. He said DPZ also suggests adding lighting to make it safer at night, permeable pavers, landscaping, art and murals, mostly through adding removable panels that could be changed to give the block the appearance of an art gallery that represents various district artists and businesses.
“It could be changed, it could be seasonal and gives a lot of flexibility,” Iglesias said, adding that the inspiration came from a passageway off Fifth Avenue South.
The west alleyway will become the Notch Cafe, adding to existing restaurants in the building, with benches, art and possibly a water feature, he said, and Bob Hill Plumbing wants to donate the north part of that property as a yard or event space, with art.
“He was envisioning something … that would be a beautiful thing to look at during the day and it could come to life at night with activities and art and events and even feature kiosks that could house a beverage and concessions area, maybe even bathrooms,” Iglesias said.
Naples Design District President Elizabeth Kurtz Isbell told the CRA they’re fully behind the project. “We know the Design Walk will create uniform pavers and a cohesive look that will even add monument signs that will say this is the Naples Design District,” Isbell said. “We have wonderful businesses here and a wonderful history and so many resources and we want to celebrate that.”
Property owner Stu Rothman agreed it would “cultivate a thriving, pedestrian-friendly destination and benefits for residents, visitors and entrepreneurs” through “thoughtful design” and sustainable infrastructure.
“By improving pedestrian connectivity and fostering unique urban experiences, this project will help reinforce the district’s reputation as a vibrant hub for dining, art and entertainment,” Rothman said. “For our tenants, this initiative is an exciting opportunity to expand their businesses and engage more deeply with the community.”
