- January 9, 2026
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Construction begins on new $25 million luxury car dealership
Construction has begun on the Genesis of Naples dealership at the intersection of Pine Ridge Road and Interstate 75. The new two-story Genesis store is being built on three-parcels totaling 10.5 acres that its owners, the Zeller family, bought in 2022 for $11.2 million. Plans call for the first floor to be dedicated to sales, with new and used vehicles on display. The second floor will be for administrative offices. The $25 million, 30,000-square-foot store will also have an expanded service center, EV charging stations and includes an open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows. Construction is expected to be completed early next year. The current Genesis of Naples is at 6780 Airport-Pulling Road North next to an existing Hyundai dealership owned by the Zellers family. Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury brand. The Hyundai dealership completed a multimillion-dollar renovation in October that included a new facade, sales offices, an expanded showroom, freshly paved lot, service drive expansion and a customer lounge. Construction on the Genesis dealership was originally supposed to begin early last year, but there was “an unexpected and prolonged delay due to the complex coordination required around a longstanding roadway easement neighboring the site,” says the Zeller family. In addition to Hyundai and Genesis stores, the Zellers also owns Tamiami Ford at 1471 Airport-Pulling Road N.
Builder bringing more than 2,250 homes to region
An Arizona-based homebuilder known for master-planned communities offering “resort style” living announced plans to bring two new communities to Southwest Florida with more than 2,250 homes. National builder Taylor Morrison has finalized the purchase of two properties that will become the latest branches of its popular Esplanade lifestyle brand communities, where residents enjoy resort style amenities, according to a release. The company says it will be investing more than $160 million in the region with the projects. One parcel, in Naples, will be Esplanade at Rivergrass, which will include an 18-hole golf course off the Oil Well Road corridor in Collier County, the release says. The other, Esplanade at Kingston, is within the existing Kingston community in southern Lee County. Taylor Morrison is still working with developer Cameratta Companies to finalize the closing of the Kingston property, which is located off Corkscrew Road in Estero.
Developer adds investor to $1B project
The Bromley Cos., the developer behind Midtown Tampa, is bringing in an investor to help grow the retail portion of its $1 billion mixed-use development. Bromley has formed a joint partnership with Palm Beach-based Ram Realty Advisors aimed at ensuring that the retail component continues to evolve along with the office, hotel and residential components of the project. The companies, which announced the agreement last week, did not disclose how much Ram would invest in the development. Midtown Tampa is a 1.8 million-square-foot development on North Dale Mabry Highway, just off Interstate 275. Among its current tenants are REI Co-op, Whole Foods, TECO Energy, Booz Allen Hamilton and the Tampa-based technology staffing company Kforce. The property also includes a Marriott branded Aloft and Element Hotel as well as NOVEL Midtown, a 390-unit luxury apartment complex. Bromley opened the development in 2021. A spokesperson says in a email “the investment will be used to enhance placemaking in common areas, elevate the overall guest experience and support new tenant buildouts. This will help strengthen the physical environment while creating added value for both visitors and tenants.”
Revamped public housing opens as affordable option for seniors
The Pinellas County Housing Authority and Newstar Development have officially opened a $31 million affordable housing community for seniors in Largo. The 80-unit community, Heritage Oaks, in the city’s unincorporated Ridgecrest neighborhood, held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting last week featuring officials and residents who have already moved in. The new apartments are replacing 48 public housing units with one- and two-bedroom apartments designed, according to a statement from the housing authority and developer, “to provide seniors with safe, modernized and affordable homes.” Heritage Oaks is the first phase of the Rainbow Village Redevelopment, which will replace 200 aging units with about 400 new affordable apartments for families, individuals and seniors. The redevelopment plan is part of the Greater Ridgecrest Master Plan that, the statement says, is focused on revitalizing the community through improved housing, new parks and recreation amenities, safer pedestrian infrastructure and other neighborhood improvements. Heritage Oaks was developed with funding from Raymond James Affordable Housing Investments and Raymond James Bank; $3.36 million in Pinellas County Home Investment Partnerships Program funds; State Housing Initiatives Partnership and Community Development Block Grant funds; low-income tax credits allocated by Florida Housing Finance Corp; PCHA funds; and HUD rental assistance. All apartments at Heritage Oaks are reserved for seniors earning 60% or less of the area median income.
Garden center company adds new store
MRT Lawn and Garden Center has opened a new store in north Venice. The shop marks the third in the region for the company, which also has locations in Port Charlotte and south Venice. At 385 U.S. 41 Bypass N., the new MRT Lawn and Garden Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Store hours will be extended in the coming weeks, as the company fine-tunes merchandising as well as staffing and puts the finishing touches on the building. The new shop is on a two-acre parcel with nearly 10,000 square feet of retail space, between Plaza Mexico Restaurant and Tommy’s Car Wash. MRT Lawn and Garden Center sells high-quality flowering annuals, perennials and trees in addition to outdoor pottery, home decor and apparel for men and women, according to MRT Companies Executive Vice President Justin Taylor. At the new north Venice location, Taylor says the Greenhouse Cafe will open within the garden center within a few months. It will offer soft-serve ice cream, pastries, coffee drinks, sandwiches, smoothies and “hopefully beer and wine.” The Taylor family founded MRT Lawn and Garden Center in 2003 when it opened its first store at 5175 Englewood Road in south Venice. The second location, at 2775 El Jobean Road in Port Charlotte, followed in 2020. MRT has partnered with ACE Hardware to offer full outdoor living, hardware, paint, electrical and plumbing departments at those locations. While the south Venice and Port Charlotte stores are ACE-affiliated, the North Venice location is not.
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