REAL ESTATE NE WS

courtesy PHOTO Joe Tomaino Engle Homes' Southwest Florida division has opened a "New Home Welcome Center," a new type of sales center designed to market its homes throughout Collier and Lee counties.

The welcome center located at 8690 Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers has more than 1,600 square feet, a snack bar, lounge chairs, a plasma television, waterfall and Florida-related reading materials, including free area maps. The center was designed with a focus on delivering information about Southwest Florida to potential homeowners in a classic old Florida style.

"Given our proximity to Southwest Florida International Airport, we created a friendly destination where guests can learn more about our area, in addition to learning about our communities here," said Engle's Southwest Florida division Vice President, Jay Coughlin. "We thought it was time to go back to the genesis of Florida real estate sales and encompass the old Florida charm."

Joe Tomaino has been named sales leader for February at Mediterra, the 1,697-acre master-planned community developed by Bonita Bay Group in North Naples.

ARTIST RENDERING Forum Corporate Park Tomaino has been on the Mediterra team since the community opened for sales. A member of the Naples Area Board of Realtors, he was recognized by the Collier County Building Industry Association, last year, with the Million Dollar Circle Sand Dollar Award.

Brooks & Freund has begun construction on Wayne Wiles Carpet and Tile at 16831 Link Court in the Alico Industrial Park. The 19,453-square-foot two-story building will serve as a carpet warehouse and general offices for Wayne Wiles.

The 11,169-square-foot warehouse will be located on the first floor of the building. The remaining 8,284 square feet will be reserved for office space. The project is Tilt-Wall Type V Construction with a steel interior. Sheeley Architects provided architectural design services.

Southwest Florida Addiction Services has moved its administrative offices to 2675 Winkler Avenue, Suite 180, to allow for the expansion of outpatient treatment services in its current location.

SWFAS adult outpatient and prevention services will continue to be housed at 2101 McGregor Blvd., just as they have for the past 15 years, and will retain the 239-332-6937 phone number.

The Winkler Avenue location, adjacent to Southwest Regional Medical Center, will be the temporary home of administrative staff, including fiscal, human resources, information technology, and executive offices. The phone number is 239-278-7595.

Palmetto Cove, a new gated community located on Cypress Lake Drive near McGregor Boulevard, began vertical construction last week.

Palmetto Cove is a private, condominium community featuring garden homes surrounded by lush landscaping and preserves. It will feature two-story buildings with two distinctive floor plans of 1,317 to 1,671 total square feet starting in the mid-$200,000s. McCann Development Series II, LLC, is developing the project. Marketing is being done by The Prince Group.

Owen-Ames-Kimball Company has begun construction of the office park infrastructure and the first office building at the Forum Corporate Park.

The 60,000-square-foot, three-story, multi-tenant, Class A building was designed by world-renowned architect Cooper Carry. It is the first phase of what is expected to be a seven-phase, multi-building complex on a 39-acre site.

These buildings will provide leased, build-to-suit office/medical space for the Atlanta-based developer, Songy Partners, LLC. The park is located just southeast of the Interstate 75 interchange at State Road 82. Other amenities will include lush landscaping, rain gardens, bike paths and multiple lakes. n