Beachwalk Beginnings July 2017

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Beachwalk Beginnings July 2017"

Samson Skinner
6 years ago
Views:

through the office for old documents for this story. This is what we found. Our first residents moved into their units in 1987.

1 The Beachwalk Buzzzzz.. Beachwalk Beginnings July 2017 Beachwalk celebrates its 30 th anniversary this year. To honor our birthday, we reached out to a few of our remaining original and long-term owners Ralph Blattner, Ed Gravelin, Bert Ringlestetter - to get their stories and old pictures, and we scrounged through the office for old documents for this story. This is what we found. Our first residents moved into their units in In 1987 Beachwalk was a development outside of Naples proper on an island of yet to be developed land. The year-round population of Naples was 85,000. The Ritz Carlton Hotel opened in 1986, far outside of town then, but with a promise of good things to come. Vanderbilt Beach belonged to the seabirds and nature. North Pelican Bay was still full of saw palmettos and pine trees, and Naples Park, then intended to be a trailer park, had only a few scattered homes and trailers. (After a severe storm struck the area, it was realized that trailers would not do well in that location. Thank goodness!) When Beachwalk was being developed, it was in a remote location. Vanderbilt Beach Road was a dirt road west of Route 41. Word of this proposed development was indicated by a sign on the dirt road and word of mouth. A trailer for sales was located just inside the entrance and stayed there until the development was completed. Then, as now, Beachwalk was a forgotten or hidden gem, known by only a few. Few realtors knew of the property, except for Carol Loder who was active in Beachwalk and Naples realty. She kept everyone at bay, reports Ralph Blattner. Beachwalk sold as preconstruction units with prices of $122,800 for a villa, $128,800 $144,800 for a home and $115,800 -$139,000 for condos. Quarterly dues then were about $400. Units sold like hotcakes per Bert Ringlestetter. Papers in the office show that 82% of the villas had sold by May 1986 a year before the first residents moved in.

From its inception, Beachwalk began as a strong, committed and involved community.

Ralph Blattner reports that the residents painted the entire outside wall of Beachwalk and would meet on Saturdays to plant flowers and shrubs, lured by the promise of hot dogs for lunch at the

The tennis committee maintained the tennis courts by themselves, all by hand, doing the hand brushing almost every day. The bocce equipment storage was built and installed by Beachwalk volunteers.

2 From its inception, Beachwalk began as a strong, committed and involved community. Residents jumped in eagerly to complete the final touches on the development and build a vibrant and close knit community. Ralph Blattner reports that the residents painted the entire outside wall of Beachwalk and would meet on Saturdays to plant flowers and shrubs, lured by the promise of hot dogs for lunch at the clubhouse. We planted a lot of stuff for those hot dogs. Ed Gravelin was active in tennis from the beginning. The tennis committee maintained the tennis courts by themselves, all by hand, doing the hand brushing almost every day. The bocce equipment storage was built and installed by Beachwalk volunteers. Residents also did all the Christmas decorations and Christmas lights themselves. Ralph, who served on the board for many years, says: We were all new and we were all new together so we just did everything. Kathleen & Bill Ellard Ralph also organized a group of six men who volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, going to Immokalee every Monday to build homes. He volunteered for 18 years, Ed Gravelin for 3 years. Recently Collier County built its 2000 th Habitat for

3 Humanity home, a record milestone few other counties have achieved. Our Beachwalk volunteers are proud to be a part of that major milestone. Then, as now, parties and Friday morning coffee were an integral part of Beachwalk. Each newsletter, published from about regales and announces the events: pool parties with water volleyball, welcome parties, Christmas parties, millennium brunches, St. Patrick s Day, shrimp boils, cocktail parties and more. But it wasn t all fun in the sun. There were dark days too. Strife occurred between the BGCA and BRA over money returned from the developer initially intended for sidewalks in Beachwalk. Word has it that over $60,000 was spent on legal fees to argue over fee splitting and other discords. There were multiple property managers in the beginning as well. Gina tells us that she went through 5 property managers in 7 years. One property manager, Bob Adamczewski who started in July 2000 and left about 2004, was arrested in January of 2010 (as reported in an NBC news item at that time) on multiple counts of burglary, stealing jewelry, televisions, prescription medications and a large amount of cleaning supplies from residents in the high rise building he was managing on Gulf Shore Blvd. There were multiple property management companies, as well, in the beginning. At least two, Southwest Management Company and Kramer Triad Company, were responsible for the rapid turnover in property managers before Beachwalk finally became self managed. Once that was done, stability followed. Karen became the property manager. She began as the office manager in 2004 and progressed to property manager. Micheline succeeded Karen, a true professional bringing the experience and expertise of managing multiple other Florida SW properties to Beachwalk. Then there was Hurricane Charlie in 2004 and Hurricane Wilma in During Hurricane Wilma we lost 100 big trees, some lanais and pool cages, and had damage to tennis fences and screens with a cost of about $100,000. A flood of Lake A also occurred in 2005 caused by a blocked major drain. For all these disasters, neighbors pitched in to help neighbors and Beachwalk quickly recovered.

