Pine Ridge Road, Naples

Perhaps no road in Naples leads to more density in terms of residential and commercial units than Pine Ridge. "The gateway to Naples, " Pine Ridge Road is accessed from exit 16 off Interstate 75 to the east and from U.S. 41 from the west. It's one of the main connecting east/west roads for many residents living near Sea Gate Drive and for corridors both north and south that connect with Pine Ridge.

The impetus for new development was triggered by the completion of a sewer system. Until then, Pine Ridge was considered a sort of commuter road: one drove on it mainly to get from one place to another with little need to stop. But that's all changed now, and it will continue to change well into the next millennium. County commissioners on February 17 approved a developer's plan to build two miles of Livingston Road, which would parallel Airport-Pulling Road and alleviate some of the north/south traffic from I-75 and U.S. 41. The first stage will likely span Radio Road to Golden Gate and could be started by the end of the year.

Pine Ridge Road starts (or ends) at U.S. 41, where it turns into Sea Gate Drive west of the thoroughfare. At the northwest corner is a fairly new Barnes & Noble near the posh Waterside Shops. Diagonally across the street a new Eckerd's is going up by developer Jim Nashman. Drugstore sites continue to be a hot commodity, and this was no exception. Walgreen's tried for three years to secure this parcel, despite it smaller square footage. The new Eckerd's is scheduled to open May 1, according to Nashman. Rhodes Furniture and a gas station/convenience store presently occupy the remaining corners.

Adjacent to the new Eckerd's, The Grand Inn broke ground in mid-February. With 105 rooms and a high-end restaurant planned, the hotel is scheduled for completion late this fall. About a half-block south of Sea Gate, the Cooper Hilton started construction March 1, across from the Newgate Center on U.S. 41. It will boast 191 rooms, 10,000 square feet of meeting space and a 7,000-square-foot restaurant. These hotels, together with those on or near Fifth Avenue South, will sharply increase the number of guest rooms in Naples and are a boost to local tourism efforts. And, there are several more hotels currently in the planning stages.

A retail cluster conducts brisk business for a stretch between U.S. 41 and Immokalee Road. El Condor has opened in this area selling South American gifts and pottery. Further eastward, at the intersection of Goodlette-Frank Road a new residential community, Autumn Woods, continues its development. Ray D'Angelis and Frank Patestio of RDI of Naples are the developers who have another corner there under under contract.

Many large, commercial projects have been completed within the relatively short time span of about a year at the intersection at Airport Pulling Road. All four quadrants of this major intersection are fully developed with established retailers. On the southwest corner is Carillon Place with its Office Depot, T.J. Maxx and Winn Dixie. Across on the northwest corner is the Target/Publix shopping area. To the northwest corner is the revitalized Bed, Bath and Beyond Plaza (formerly Ridgeport Plaza) with Home Depot just west of the plaza and a new Toys R Us located to the east. Home Depot has expanded into a part of their additional 11 acres, with outparcels still available. The Sports Authority opened just about a year ago, stands at the northwest corner. About a half-mile north of Pine Ridge on Airport is a Lowe's nearing completion as well.

Barring any snags in the zoning application, James McVey of Gates-McVey Builders says plans for an 11-building condominium office complex will go forward at a site directly north of the Sports Authority on Airport Road, not far off Pine Ridge. Each building will be comprised of 3,000 square feet.

Continuing up toward I-75, Jon Ebert's golf range opened about a year ago, as did Pine Ridge Nursery across the street. North of the driving range on the south side of the road the Related Group is building an apartment complex. On the north side near Livingston Road are 13 acres under application for zoning. Tentative plans include a seven-acre assisted living facility with three acres slated for an office park and the remaining three to be preserves. Not too far from that site medical offices are going in.

East of the golf range is nearly 160 acres of mostly agriculturally zoned land, according to Tony Janciquar of Prudential. There is a 100-acre tract and several other parcels available. It is one of the last large tracts left in that quadrant and includes 16 acres of commercially zoned land. Janciquar says, "There's been a lot of interest."

Activity centered around the interstate includes a new Quality Inn as well as the Cleveland Clinic. The east side of I-75 already has a Publix shopping center at the entrance to The Vineyards residential golf community. Golden Gate Estates starts at this point and continues up the eastward side of Pine Ridge Road.

Site development along the road is under way for five projects that will be announced within the next 30 to 60 days, according to Michael Fernandez, Planning Development Inc. "Significant changes are coming," says Fernandez. "I would suggest this corridor would have five additional projects announced in the next 60 days." He declined to elaborate. Stay tuned on those.

Craig Timmons, CCIM, of John R. Wood, Realtors in Naples says there is a 100 percent occupancy rate in the Bed, Bath and Beyond Plaza, with other areas not far behind. With a location "in the middle of three exits to Naples within excess of one million square feet of retail, with a Home Depot and a Lowe's," Timmons agrees the Pine Ridge Road corridor is a major artery through Naples and retailers of this size are great demand-generators.

Flanked on one end by highway access and on the other by a major destination route, Pine Ridge Road has come into its own with its mix of retail and residential units. What cannot be seen is not necessarily waiting for the right buyer. Chances are good that either planning studies have already been done or permitting approvals are being sought. In any event, this gateway is laden with traffic-in more ways than one. What may appear to be undeveloped is not necessarily going unnoticed.