The Club at Renaissance: tradition and intimacy
BY BARBARA BOXLEITNER Florida Weekly Correspondent

The gated community of Italian-inspired luxury residences has won favor because of its central location. COURTESY PHOTO

The Club at Renaissance in south Fort Myers has the expanse befitting a masterplanned community.

But its 394 residences over 500 acres have made it especially delightful for those seeking an upscale lifestyle.

"It's a boutique community," said John Gnagey, The Worthington Group principal and executive vice president, who previously helped create bundled golf communities in Lexington Country Club in Fort Myers and Vanderbilt Country Club in Naples. "We're very low density compared to our competition. It's much more intimate."

West of Interstate 75 and north of Daniels Parkway, the gated community of Italian inspired luxury residences also has won favor because of its location. "We're right in the center of Lee County," Gnagey said.

Easy access to the interstate and close proximity to Southwest Florida International Airport and shopping outlets, such as the new Gulf Coast Town Center, place residents in the pulse of activity.

COURTESY PHOTO The two-story clubhouse and amenities are centrally located in the community

Not that Renaissance residents are want of activity. An obvious attraction is the Arthur Hills 18-hole golf course, which in 2005 was cited among America's best new courses in Golfweek Magazine.

A two-story clubhouse and amenities are centrally located in between the Monteverdi and Triana neighborhoods, which are nearest to the entrance, and the Terabella and Via Lago neighborhoods.

The tennis program offers individual or group lessons, clinics and more competitive play on six clay courts. Poolside food and beverage service complement the pool and hot tub activities, which include swimming lessons and water aerobics. Fitness and spa accommodations cater to individual and class workouts and afford leisure treats such as massages and manicures.

Gnagey described the residents as in their 40s to 60s, either primary or secondary homeowners. "We have a lot of Canadians," he said, adding that many residents also have come from the East Coast.

COURTESY PHOTO Vicinity Map

Renaissance originally featured new construction, which continues today. A number of lots had residences constructed by the community's preferred builders, while others were vacant for custom design. In some cases, people purchased two lots and built on one. "People have owned a home site for two years," Gnagey said, "and they decided to build. They're still building homes."

Resales since have become common, however. For example, most of the Triana luxury coach homes in available inventory are resale. As of late December, resales ranged from $405,000 for 2,563 square feet of living space in a Matera Grande model to $599,900 for 2,802 square feet of the Serina Grande.

For the most part, lots in the six neighborhoods have either a lakefront or a golf course view. Some 27 lots in the singlefamily Villagio neighborhood back up to the largest preserve on site.

Gnagey said single-family homes range from $1.2 million to $5 million. Preferred builders are Arthur Rutenberg Homes/ A.R.B.C. Corp.; Coastal Breeze Homes, Divco Construction Corp.; Granite Development L.L.C.; Harbourside Custom Homes; Michelangelo Homes, Inc.; The Vintage Group; and Welch Custom Homes, Inc, according to the online site. They build in the Terabella, Via Lago, Monteverdi and Vittoria neighborhoods.

COURTESY PHOTO Libeccio Via Lago

Floor designs, whether one- or two-story, are expansive with a variety of details. Granite Development's Monserrato III in Monteverdi has 3,390 square feet of living space. Next to the front entry is a guest house that overlooks a courtyard pool and spa, which fronts a library on the opposite side of the pool. A wet bar in the living room and butler's pantry between the kitchen and dining room are other features in the home, priced in the $1.5 million range. Harbourside Custom's one-story Tuscano IV model provides 3,755 square feet of living area. It has four bedrooms and four and one-half bathrooms plus a three-car garage.

Meritage Homes has built the two- and three-bedroom coach homes in Triana.

COURTESY PHOTO St. Augustine COURTESY PHOTO The Arthur Hills 18-hole golf course, was cited in 2005 as one of America's best new courses in Golfweek Magazine.