In the Know: Surging south side median condo prices, updates on Lucky's, Wynn's, Fifth, Brooks Burgers

Will median prices on the south side of Collier County eventually catch up with the north side?

There's evidence we're moving in that direction, at least with the condominium numbers.

For example, South Naples condos (34112, 34113) saw a 22.1 percent spike in its median closed prices to $213,000 in September 2019 from $174,500 in September 2018, according to Naples Area Board of Realtors statistics.

Jeff Jones, a true whiz with the data for Keller Williams Naples, said "tremendous new development" has emerged on the south side, and he has noted a gradual curve up over the past year.

The areas include 34112, which is largely land between Davis Boulevard and Rattlesnake Hammock Road, and 34113, which runs from Rattlesnake to about the Jolley Bridge that connects Marco Island to the world. The zips take in areas traditionally known as East Naples, East Trail and the Lely area.

Jones attributes part of the surge to "infill projects" and numerous developments in places such as along or off Davis, U.S. 41 and Santa Barbara Boulevard.

"The market says we need more supply," said Jones, NABOR's president. "The market is quite stable with new construction supplementing the existing supply."

Will there be routinely substantial monthly changes in the south's prices like these recent ones? Jones doesn't expect that much of a rapid shift.

"There's definitely an edging up. Is it 22 percent? I don't think so," Jones said. "The median price overall is increasing."

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At the same time, North Naples condos (defined by NABOR as 34109, 34110, 34119) saw a 16.4 percent decrease in median closed prices to $242,500 in September 2019 from $290,000 in September 2018.

One reason for the pattern is that the north doesn't have as much property left to develop as the south. "A lot of that has been finished," Jones said.

Plus the newness of the popular coastal-style condos on the south may be a bigger draw than the aging Mediterranean ones of the north, he said.

Jones said residents who "have updated their homes are more likely to sell."

The Naples Daily News has been reporting on the move away from Mediterranean. For example, Harwick Homes, which builds houses, has also made such remodels a specialty.

Harwick Homes Vice President Shane Klepko provided better understanding of the differences through describing one recent remodel.

The home was dark with travertine floors, gold-toned walls, yellow/gold granite countertops and dark wood-stained cabinets. Klepko said he brightened it and opened up spaces with neutral interior color palette throughout, and the kitchen now features glass tiles.

With the North and South median prices, it’s interesting that the extremes resulted in the overall county being relatively flat on condos, jumping 1.1 percent from $242,250 to $245,000.

On single-family homes, the south side still has work to do to reach the north's level. For example, the south's 34113 overall median of $292,000 in September is still more than $50,000 behind the north's 34109.

October's numbers are due out soon.

Latest on Lucky's

Ralph Bullington, of Naples, asked via e-mail this past week:

I have just come back into our winter home in the Imperial Golf Estates and noticed that Lucky's is about where it was when I left to go back North. I expected it to be open when returned but quickly found out it wasn't. What happened?

Ah yes, Imperial Estates. Everybody always gets caught at that light on U.S. 41, but must have been a wicked left turn for you guys before they propped up those poles. And now there's going to be more of you? Welcome back.

So update time, Ralph, and man, subscribe to us when you're up North so you can keep up. Lots going on. I'm sharing a link in this column online for a few others who somehow snuck in through the doors without a subscription.

The future North Naples Lucky’s Market, located at Gateway Shoppes near Wiggins Pass Road, looks ready to go with its familiar logo and other trimmings but remains empty. 

The fast-growing chain of about 40 stores wants to get its new distribution center in Orlando up and rolling before opening a few additional sites, said Krista Torvik, a spokeswoman for the Colorado-based grocery chain. The idea is for the Central Florida operation to streamline produce faster to the 21 Florida locations.

The goal now for Wiggins Pass is the first quarter of 2020, Torvik said. Fort Myers and Cape Coral are also slated, and she had more specifics Wednesday than the last time we touched base three months ago. The target for those: Spring 2020.

There are a pair of other area options for Collier, one in East Naples, the other on Naples Boulevard, which opened this year.

