Naples Press, Edition 10/4/2024 | By Aisling Swift
Arthrex seeks approval for transitional apartment complex to attract employees
North Naples-based medical device manufacturer Arthrex plans to build contemporary transitional corporate housing in North Naples to make it easier to attract and retain employees.
It’s the first petition under the zoning category of transitional corporate housing to come before the county.
“Arthrex and other employers, candidly, are struggling in getting employees or people to relocate to Collier County to come in and work,” Arthrex land-use attorney Richard Yovanovich told the Collier County Planning Commission on Sept. 20, adding that Arthrex has 300 vacancies. “One of the reasons is the sticker shock at what it costs to either rent or buy a unit.
“And they believe—and other employers believe—that if they can offer this transitional housing opportunity, people will come, they’ll work here and then they’ll find a place where they wish to live and reside in Collier County,” he added.
Planning commissioners unanimously recommended that the 2.06acre site at 208 Palm River Blvd. be rezoned from multifamily to Residential Planned-Unit Development and to amend the county’s Growth Management Plan to add the Palm River Corporate Housing Residential Subdistrict. It would allow up to 41 furnished rentals—eight more than currently allowed—for Arthrex employees and others relocating here, on assignment or undergoing training.
If there’s a vacancy and Arthrex doesn’t need it, the apartment would be available to other county employers, including NCH, which once used the property for transitional employees, such as traveling nurses.