During its 40-year history, The Ronto Group has developed numerous award-winning communities in Southwest Florida. The firm is solidifying its legacy by creating housing opportunities across market segments ranging from luxury high rises and golf course communities catering to wealthy retirees to amenitized communities and apartments for working families. Ronto has recognized the confluence of factors that are reshaping the housing market. Foremost among them are the need for workforce housing; the influx of working families, empty nesters, and retirees; and housing choices that are priced beyond the means of many people.
“Southwest Florida is known as a place with luxurious gated golf course communities and condominium towers,” said Ronto Executive Vice President Anthony Solomon, “and while we may consider homes in the $400 to $500,000 range to be inexpensive, the average price of a home in the U.S. is less than $300,000. Our area’s $400 to $500,000 homes would be considered expensive in many parts of the country. We believe there is great opportunity in developing choices for those who can’t or don’t want to spend that much on a home and still want to enjoy what Southwest Florida offers. We also see housing diversity as critical to regional economic growth. We may not be able to create single-family opportunities in the $200’s, but reasonably priced apartments, townhomes in the mid-$200’s, attached villas in the high-$200’s and low-$300’s, and single-family homes starting in the mid-$300’s can certainly be a win-win.”
Ronto completed the leasing of 332 new one, two, and three bedroom apartments at Colonial Commons at Colonial Boulevard and Winkler Avenue in Fort Myers. The community filled the need for new rental apartments that offer workforce housing. Amenities include three lakes, a clubhouse with a Cyber Café, yoga studio, club room, resort-style pool, sand volleyball court, bark park, 24-hour fitness center, children’s play center and park, game room, outside kitchen with a lounge area and controlled access gates.
On Winkler Avenue Extension, Ronto and D.R. Horton are developing Lindsford, a mix of 936 single-family homes, twin villas, and townhomes. Single-family homes are priced from $255,000, twin villas from $224,000, and townhomes from $178,000. Amenities include a resort-style pool, spa, tennis courts, clubhouse, fitness room, basketball courts, bocce courts and a tot lot playground. Other amenities include a fishing pier, locker rooms, a card and social room, and a catering kitchen. Next to the fitness room is an indoor children’s play area.
Ronto is developing Orange Blossom, a community situated on Oil Well Road near Immokalee Road in North Naples designed to provide working families with a fully amenitized, affordably priced gated community alternative within Collier County. Orange Blossom is situated adjacent to elementary, middle, and high schools. A Publix is being built nearby and retail development is gaining momentum. Ronto is developing new home sites and will be offering townhomes, twin villas, and single family homes. Pricing will range from the low $200’s to the $500’s. In addition to a clubhouse with a fitness center and catering kitchen, Ronto is adding an amenity package unrivaled at the community’s price point, including two resort-style pools, a grassy area, chickee style shade pavilions and beach chairs, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, sand volley ball, basketball courts, an oversized gym, a fishing pier, and a stunning new entranceway.
Ronto has purchased the remaining 111 home sites at Valencia Golf & Country Club at Randall Road and Immokalee Road in North Naples. The majority of the 60-foot sites offer golf course and lake views within a fully amenitized community. Ronto anticipates residences will be priced in the $400’s.
Phase II of Ronto’s Naples Square community at 5th Avenue South and Goodlette-Frank Road in downtown Naples is scheduled for completion in first quarter 2017. The community’s walkable lifestyle is bringing a sense of cohesion to downtown by connecting 5th Avenue to Bayfront with access on 10th Street via 3rd Avenue South. Ronto is accepting Phase III reservations. Eight Phase III floor plans ranging from 1,460 to 3,238 square feet are base-priced from $695,000.
In September, 2010, Ronto assumed the role of developer at TwinEagles, a golf-centric gated community in Naples. After completing millions of dollars in enhancements, including the Talon golf course and the addition of the award-winning Eagle course, Ronto built a recreation center that includes a 2,500 square foot pool and a sunning deck. A Tiki lounge and dining venue and lighted Har-Tru tennis courts are adjacent to the pool. A fitness center includes aerobics and yoga areas, and a fitness hall with state-of-the-art equipment. Ronto included a golf membership with every newly constructed home that is attached to the home and transfers. Carriage homes, single-family, and estate residences are priced from the $200’s into the millions.
Ronto’s 120-unit Seaglass high-rise tower is under construction within Bonita Bay. With various membership opportunities, the amenities of the Bonita Bay Club will be available to residents, including a 60,000 square feet Lifestyle Center, five championship golf courses, tennis facilities, a full-service marina, numerous dining venues, a residents only private beach park, and on-property hiking and biking trails.
Ronto has started construction of its 18-story Echelon on Palm high-rise in Sarasota that will feature fifteen 4,155 square foot full-floor residences, one 3,079 square foot half-floor residence, and one 4,381 square foot two-level townhome. All but two of the residences have sold. Amenities include a fitness center, yoga terrace, a clubroom, pool area with a spa, fire table, and a roof top terrace.