A Wynn-win for Fifth Avenue South

Oakes Farms Market has been teasing us for at least five years, heck, let's just say a decade, about opening its Seed-to-Table operation on Immokalee Road. Its bosses are sticking to the Dec. 2 target date they shared last month with In the Know.

Now, Wynn’s Market is coming back to Fi Avenue South. Well, that's a tease, too. It's for one day, but in this case, it's shrewd marketing, the kind of I've come to expect from those perspicacious Fifthers since my Southwest Florida return. Good show.

Naples’ oldest, family-owned independent grocer is setting up a "pop-up" Wynn’s on Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Sudgen Plaza, 701 Fifth Ave. S.

“We are delighted to return to Fifth Avenue South for the annual Christmas celebration where our family’s legacy has been preserved within the Wynn Building and the plaza that leads to the Naples Players,” said Jeff Wynn, grandson of founder Don Q. Wynn.

More:Family grocer Wynn's Market still thriving in Naples after 80 years

Wynn’s started in Naples back in 1938 as a small inn for Depression-era travelers who took the train from New York to Miami. In 1948, the building was transformed into the first modern grocery store for the community of less than 600.  It was then located at the northeast corner of Seventh Street and Fifth Avenue South, where Yabba’s restaurant is today.

The 1,000-square-foot store was considered a bold move, as Fifth Avenue had just been zoned for commercial uses and looked like a ghost town, according to my knowledgeable colleague, Laura Layden.

In 1953, the Wynns built a grocery twice as big, on the other side of the parking lot. That structure was home to Wynn’s for almost a half-century. A larger market was built at 141 Ninth St. N., where it still sits today. The grocer's last building on Fifth eventually became home to another Wynn family enterprise, Sunshine Ace Hardware that turned 60 last year.

While the Winn-Dixies of the world struggle, Wynn's has evolved its selection dramatically over the years including adding seafood and sushi, expanding the to-go items in the deli, making more room for wine from around the world and adding a full-time cheese specialist, or cheesemonger. 

The ""mini" Wynn's ties into a 49-year tradition: The downtown Dec. 6-7 holiday festivities that's featuring a new culinary tradition. Hosted by several restaurants, "Long Table" dining will span more than five blocks down the double-yellow line of Fifth.

Brooks Burgers, baby

The fourth locale of Brooks Burgers officially opened its doors this past week in the Logan Landings Plaza, 7550 Immokalee Road, North Naples.

Besides the regular menu with a variety of burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches, the new spot hosts a separate ice cream shop with a selection of cold concoctions including milk shakes and sundaes. Brooks also features a full bar with multiple TV screens to watch sports.

Music to a builder's ears

The Greeks Don’t Want No Freaks, but they are eager to accept students wanting to learn and willing to become proficient in cleaning up grammar like that by the musical group, the Eagles.

My colleague David Dorsey reported this past week on news-press.com on the development of the $15 million Athenian Charter School taking shape off Three Oaks Parkway, just north of Estero. Greek culture, part of the curriculum, inspired the program.

This is just one of three major construction projects taking place within a mile of one another off Three Oaks Parkway including Murano at Three Oaks, south of Alico Road and visible from I-75, and Vineyards at Portofino, about a two-minute drive north of Estero Parkway. Both are multi-family apartment complexes.

Economic break for developers

Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala has said she’s always been “a staunch fighter” for impact fees because she felt they are necessary and keep residents' taxes low.

Now, not so much.

“I’m afraid you hit my capacity,” said Fiala, as she, along with Chairman Bill McDaniel signaled at Tuesday's commission meeting that they couldn't back a new impact fees plan to help fund future growth and development.

In the Know's new columnist, Phil Fernandez. The photo was shot in Naples Daily News studio Thursday, September, 12, 2019.

Instead, fees were reduced this past week, in some cases by 20 to 30 percent, for many developers. The commissioners did support revisiting the issue as Commissioner Andy Solis established himself as the swing vote when they take another look at it next month. 

As noted by county staff members, someone will have to pay for the growth, and with no other new plan in place at the moment, you're likely going to get stuck with the bill through ways such as taxes or utility payments unless something changes.

Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com) writes In the Know for the Naples Daily News.

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