>>The demand for innovative products is emerging in Naples' strong commercial market, and a number of developers are thinking creatively to fill these niches.

Following is a look at three projects-one beginning development, one still just a vision and a third under construction-that depart from the norm in Southwest Florida.

Naples Big Cypress Market Place

Basik Development plans to bring a winery to Naples, importing grapes from vineyards around the world.

"We would have wine equipment there, and we would be able to crush the grapes. It would be not only a place to be able to pick up product, but also an educational place where you learn a little bit more about the process," says company president Keith Basik.

The winery is just one element of Basik Development's 87,000-square-foot Naples Big Cypress Market Place, which is under construction on Tamiami Trail East. The majority of the center will consist of 300 booths and kiosks leased to vendors who are expected to sell everything from fresh seafood and produce to shells and

T-shirts. Basik anticipates opening by October or November.

"It's a little bit different than a flea market. When you mention flea market, there's a connotation that these [vendors] are people just bringing stuff out of their garages. That is not what this is," Basik says. "These are people that have to be in for a year-long lease, the product has to be new, and they are going to be expected to run a professional operation."

The Market Place will also include a 13,000-square-foot exposition area that will cater to trade shows. It will feature a food court and an 8,000-square-foot entertainment area.

Trade Center Way

Sand Stone Contractors, Engineers and Developers envision a 40,000-square-foot commercial building on Trade Center Way, in one of Naples' oldest industrial parks, featuring a helipad, entertainment area, pool and small restaurant-all on the roof.

"It was our intent to do something completely out of the box, avant-garde, so we would immediately get recognized as a forward-thinking, contemporary constructor," co-owner Rick Spieth says. Although Spieth and his partner, Eddie Hernandez, have done commercial projects internationally and residential building in Naples, this would be the company's first Naples commercial project. They are still trying to drum up interest from investors.

"From that roof level, your feet will be about 50 feet above sea level, and you will be able to see the horizon and the sunset," Spieth says.

The first two levels of the four-story building are slated for an enclosed, reinforced-concrete garage below two two-level office towers separated by a 5,000-square-foot courtyard. The developers hope to attract builders, interior decorators, flooring companies, architects, engineers and furniture stores.

"You have to not think of it as an industrial park, because you are really looking out over Airport-Pulling Road, and you don't have to drive too deep into the industrial park to get to the building," Spieth says. "I feel it's really not industrial office space; it's more [like] Airport-Pulling Road office space."

Mercato

On 53 acres at the corner of Tamiami Trail North and Vanderbilt Beach Road, land has been cleared for Mercato. The mixed-use development by the Lutgert Cos. and the Barron Collier Cos. will include residential, retail and office space, along with a 62-room boutique-style hotel.

"People are sort of growing tired of suburbia, and there is a general shift in consumer preferences to shop, live and work in the same area," says Dougall McCorkle, vice president of commercial development for the Lutgert Cos.

The lifestyle-center component will include 340,000 square feet of retail space over four blocks. Whole Foods Market will anchor the center on one end with a 50,000-square-foot natural and organic foods grocery and café. The center will also include a movie theater with extra-large seats and aisles, reserved seating, and upgraded food and beverages. Other retail tenants include seven yet-to-be-announced

restaurants, a bookstore and a mix of fashion and home-products stores.

Construction of the first phase, which includes the Whole Foods store, is slated for completion by the end of 2008.

The 100,000 square feet of class-A office space will be located in two buildings. "There is a lot of attraction to being part of a mixed-use project. It is a big plus for employees of a company that locates in this kind of project, because it has a higher energy level and a place to go outside and stroll at lunchtime or grab a bite just around the corner," McCorkle says.