The Naples Design Review Board granted unanimous final design approval for the 18-unit Aquarius Hotel, which will also feature a restaurant, on January 22. Located at 590 Ninth St., the three-story, 30,000-square-foot hotel will replace existing one-story retail businesses, encompassing 6,486 square feet of commercial space, including a 4,646-square-foot Aqua Restaurant with outdoor dining. The hotel will have nine units on each of the second and third floors and an amenity deck with a pool and outdoor bar. A multi-story parking facility will be built underneath.
Architect Mark MacLean emphasized the hotel’s proximity to Naples General Health Downtown, making it suitable for visitors of hospitalized patients, with rooms starting at 800 square feet. Design Review Committee member Douglas Haughey expressed concerns about architectural similarity in downtown developments, while member Choi Dupont praised the project, highlighting its local ownership and community contribution.
Owner Gordon Stojkoski noted that the $30 million project will take 6-8 months post-permit issuance to break ground, allowing existing businesses to continue operating for at least that duration. Stojkoski sees this as a significant milestone in his career after years in hospitality, aiming to enhance the community with the new hotel, just blocks from Fifth Avenue and the Gulf of Mexico.
(Note: This summary is approximately half the length of the original article.)
Source link
