Collier County

Naples Area Profile Naples, Marco Island and the western portion of the Everglades make up Southwest Florida's Collier County – also known as The Paradise Coast. Collier is the largest county in the state of Florida, by land area, yet more than 80% of the vast expanse of land is preserved as park and nature preserve land by federal, state, county, city and private agencies. Beautiful beach communities surrounded by nature – it's no wonder the area is referred to as Florida’s Last Paradise. Real Estate Overview Educational, emergency and medical facilities have kept pace with rapid residential growth in Naples. New single- and multi-family home communities, in styles ranging from Old Florida to Mediterranean, are built around a lifestyle, such as boating, golf, or an appreciation for nature. Many developments strive to combine every element, and offer pool, tennis and fitness centers as well. Waterfront living is naturally at a premium, with developers capitalizing on breathtaking views by building skyward. Stylish condominium towers in Pelican Bay and Cape Marco on Marco Island are prime examples of luxury Gulf front living.

Comprising condominiums and coach homes, The Colonnade at Park Shore even has its own private beach, while Pelican Harbor on Vanderbilt Beach Road offers condominium harbor homes with 70 boat slips close to the Gulf and to golf. Inland, many Naples developments also enjoy views of the water.

Golfing communities are Naples' specialty, with such outstanding examples as Lely Resort andEagle Creek, east of town, Collier Reserve to the north, and Grey Oaks, located on Airport Road and Golden Gate Parkway. All offer beautifully sculpted championship courses amid landscaped settings. Wilderness Country Club in North Naples, a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, is a gated clubhouse community featuring five pools, several lakes and an 18-hole golf course designed by Arthur Hills. Some excellent designers have 'carved' a place in the sun. They include; Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Arthur Hills, Tom Fazio, Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Joe Lee, and many, many more. In fact, we have more courses per capita than any area in the world.

Lifestyle
Completed in 1989 at a cost of almost $20 million, the Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Pelican Bay has a full program of music, dance and theater. At the Naples Playhouse, the local Naples Players regale the public with plays and musicals, while the Naples Dinner Theater puts on year-round professional productions. Open air concerts are held at Cambier Park and at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, which also holds a free admission Summer Jazz on the Gulf schedule. The Naples Spring Art Festival is another popular outdoors event, at which artists from far and wide exhibit and sell their work. Notable among the many resident art galleries in Naples are The Naples Art Association & Gallery, which sells paintings, sculptures, jewelry and ceramics. On Central Avenue, we have a fine modern library with extensive reference facilities, free video rental, theme exhibits, and a separate children's section.

Also for children, and the young at heart, is our famous Teddy Bear Museum, home to 3,000 unique, antique, and totally adorable stuffed bears and moving displays.

Part of Naples' considerable charm is afforded by the many select shopping centers, each distinctive in style, where you can browse and dine in comfort.

Marco Island

The City of Marco Island is located in Collier County, a short drive from the City of Naples. It is well known for its high quality of life, natural resources, casual atmosphere, and friendly people.

On August 28, 1997, the people of Marco Island elected to incorporate. Marco Island became a city for the second time. (The first time the city was known as Collier City and was incorporated in 1927, but later unincorporated.) The first seven-member City Council was subsequently elected with a council-manager form of government. City Council hired a city manager to assist in undertaking the task of providing traditional municipal services. With the invaluable assistance of many citizens who volunteered to serve on various committees, the structure of the city took place. The new City Council took on many issues simutaneously, including the development of a comprehensive plan, a land development code, and operating departments to include law enforcement, fire-rescue, parks and recreation, public works, community development and administration. City Council recognized the serious island infrastructure problems and has undertaken an aggressive capital improvement program. Bridges and roads have been repaired. Storm drainage problems continue to be addressed. Waterways are dredged to ensure safe boating access. Over 100 miles of streets, storm drainage, rights-of-way, 12 bridges, and 6 parks come under city jurisdiction. In May 2001 the city acquired the Bank of America building property on Bald Eagle Drive for $1.2 million. Located adjacent to the existing police and fire department property and across the street from the Marco Healthcare Center, this facility compliments the public service center of Marco Island as its first City Hall.

Following years of negotiations, the City acquired the water and wastewater system from a private owner in November 2003, at a cost of $85.3 million. The decision to acquire the utility was made with wide public support and now allows the comunity to make reasonable and environmentally sound decisions regarding future water supply and environmentally safe wastewater treatment processes. A business plan is under way to provide for better and more reliable water sources, new water treatment capacity, and an expansion of the wastewater collection system to eliminate septic tanks.

In 2003 the voters elected to acquire 6.85 acres of property near the town center at a cost of $10 million. The property will be master planned to provide a variety of recreational and cultural opportunities.

Several major projects are under way. These include the major reconstruction of North and South Collier Boulevard and the removal of overhead power lines to improve the beauty and ambiance of the island.

Other recent developments include the expansion of the Marco Healthcare Center, an affiliate of Naples Community Hospital, and a new library building. Quality commercial structures were and continue to be built along with upscale residential homes, condominiums and hotels. Architectural standards help ensure quality development that promotes the unique quality and ambiance of Marco Island.

Marco Island continues to attract visitors from all over the world and its property is in high demand. Property values have more than tripled since incorporation to over $7 billion in 2004. Marco Island enjoys a realtively low property tax rate and historically reduces the tax millage rate each year. The 2004 city tax millage rate is $158.60 for each $100,000 of assessed value.

There are about 2,000 remaining vacant lots. New homes are constructed at a rate of about 200-300 each year. The recent trend has been the demolition of older homes with the replacement of larger residential structures. While homes and condominiums are considered to be expensive compared to most communities in Florida, threre is a wide variety and price range for homes, condominiums and vacation rentals. The retail businesses, quality restaurants, superb hotel and conference facilities, quality neighborhoods, easy access to the Gulf of Mexico, and pristine environment are among the finest in the nation. The white sandy beaches along the bright blue Gulf of Mexico, when combined with the warm winter climate are among the reasons that the residents and visitors call Marco Island "paradise."