Beachwalk is the outstanding community that it is today because of its people, both present and past. Happy Birthday Beachwalk! Looking good for 30!

4 Today Beachwalk has emerged as a strong, vibrant community built upon its roots of commitment and a strong social fabric. We are unique in that we are an involved group, with a large number of volunteers and committees that contribute enormously to the financial, recreational and social integrity of Beachwalk. Beachwalk is the outstanding community that it is today because of its people, both present and past. Happy Birthday Beachwalk! Looking good for 30! Long Term Planning Committee Because of our limited open space we have to be careful about what we want and what we need. Currently we are looking into the replacement of our aging maintenance building. We are researching different designs and checking with the local agencies to see what would be acceptable. We would also like to locate a new Bocce court in the rear of the tennis courts. We hope to clean this area up and make it more presentable even though the space is limited.

Beachwalk Golf Beachwalk s group of golfers have been playing for years at Bonita Fairways, an executive course. Although the name we use is Beachwalk, our players come from all over.

There is a $10 league fee and it costs $44.01 per round to play. See Topper Woelfer or Tom Glennon if you would like to join us.

While we are at it we will upgrade our storm drains too. The roadways will be totally replaced with new asphalt with some minor exceptions.

The lane coming off Vanderbilt Beach Road will be widened to 13 feet and the lane exiting onto Vanderbilt Beach Road toward Rte 41 will be narrowed to 10 feet.

The non- intrusive raised area will be pavers with a small crown. The remaining paving in this area will extend to the club house entrance.

5 Beachwalk Golf Beachwalk s group of golfers have been playing for years at Bonita Fairways, an executive course. Although the name we use is Beachwalk, our players come from all over. We do not get any financial support from Beachwalk. We use our clubhouse once a season for a dinner and awards night. Everyone and anyone is welcome to join. There is a $10 league fee and it costs $44.01 per round to play. See Topper Woelfer or Tom Glennon if you would like to join us. GUTTERS, STORM-DRAINS, AND ROADWAYS Over the summer months Beachwalk has become a beehive of activity. We are replacing our 31 year old roadways, and most of our aging gutters. While we are at it we will upgrade our storm drains too. The roadways will be totally replaced with new asphalt with some minor exceptions. The entrance to our beautiful community will be paved in flat brick style pavers. We are planning a small modification at the entrance. The lane coming off Vanderbilt Beach Road will be widened to 13 feet and the lane exiting onto Vanderbilt Beach Road toward Rte 41 will be narrowed to 10 feet. This can be accomplished without the expense of changing to the barrier island. These lanes will be divided by a 3- brick wide raised area made of white pavers. The non- intrusive raised area will be pavers with a small crown. The remaining paving in this area will extend to the club house entrance. Our two three-way intersections will also be paved with flat pavers. Hopefully, this will make owners and guest aware of a change in driving conditions. The first item of construction will be the replacement of most of our aging and non-draining gutters. Only those gutters that are now badly cracked and/or non-draining will be replaced. Not only will they be replaced but, through the use of laser technology, they will be made to drain with proper slopes. This leads us to the next portion of the reconstruction. Our current storm drains do not function properly and the covers are always being broken and moved. We are addressing that with a new look and a better draining system. These are called P drains, they should enhance the look as well as the functionality. Before After Important to add is the fact that Bonness was absolutely fantastic!!!! Up next is Accurate Pavers which by the way are also fantastic!!!!

Mosquitoes and Disease: Mosquitoes can cause harmful, even deadly diseases in SW Florida, including Zika virus, chikungunya, dengue and various forms of encephalitis.

6 Mosquitoes and Disease: Mosquitoes can cause harmful, even deadly diseases in SW Florida, including Zika virus, chikungunya, dengue and various forms of encephalitis. The best way to control these diseases is to control the mosquitoes that carry the infective agents. The Florida Department of Health provides this information on mosquito Control.

Pelican Sound Master Site Plan Looking Forward.

Pelican Sound Master Site Plan Looking Forward. Pelican Sound Master Site Plan Highlights RIVER CLUB AREA (what is about to be completed) Expand River Club Bar and Grill Build new Fitness Center, Multipurpose