Coconut Road will be home to residences, not interchange
Construction has begun near Coconut Road and Interstate 75, but it's not a controversial Coconut Road interchange project.
Home builder Taylor Morrison is clearing land to build 90 single-family homes for a new gated community called Pebble Pointe. The 40-acre site, which is expected to open for home sales in early 2015, is nicknamed the "Martini Glass" project because the parcel looks like a martini glass from overhead. For years, Estero residents fought against an interchange at Coconut Road.
The interchange became moot when owner Oakbrook Properties sold the Martini Glass to Taylor Morrison in 2012. The land was zoned for 90 single-family homes in 2013. Taylor Morrison likes the site because it's located in the Brooks community and near Coconut Point mall. Pebble Pointe will feature a picturesque setting with a pristine lake and lush landscaping, as well as a community dog park and gazebo.
"One of the most enviable traits of Pebble Pointe is its fabulous location and easy access to an array of area attractions, from the cultural delights of downtown Naples to the finest in outdoor recreation, including golf, tennis, boating and fishing," said Cammie Longenecker, the vice president of sales and marketing for Taylor Morrison West Florida.
Pebble Pointe's construction ends a long saga with the property.
The Martini Glass parcel became national news in 2006 when a $10 million earmark for the intersection appeared between congressional approval and presidential sign-off in a 2006 federal transportation bill. The bill was written by U.S. Rep Don Young, a Republican from Alaska. Young, then the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, reportedly steered $200 million to the nicknamed "bridge to nowhere" project.
Estero residents and environmental groups fought the interchange because of the potential noise and harm to wetlands. Plans for funding the interchange were eventually dropped and the $10 million was reallocated to other projects such as Bonita Beach Road interchange.
Dick's Sporting Goods opening
Naples' first Dick's Sporting Goods is being built at 5955 Naples Blvd., next to the Costco wholesale warehouse club, in North Naples.
The sporting goods store will have 50,000-square-foot of space, have 50 employees and open this year the company said in an email. Dick's will host a three-day weekend of grand opening festivities with a variety of giveaways and special appearances in-store.
"We chose this location due to Naples being a great market in which we can serve the sporting goods and equipment needs of athletes in the local community," said Kim Freedman, the community marketing manager for Dick's South Florida and will oversee the new store.
The closest current store to Naples is at the Gulf Coast Town Center in San Carlos Park, which opened in 2008.
In May, Dick's opened a second Lee County store at Page Field Commons.
Estero golf carts business on the move
Gator Sports, a golf carts and ATV's business, has left Estero for Fort Myers.
On Sept. 15, Gator Sports closed its Estero store off Corkscrew Commons and moved into a new building at 14580 Global Parkway, Unit 10. The business' new location is north of the Southwest Florida International airport off Treeline Avenue.
Gator Sports' Naples and LaBelle location remain the same.
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