Tim Aten Knows: Luxury condos planned in Naples Park

Q: Any plans for something new going into the closed-up Burger King in Naples Park? – Leslie B., North Naples

A: A 28-unit luxury condominium complex will be built on a Naples Park block following demolition of the former Burger King drive-thru restaurant, a multiunit commercial building and a single-family home, all now behind a construction fence.

Initially proposed as Mercato West Apartments because of its proximity to the Mercato mixed-use development on the opposite side of U.S. 41 North, Sole Naples’ multifamily condo units will be built in a four-story building between Rib City and Joe’s Diner in North Naples.

The redevelopment project advanced nearly a year ago when the Collier County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a rezoning ordinance as part of its Dec. 9 consent agenda. The board action changed zoning of the 1.86-acre parcel from a C-3 commercial intermediate zoning district to a residential multifamily zoning district to allow up to 16 multifamily dwelling units per acre, for a total of 28 multifamily dwelling units. The low-rise project is on the west side of Tamiami Trail North and bordered on the north by 93rd Avenue North and on the south by 92nd Avenue North.

Deemed an underperforming location, the Burger King franchise at 9271 Tamiami Trail N. closed more than three years ago after operating about 30 years on that corner of 92nd Avenue North and U.S. 41. Minnesota-based Rachel Development Inc. and Vincent Real Estate Development LLC, doing business jointly as Ripley Land Co LLC, made $8.3 million in real estate acquisitions to make the redevelopment project possible. They purchased the former Burger King lot and a single-family residence on 92nd Avenue in July 2024 for $2.8 million and $1.2 million, respectively; and acquired three properties along 93rd Avenue, which included an auto service center, for a total of $4.3 million in September 2024, county property records show.

Businesses in the multiunit building at 9295 Tamiami Trail N. on the corner of 93rd Avenue North included AeroLube Quick Oil Change & EV Service and Parrot Head Detailing. In May, Parrot Head relocated its detailing and window-tinting business about 4 miles north to its new shop at 1430 Rail Head Blvd. in the industrial park off Old 41 Road in North Naples.

The ground level of Sole’s 117,817-square-foot building will include parking, a swimming pool, a lobby, the building manager’s office and a mail room. The condominium units will be on the second, third and fourth floors.

The living spaces will range from a 1,927-square-foot, three-bedroom unit to a 3,741-square-foot, four-bedroom unit. The condos will have open floor plans, high ceilings, hardwood floors and private outdoor living spaces, architectural plans show.

Before the residential project was proposed, a small grocery store was planned at that site a few years ago, but the deal for Wild Fork Meat & Seafood Market fell through because the Florida Department of Transportation would not grandfather access drives to the property directly off U.S. 41. The only two access points for the Sole condos will be off both 92nd and 93rd Avenue North, just west of their intersections with U.S. 41.

Bank redevelopment

Q: Would you happen to know what they’re doing with the old bank next to the McDonald’s at the corner of U.S. 41 and Triangle Boulevard? Thanks. – Eddie Guzman Jr., Naples

A: Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is opening a new thrift store and drop-off center in the former Regions Bank/AmSouth branch office between McDonald’s and Carrabba’s Italian Grill in Freedom Square on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 East and Collier Boulevard. The store is tentatively targeted to launch in early November after final inspections by Collier County are completed, said Debra Donatto, director of retail marketing and internal communications for Goodwill Southwest Florida.

The new location will mark Goodwill’s return to Publix-anchored Freedom Square. The nonprofit organization was forced to close its inline store in the center in April 2017 when its lease was not renewed by Brixmor Property Group, the owner of Freedom Square, as Pet Supermarket expanded into that space. The pet store has since closed and Goodwill opened an attended donation center across the street in Price Street Plaza, 12450 Tamiami Trail E.

Construction started July 6 on converting the one-story, freestanding outparcel in Freedom Square into a Goodwill store. The majority of the 3,820-square-foot former bank office will be used as a sales floor for merchandise, development plans show. Goodwill also enclosed the bank’s 551-square-foot drive-thru for a building addition that will be used as a storage and receiving area for donated items, plans show.

Fort Myers-based Stevens Construction Inc. is the general contractor for Goodwill’s latest expansion.

The Tim Aten Knows weekly column answers local questions from readers. Email Tim at Tim.Aten@NaplesPress.com.