Major project coming to Tarpon Point
Cape developer adds commercial element
BY _PETE SKIBA Florida Weekly Correspondent

COURTESY PHOTO An artist's rendering of the shops along Grosse Point Development Company's 175-slip deepwater marina already in use.

Cape Coral's Tarpon Point Marina plans to officially break ground on a $150-million condominium hotel, restaurant, office and shopping complex later this month.

The 19-story condo hotel will anchor Marina Village at the resort in the Cape's Southwest along the Caloosahatchee River.

While owners of condos in the hotel will enjoy concierge services, room service and other amenities typically available at a fine hotel, Marina Village's restaurants, spa services and boutiques will be open to all.

"I can get my nails done, go to a fine restaurant and go shopping right in the neighborhood. Shopping in the neighborhood - that's dangerous," said Candi Hoenmans, a year-round Tarpon Point resident.

The complex, scheduled for completion in 2009, will join Grosse Point Development Company's 175-slip deepwater marina already in use, 120 completed, park and lake view coach homes in Tarpon Gardens, a three mid-rise Tarpon Landings village with 210 homes already occupied, for sale or nearing completion in 2007 and Tarpon Estates with single-home sites.

Tarpon Estates offers lots ranging from ¼ acre to one acre with custom home and lot packages priced from $1.9 million.

The preferred builders at Tarpon Estates are: Aubuchon Homes, Boran Craig Barber Homes and Harborside Custom Homes. All feature homes in the classic Mediterranean style.

At Tarpon Point's build out, which could take 10 years, plans call for 976 single homes and condominiums in the community.

"Marina Village is at the very heart of our development," said Nick Cross, director of sales and marketing for the developer. "We are hoping for a grand opening in November 2009. We are very confident the real estate market will be back to a normal market by then and we will be well positioned for it."

The hotel's 184 condominiums that sit right on the water are for sale from the high $600,000s to more than $1 million.

The complex will be a destination resort not only with easily accessible boating but with a swimming pool, a deck, wine bar, coffee bar and two, 200-seat restaurants with river views. Boat shuttles to Fort Myers Beach, fishing and sightseeing guides and boat rentals are all available.

COURTESY PHOTO An artist's rendering of the 19-story condo hotel that will anchor Marina Village at Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral's Southwest along the Caloosahatchee River.

Management will be in the hands of SunStream Hotels & Resorts, a Fort Myers company. SunStream currently manages Diamond Head Beach Resort, Gullwing Beach Resort and others in Fort Myers Beach. It also manages the Bellasera Hotel and two other properties in Naples.

"The idea for the hotel is excellent," said Joe Palazzolo a resident, who divides his time between homes in Michigan and Tarpon Point. "I won't have to go far for a good meal and to enjoy the company of other boaters."

Palazzolo and other boaters will be able to dock their boats, walk along a promenade past a day spa, upscale ice cream store, a specialty food market and other retail outlets while enjoying the view of the water.

About 45,000 square feet of retail and office space for professionals such as attorneys, insurance agents and others will also be available in the village.

That's what is all about, said Nick Cross, director of sales and marketing for the developer.

"It will be a place to live, work and play," Cross said.

The possibility that 300 jobs will be created when the project is completed offers a plus for the community, Cross said.

It will be possible for someone to work in a high-tech office suite or condo in Marina Village, take a client to lunch at one of the restaurants with indoor or outdoor seating, return to work, hit the health club and meet a spouse for a romantic dinner and stroll home from Marina Village at Tarpon Point.

Even though it looks like every day will be a special occasion at Marina Village, there are also plans for banquet facilities for everything from weddings to board meetings.

Tarpon Point plans to contain what sociologist Ray Oldenburg called in his book by the same name "The Great Good Place."

Oldenburg looked around and thought many places lacked a sense of community. He said that there were three places in life: work, home and the third place.

The third place is the heart of a community where people can meet, talk and make new friends. It can be a café, bar, restaurant, hair salon, spa or any other hangout where people are comfortable, Oldenburg said.

It can also be a swimming pool such as the one where Hoenmans and five of her friends were doing their aqua aerobics last week.

"When the hotel and the stores get built they will have a huge potential to attract people here," said Darla Lloyd, a yearlong resident of Tarpon Point. "The more people that come here the more friends we can have."

Tarpon Point's sales center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturdays. On Sundays, hours are from noon to 5 p.m. Information is available at 549-8500, or tarponpoint.com.