In the Know: Hotel construction begins off Immokalee Road in North Naples

Q: Can you please tell me what is being built across from Walmart on Juliet Boulevard in North Naples? Seems like a large construction site.

— Jane Lytle, North Naples

A: Construction began in late September on a six-story Marriott hotel across Juliet Boulevard from the Walmart Supercenter on the south side of Immokalee Road west of Interstate 75 in North Naples.

The extended-stay TownePlace Suites by Marriott International is being developed by Massachusetts-based Lynwood LLC at 5304 Useppa Way, the lot just west of the new Extra Space Storage building and south of Chase Bank and Ultimate Express Car Wash.

The apartment-style hotel will have more than 130 suites, each with a fully equipped kitchen that includes a full-size refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and stove. The hotel is scheduled to open in November or December 2019, said Joseph Toole, general partner of Lynwood LLC and president of Toole Companies, a family business that has owned and operated hotels in Massachusetts for decades.

Toole and his wife purchased a condominium unit in Old Naples four years ago. Lynwood bought the 2.5-acre hotel lot in the Gaspar Station planned unit development for $3.65 million in February. The more than 70,000-square-foot hotel will have a footprint of more than 13,000 square feet, plans show.

Marriott operates hundreds of TownePlace Suites in the nation. The nearest location opened last year near Coconut Point in Estero.

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“The TPS brand has been refined to hit the mark perfectly for the traveler that we expect and believe is presently underserved. I'm speaking of the value-oriented, longer-term guest from the leisure, corporate and family channels,” Toole said. “They want new, clean, efficient accommodations with the latest technology and, most importantly, backed by staff and management that will bend over backwards to deliver an ideal guest experience. That means many voluntary acts of kindness and total commitment to every guest.”

Guest services include an oblong pool and deck behind the hotel and a firepit and outdoor seating in front of the building. Amenities also include a breakfast buffet and dining area, a fitness center, meeting room, laundry room and an In-A-Pinch market available 24/7 for beverages, snacks and toiletry items.

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“Our research told us that there is clearly a demand for an all-suites concept which will be ideal for stays of one or 100 nights,” Toole said. “Our strength is on the management side where our primary goal is to exceed guest expectations. Our family has been in business in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts for nearly 100 years and our approach is qualitatively focused.”

The hotel in North Naples is the only project Toole has in this area, but he said his family eventually will pursue others here.

“We plan to grow a branch of our business in the Florida region but in a measured way so as not to affect guest experience,” he said.

Gaspar Station PUD still has two vacant commercial lots more than 1½ acres each available for development. One fronts Immokalee Road west of the car wash; the other fronts Juliet south of the future hotel.

Have a local question? Email it with your name and city of residence to intheknow@naplesnews.com. Tim Aten’s "In the Know" is published every Monday and Wednesday. Follow In the Know on Facebook now at facebook.com/timaten.intheknow.

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