Davis Boulevard gets makeover from development experts
As reported by Harriet Howard Heithaus in Gulfshore Business on April 9th, 2026
“The future of Davis Boulevard took shape April 8th during a panel discussion among development experts focused on East Naples’ major thoroughfare. The corridor could see more housing, with buildings rising vertically rather than expanding outward.”
From left, Michael McNees, Collier County director of facilities and redevelopment; Matthew Kragh, founder of MHK Architecture; Rich Yovanovich, shareholder at Coleman Yovanovich Koester; and Tim Aten, real estate and development columnist for Gulfshore Business, discuss development trends along Davis Boulevard during an April 8 panel in East Naples.
Panelists also discussed traffic improvements, including repositioning the exits from Brookside and Commercial streets to create a four-way, signalized intersection. They also spoke of a planned development at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Davis Blvd. which includes approximately 600 residential units and a tentative Organic Food Market to anchor the development, it would feature a retail center with the style of Mercato in North Naples, just on a smaller scale.
“The summary of the meeting, which attracted “full house” of real estate agents and development representatives, was that the Davis Boulevard corridor is ripe for reinvestment and renewal. “The trajectory, I think, is undeniable,” said Michael McNees, Collier County director of facilities and redevelopment. “I’m not an investment guy, but this is a buy-and-hold neighborhood for sure.”
Currently, the 6.8-mile four-lane street connecting Collier Boulevard and its Interstate 75 exit 101 with U.S. 41, in downtown Naples, is an eclectic real estate mixture. Small businesses and residential areas coexist, including car dealerships, pet groomers, two pharmacies, home equipment supply stores, niche food markets and restaurants, and there are churches on the street as well.
Its horizon has remained fairly static, except for several new apartment complexes and the car dealerships and restaurants in flux, until a nine-story hotel-condo complex was proposed for its western intersection with U.S. 41 in 2016. That hotel has yet to be built, but the seeds were planted. Today, two 15-story condo buildings, Ascent and Avra are either complete or in finishing stages on the south side of Davis, and a third is being planned. Then came the plan for the Santa Barbara southeast corner development. It is incredible what is happening along the Davis Blvd. corridor.”
This panel discussion took place in yet another planned development, Halcyon Residences and Marina, a low-rise 66-unit condo complex with dedicated docks that are already in place. It will be across from the three high-rises at the western end of Davis. Yet another development with a 12-story hotel and a residential building are on the drawing board for the property adjacent to the Oakes Farms Market on Davis Blvd.
The event was hosted by Halcyon and presented by Gulfshore Business, and its location exemplified the change coming to Davis Boulevard. Christine Lutz, director of development sales and marketing, an associate with the Coldwell Banker Realty office on Fifth Avenue South, felt strongly enough about the potential to put together the presentation to educate potential clients and colleagues about the market. What had been a pawn shop a little more than a year ago was now a sleek new sales center for Halcyon, with wood-texture strip facade, ebony trim and earth-toned accents. Participants gathered on its new pickleball court.
For an hour, panelists answered questions on what they see coming to Davis, nearby Bayshore Drive and Naples in general. Speakers included real estate and development columnist Tim Aten of Gulfshore Business; Matthew Kragh, founder of MHK Architecture; McNees; and attorney Rich Yovanovich, shareholder of Coleman Yovanovich Koester and an acknowledged development expert. Each of them observed circumstances that pointed toward Davis Boulevard as the new development mecca.
Kragh noted a shift in lending attitudes toward condominiums following the Great Recession. “When I started my firm in 2009, condo was like a really dirty word to most banks,” Kragh said. “We were coming out of the recession, and at that time you could still buy a piece of property in Old Naples for a million dollars or less.” The taboo persisted when Kragh was designing Naples Square, but its success led to the development of Eleven Eleven Central, he said. Since then, he feels condominiums have earned some respect. “I don’t see the condo market disappearing even when we go through little economic dips because I don’t think we’re ever going to see those price points in downtown Naples dip below to where people have options to buy single-family versus condominium,” he added.
Panelists also cited limited development opportunities within the city of Naples. “The costs are obviously high, but that’s because it’s finite space,” Aten said. “There’s not a lot of opportunity there for development outside of redevelopment.” The opportunity lies on the outskirts of the city. So, we’re seeing it on this side on the south and east and also on the north where Phil McCabe’s building his hotel. You’re seeing that kind of pushed out on both ends.”
The Bayshore-Gateway Triangle Community Redevelopment Agency also provides incentives for qualifying projects, including funding for infrastructure improvements. “Sometimes the CRA can help contribute to shave off those edges so that a development that might go out where they can have a clean, green field will commit to being here,” McNees said.”
Email: TheBlogger@NaplesRealEstate for a complete list of these upcoming projects!
I was happy to attend such an informative session with great panelists, attended by some of Naples top agents and hosted by Coldwell Banker.
The Halcyon sales center is beautiful. If you or someone you know is interested in more information, please contact one of us at the NaplesRealEstate.com Team and we will gladly share the excitement that these projects are bringing to this area. 1-239-250-4370
Make it a GREAT day,
The Naples Real Estate Blogger
