Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
The “Miracle Mile” in Naples has seen another eye-popping sale.
A beachfront redevelopment site has fetched $92.5 million. The buyer: Kolter Urban, based in Delray Beach on Florida’s east coast.
It’s the second big investment made by the same company along a roughly one mile-stretch of Gulf Shore Boulevard North that has been dubbed the “Miracle Mile,” after showing resilience in the face of so much devastation from Hurricane Ian in 2022.
The area is seeing major changes.
The storm has triggered more redevelopment and a grassroots effort, supported by the city, to rebuild and improve the “public realm.”
With the redevelopment, residents and city leaders see an opportunity to “make lemonade out of lemons,” in a public-private partnership to improve the look and function of the street, creating a marquee entrance into the city. A conceptual plan is in the works.
Kolter’s latest purchase in the area is a 3.07-acre site at 3300 Gulf Shore Blvd. N.
In a statement, Brian Van Slyke, the company’s regional president for the West Coast, said the purchase “represents Kolter Urban’s ongoing commitment to creating exceptional waterfront living experiences.”
The company’s projects include The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Sarasota, Saltaire St. Petersburg, ONE St. Petersburg, and Hyde Park House in Tampa, with other communities currently under development along both coasts of Florida.
Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
If you are looking for waterfront living in Naples, Florida, contact David at David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
Did you know that as a local you can park at the beach for free in Collier County? All you need is a shiny sticker.
Here’s how to get a Collier County beach parking sticker in 2025.
Why is beach parking free for locals?
If you’re a full-time Collier resident or property owner, you’re already paying for beach parking through your property taxes.
Where can I get a Collier County beach parking sticker?
Collier County Tax Collector, 3291 Tamiami Trail E., Naples
Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, 11565 Tamiami Trail E., Naples
East Naples Community Park, 3500 Thomasson Drive, Naples
Fred W. Coyle Freedom Park, 1515 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples
Golden Gate Community Center, 4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples
Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. 1st Street, Immokalee
Marco Island Branch Library, 210 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island
Max A. Hasse Jr. Community Park, 3390 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples
Naples Regional Library, 650 Central Ave., Naples
North Collier Regional Park Exhibit Hall, 15000 Livingston Road, Naples
Orange Blossom Government Center, 2335 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples
Veterans Community Park, 1895 Veterans Park Drive, Naples
Vineyards Community Park, 6231 Arbor Blvd., Naples
Find out what you need to bring with you to get a beach parking sticker, which beaches are included, and more on naplesnews.com.
If you are looking for a beach convenient home in Collier County, Florida, contact David at David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Here’s a guide for summer.
Chad Gillis |Naples Daily News
Brown pelicans crash into tiny rolling waves as black skimmers use their sharp bills to slice through the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.
Shiny shells and salmon-hued bits of sponge tumble in the frothy white waters that lap along the shoreline.
Golden rays from the sun blast across the sky, breaking through the palm trees, sea grape trees and mansions and create huge shadows on the white sand.
This is it: Naples Beach. That place that so many people write about online.
Everyone from U.S. News and World Report to Dr. Beach himself have glamorized Naples-area beaches as being among the best in Florida, the best in the nation, the tops in the world.
And these are your beaches: it says so on the parking signs. Only residents with parking passes may use the lots here. If you live outside the area and can’t get a permit, you’ll have to race down to park near the old Naples Pier.
And while almost all beaches were impacted by Hurricane Ian in 2022, many renourishment and beach-rebuilding projects are already underway or completed.
Some beaches still lack the accommodations and facilities they offered pre-storm, but the beaches themselves are as beautiful as always.
They range from quaint, untouched shorelines to the old Naples Pier, where fisherman, swimmers, sunbathers and surfers flock during all times of the year.
But summertime is really the time to celebrate local beaches as the water temperatures are finally warm enough for a comfortable dip in the Gulf.
Here is a look at five of the best beaches in the Naples-Collier area:
- Barefoot Beach State Preserve Park ― Top Nature Preserve
- Vanderbilt Beach ― Best Family Beach
- Naples Pier ― Best Beach for Water Recreation
- Keewaydin Island ― Best Boating Beach
- Marco Island’s Tigertail Beach ― Best Birding Beach
Get the details on these 5 beaches on naplesnews.com.
Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
Naples has secured $31.5 million for a trio of projects in next year’s state budget.
The budget, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, includes:
- $25 million for a new coastal stormwater management system
- $5 million for the rebuild of Naples Pier
- $1.5 million for lake restoration
City manager Jay Boodheshwar shared the good news via email, saying the city is “extremely grateful to the governor” for approving the funding.
However, he noted the city didn’t get all of its projects approved, which came as a disappointment.
Jay Boodheshwar, Naples city manager
The governor vetoed funding for two of the city’s projects, as part of his larger efforts to trim the budget state lawmakers sent him.
Across the board, DeSantis cut about $1 billion in projects and programs from the budget, reducing it to about $116.5 billion.
In the city Naples, the cuts included:
- $1 million to address flooding issues and improve water quality by replacing existing septic systems with centralized wastewater systems
- $3 million to help improve resiliency against sea level rise and to reduce the threat of storm surge for the River Park East community, including Anthony Park.
Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News
It’s been quite a week for Naples.
U.S. News & World Report on Tuesday ranked Naples at No. 1 on its annual “Best Places to Live” list. And now the town has received another distinction: It’s home to a Top 10 beach in the U.S.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park was rated at No. 8, one of two state beaches named in Top 10 by “Dr. Beach,” or coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, professor in the Department of Earth & Environment at Florida International University in Miami.
What did Dr. Beach say about the popular Delnor-Wiggins Pass?
Leatherman released his list Thursday. Here’s what he said about Delnor-Wiggins, 11135 Gulf Shore Drive.
“This barrier island beach boasts of beautiful white sand beaches and crystal-clear Gulf waters,” Leatherman wrote in the news release.
“Activities include swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, shelling, and fishing. Wildlife in the park includes bald eagles, ospreys, and manatees. Pine trees provide welcome shade. The park is still recovering from Hurricane Ian in 2022 so some areas are still closed.”
What other beaches made the list? Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Looking for a beach close home in Naples – Bonita Springs areas? Contact David at 239-285-1086 or David@DavidFlorida.com
Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News
Neapolitans believe Naples is an awesome place to live, and U.S. News & World Report agrees.
Naples ranks No. 1 in its annual Best Places to Live in the U.S., the only Florida city to make the top 10. The Southwest Florida city often rank high on various “best” lists by the national magazine and others, usually noted for its weather and quality of life.
“I love seeing sunshine almost every day,” said Mark Danni, founder and artistic director of TheatreZone, who’s lived in Naples for 22 years. “I love that Naples has a wide variety of live performing arts groups where Neapolitans can see so many different performing arts productions throughout the year.”
Naples in the past decade also has become more familiar as the Pickleball Capital of the World. The region in April again hosted the another U.S. Open Pickleball Championships. The very first championships were played in Naples in 2016.
What other Florida cities made the list? Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Looking for a home in the Naples – Bonita Springs – Marco Island area? Contact David at 239-285-1086 or David@DavidFlorida.com
