The planned community Midtown at Bonita promises to create a central commercial hub to complement the surge of condominium developments continuing to take shape in southeastern Bonita Springs.
"It's a much-needed project on this side of town," Bonita Springs Mayor Mike Gibson said.
Midtown developer The Zuckerman Group joined city officials and other stakeholders to celebrate as construction progressed Nov. 6. Work was already well underway, with townhome shells rising and the first hints of a main street-style entertainment district emerging.
“I think it’s indicative of a transformation east of Interstate 75 off Bonita Beach Road,” said commercial broker Justin Thibaut, president and CEO of LSI Companies, who is seeking an upscale hotel partner for Midtown. “What’s been lacking is the dining, entertainment and retail for this node.”
The Zuckerman Group and city officials break ground on Midtown at Bonita, a major development that will bring new housing, shops and a hotel to southeastern Bonita Springs.
The 68-acre development includes 400 luxury apartments, 200,000 square feet of planned commercial space for local, regional and national retailers, a 165-room hotel and offices. Some shops could open by the end of next year, Zuckerman Group President Andrew Zuckerman said.
“Don’t hold me to that,” he added.
Businesses that have signed on include The Hangry Bison, Club Pilates, GoodVets, Jeff’s Bagel Run, Noire the Nail Bar, Bonita Beach Wine & Spirits, Gelato & Co., LowBrow Pizza, Mathnasium, SugaringLA, Chipotle, Panera Bread, UPS and Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, among others.
As Midtown and nearby developments move forward, concerns remain about traffic congestion and flooding in the area.
Andrew Zuckerman, president of The Zuckerman Group, speaks with guests during the Midtown at Bonita groundbreaking ceremony Nov. 6 in Bonita Springs.
In October, Bonita Springs City Council approved Revana Lakes in a 4-3 vote. The planned mixed-use community by Seagate Development Group lies just east of Midtown on Bonita Beach Road. If the project clears state review, Seagate could begin designing 299 homes and 100,000 square feet of retail and office space.
Midtown’s developers said residents will be able to “live, work and play” without leaving the community, which they believe will ease traffic. The development’s proximity to I-75 also puts it within a short drive of hundreds of thousands of potential customers.
Construction is underway at Midtown at Bonita, a 68-acre mixed-use community featuring residential and commercial spaces east of Interstate 75.
“This is not only Bonita Springs, but a surrounding area we think could use (Midtown) frankly,” Zuckerman said.
Flooding concerns persist, as Midtown drains into the Kehl Canal and Imperial River Watershed. The Zuckerman Group said its design includes 30 acres of open space, including lakes and a 6.5-acre preserve, to help manage drainage, mitigate flooding and provide recreation for residents and visitors.
Initial plans for Midtown began about seven years ago, Zuckerman said. The family-owned Southwest Florida developer closed on the property in 2019, and City Council approved the project in 2020.
Construction crews continue work on Midtown at Bonita, part of a surge of development east of Interstate 75 in Bonita Springs.
“That’s the reason we bought this site,” said Ryan Zuckerman, who is spearheading the project. “They needed something like this to use and enjoy. The commercial component is to me the most important (part of the project).”
The project will benefit southeastern Bonita residents, said council member Jim Fitzpatrick, whose District 6 includes the fast-growing corridor.
“We’ve got about 11,000 full-time residents in this area looking for year-round options without having to drive to U.S. 41,” he said.
(1) comment
When is enough going to be enough? Catering to the rich not the locals, messing with the watershed. This used to be a nice quiet place to live and raise a family. It’s gotten way outta hand.
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