🏗️ Affordable Housing Planned Near Rookery Bay Draws Interest, Praise, and Environmental Concern

EAST NAPLES, Fla. — Collier County’s ongoing effort to address its growing housing crisis is taking a new turn — and stirring some debate — as plans move forward for a 160-unit affordable housing development near Rookery Bay, one of Southwest Florida’s most sensitive environmental areas.

The proposal, submitted by McDowell Housing Partners, would sit on county-owned land off Collier Boulevard, just north of U.S. 41. The project aims to offer rental housing for working families earning between 60 and 120 percent of the area’s median income — roughly between $50,000 and $100,000 a year for a family of four.

A local response to a statewide housing crunch

With home prices and rents climbing across Southwest Florida, local leaders say the project represents one of the most significant affordable housing efforts in Collier County in years.

“This is about keeping our workforce in Collier County,” said Commissioner Rick LoCastro during Tuesday’s board meeting. “Teachers, nurses, hospitality workers — they deserve to live close to where they work. We can’t keep exporting our labor force to neighboring counties.”

The county purchased the 12-acre parcel earlier this year using funds from its Community Housing Trust, a program created to acquire and hold land specifically for attainable housing projects.

Environmental concerns over proximity to Rookery Bay

But the site’s proximity to Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, a 110,000-acre protected ecosystem of mangroves and tidal estuaries, has raised red flags among conservationists.

“Rookery Bay is a living classroom and one of the last undisturbed mangrove estuaries in North America,” said Lisa Andrews, director of the Friends of Rookery Bay nonprofit. “Any new development nearby — even affordable housing — must be designed with exceptional care to prevent runoff, flooding, or habitat disruption.”

McDowell Housing Partners has stated that its design team is committed to environmentally responsible planning, including enhanced stormwater management, native landscaping, and buffer zones to protect nearby wetlands.

Balancing need and stewardship

Supporters say the location was chosen precisely because it’s already zoned for mixed use and close to transit routes, retail, and schools. They also point out that modern affordable housing communities often feature sustainable building standards.

“We’re not talking about high-density urban sprawl,” said Sarah McDowell, a spokesperson for the developer. “We’re talking about thoughtfully designed homes for working families who already serve this community every day.”

Still, opponents say the county must tread carefully. “Affordable housing is vital, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of the environment that makes this place livable,” said local resident Mark DeLuca, who lives off nearby Tower Road.

What’s next

The project is currently in the conceptual review phase, with detailed plans expected to be presented to the Collier County Planning Commission in late November. If approved, construction could begin by mid-2026, with the first residents moving in by late 2027.

Public hearings are expected later this fall, where community members will have the opportunity to provide input on design, density, traffic, and environmental safeguards.

Bottom line: Collier County’s housing affordability crisis shows no sign of easing — and while this proposal near Rookery Bay offers hope for working families, it’s also reigniting one of the region’s most persistent debates: how to grow without harming what makes Collier unique.