While most of the time I focus on restaurants, theater, stores and more restaurants, this blog, I’m veering to the topic of the hot real estate market in Naples. BUT, I will start off with yet another restaurant. You will see why …
Although my husband, Bob, and I have not been to Mereday’s Fine Dining (right, photo by Micahel Caronchi) in the Naples Bay Resort, we have been told by our good friends, former Naples’ Mayor Bill Barnett and his wife, Chris, that this year-old restaurant is not to be missed. The Barnetts touted the excellence of everything about Mereday’s, from the service to the delicious dishes created by Chef-owner Charles Mereday. (Okay, it is on our list.)
As I mentioned, Mereday’s is just a year old, and normally, one great restaurant would be enough for an owner—but not for Mereday. A few weeks ago, the enterprising chef opened a second restaurant—a jazz and supper club called ALTO. This new restaurant is located in Bayfront Place in the space that formerly housed Bellagio, among other restaurants. We are headed to ALTO shortly; it received a license for music on March 6, and we want to see what this club has to offer both musically and dining-wise.
Now, this is where the real estate element figures in. Perhaps Charles Mereday is a wise man in timing and location, considering what is in the works for the area between his new restaurant in Bayfront and Fifth Avenue South … That would be Naples Square.
The site plan for Naples Square (source: naplessquare.com)
If you haven’t heard about it, Naples Square is a new community that will be built by the Ronto Group of TwinEagles fame. It will be located where the old Grand Central Station was to be—right between Bayfront and Fifth Avenue South. Naples Square will consist of 73 residences of 1,500- to 3,300-square-foot condos, some two-story and some on one floor. The smart floor plans remind me of the condos at Mercato, which were very nicely done. The artist’s rendering of the project is beautiful and the sales office has already secured a good number of reservations. I look forward to that gaping hole between Bayfront and downtown being transformed into a gorgeous new community. The sales gallery is located at 100 Goodlette-Frank Road, and construction is planned to begin this year. Check it out at naplessquare.com. How nice it will be to be able to walk from Fifth Avenue South to Bayfront and back via a beautiful neighborhood.
There’s more. Not far from Naples Square, a fabulous new community called Mangrove Bay (artist rendering to the left) is in the works, also on Goodlette-Frank Road. Only 52 homes will be built on Old Naples’ last remaining significant waterfront property for residential development. I could not help but notice the Mangrove Bay advertisement in the local newspapers, as the cottage-style homes being offered look so attractive. Immediately adjacent to Mangrove Bay are the City of Naples Dog Park and the site of the proposed 20-plus acre City of Naples riverfront park, with access to a 150-acre greenway. The luxury residences will range from 2,600 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet. Each home will have waterfront and estuary views, a private pool and individual boat slips. For more information on this living destination, visit mangrovebaynaples.com for a display of what Mangrove Bay will offer. Visit the Sales Center at 201 Goodlette-Frank Road South or call 239-261-2200.
I am excited to see this portion of Old Naples being manicured and developed in what appears to be a thoughtful and enchanting manner. I’m guessing Charles Mereday is, too!
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