Habitat for Humanity of Collier County won approval from the Collier County Commission to construct 58 low-income housing units on the western edge of North Naples near Immokalee Road, with plans to start building in early 2025. The additional dwellings come as part of an amendment to their PUD allotment, taking the maximum dwelling units from 460 to 580. Through this development, the area will gain much-needed affordable housing options without cutting into existing family neighborhoods, respecting the offerings of the luxurious Esplanade Golf & Country Club next door.
The Collier County Commission has made a landmark decision that will bring much-needed affordable housing options to North Naples. Habitat for Humanity of Collier County has been given the greenlight to build low-income condominium buildings on the Collier Boulevard extension north of Immokalee Road, with an amended PUD increasing the maximum residential dwelling units from 460 to 580. This includes 58 low-income apartment units near the activity center on the northwest corner of Collier Boulevard and Immokalee Road. It is a significant step forward in addressing the need for affordable housing in the area.
Habitat is proud to announce that site work will soon commence on their northernmost project in Collier. This new development will be situated on the western edge of the Collier Boulevard extension, just south of the rear entrance to the exclusive Esplanade Golf & Country Club gated community and north of the 15500 Mark Lane luxury apartments. Upon completion, this project will be a welcome addition to the area.
Lisa Lefkow, CEO of Habitat Collier, estimates that the build-out of the yet-unnamed community will begin in early 2025 and be completed by early 2026. With their first four units in the Songbird development on Whippoorwill Lane recently sold, Lefkow predicts this new development will be a popular destination.
Families will soon enjoy the convenience of living in Kaicasa, east of Ave Maria, as well as Whitaker Woods off Whitaker Road in East Naples. Furthermore, access to the new Collier Boulevard development will be available at its northern boundary, as well as to the south off Broken Back Road, which lines up with Weathered Stone Drive, an entrance into Heritage Bay across the street.
Richard Yovanovich of Coleman, Yovanovich & Koester proudly stated before commissioners voted to approve the deviation “We are asking for a deviation to be able to provide the for-sale project separate from the market rate apartment complex. This is one of the very few projects where you’ve seen that have come through with the actual existing affordable housing density bonus program that’s in your land development code and the matrix that currently exists for that. As your staff pointed out, the matrix does indeed work for such projects where a not-for-profit organization provides the affordable housing aspects. Therefore, this is indeed a market rate affordable housing project with a significant portion of affordable housing units.”
The Tree Farm MPUD includes the Mark Lane apartments, Public Storage and the Lintree Medical Center already constructed, as well as retail space at its southern edge that has yet to break ground. With more than 58 acres of land, this project will become a valuable asset to the community.
The allocated land for Habitat of Collier’s newest, yet-unnamed community is situated on the edge of an exclusive course with nearby luxury apartments and promises an innovative project that will provide much needed low-income housing solutions for North Naples citizens. The work for the undertaking is scheduled to commence in early 2025, signifying a huge victory for those remedying the current lack of reasonable housing options in the area. The collaborative effort between Collier County Commissioners and Habitat for Humanity proves admiral progress in resolving accessible arraignments, exuding a persistent call-to-action near residents affected by dire economical predicaments.
