🏗️ Collier County Approves 92-Unit Apartment Complex in East Naples — With Affordable Housing 🏡

East Naples, Fla. (Oct. 31, 2025) — 🚧 Big changes are coming to East Naples! Collier County commissioners have officially approved a 92-unit apartment complex aimed at tackling the area’s growing affordable housing crisis 💰🏠.

The development, proposed by McDowell Housing Partners, will rise off Tamiami Trail East, near Rattlesnake Hammock Road 🗺️. It’s set to feature a mix of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments, with several units reserved for tenants who qualify under Florida’s affordable housing guidelines ✅.

🗳️ The Vote

After a heated public debate 🗣️, commissioners approved the project 4-1, with some residents cheering the move while others voiced strong opposition.

Neighbors cited worries over 🚗 traffic congestion, 🏫 school crowding, and 🌧️ drainage issues, while supporters argued the plan is a necessary step toward helping local workers stay close to their jobs.

💬 “It’s not a perfect project, but it’s progress,” said Commissioner Rick LoCastro, who voted in favor. “We have to balance growth with reality — and reality is that people who work here can’t afford to live here.”

🌆 What’s in the Plans

County staff say the project will include landscaping buffers 🌿, stormwater retention ponds 💧, and improved turn lanes 🛣️ to ease traffic flow in the busy East Naples corridor.

Construction could kick off by mid-2026, pending final design and permits 🏗️📄.

Rents for affordable units are expected to align with 60% – 100% of the area’s median income (AMI) — meaning teachers 🍎, nurses 🏥, and service workers ☕ could finally have a chance to live where they work.

🏡 Housing Crunch Hits Home

Collier County continues to face one of the toughest housing markets in Florida 📈, with median home prices soaring and long-distance commutes becoming the norm 🚙💨.

This East Naples project joins other upcoming housing efforts near Golden Gate Estates and Immokalee, signaling a broader countywide push to expand workforce housing while managing population growth.

🌴 The Bigger Picture

While 92 units won’t solve Collier’s housing crunch overnight, local leaders see it as part of a bigger movement toward sustainable, inclusive development 🤝.

The challenge now? Balancing growth with preserving the community’s character — keeping Naples beautiful 💎 while making it livable for the people who keep it running.