Losing small Town Charm in News (Miami, Naples: 2013, homes, neighborhood)

[Taz22]

Originally Posted by hardluk1

Too bad development is so uncontrolled down there but thats life in SW FL .

I feel bad for the wildlife that’s being displaced by all this building. They have nowhere to go and seeing a real Florida panther and knowing it has a habitat to live in, would be worth a thousand condos.

[Tripower455]

Originally Posted by hardluk1

I understand as I have no interest in coming back to florida even for a vacation again after the last trip down to move my wifes older sister out maybe 4 years ago . It is aid how quickly development takes over down there . Must make your drive to MCO hard to deal with today .

It's still not bad, but noticeably busier than it was 4 years ago when we moved up here. Even late at night going home there is a lot more traffic that simply wasn't there before. Knowing it's only gonna get worse, before it gets worse, is truly depressing.

After watching what happened to Naples, my PTSD is triggered every time they break ground for another 1000 home subdivision........

I am hoping that it doesn't hit critical mass before I retire.

[hardluk1]

Originally Posted by Taz22

I feel bad for the wildlife that’s being displaced by all this building. They have nowhere to go and seeing a real Florida panther and knowing it has a habitat to live in, would be worth a thousand condos.

So you have not seen a panther in the wild ? Perhaps you could spend some time walking in the Fakahatchee Strand but Go in on the Jones Grade road entrance off us-29 park and walk west on the old grade across what we new as 12mile prairie into the strand . The trail goes into the main line , turn north and you might see the remains of our old camp on the north end of the pond / borrow pit. Use to be a camp on each end of that pond . I saw my first panthers back in '77 and sat down on the edge of the main line grade just to watch a momma cat and two younger cats . Momma finally spotted me about 80 yards away and walked off the grade . By a can of bear spray if your a novice in the wilds . ha
Lots of good memories from times spent in thats swamp.
.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fl...!4d-81.5157535

[hardluk1]

Originally Posted by Tripower455

It's still not bad, but noticeably busier than it was 4 years ago when we moved up here. Even late at night going home there is a lot more traffic that simply wasn't there before. Knowing it's only gonna get worse, before it gets worse, is truly depressing.

After watching what happened to Naples, my PTSD is triggered every time they break ground for another 1000 home subdivision........

I am hoping that it doesn't hit critical mass before I retire.

Will you stay down there when you retire or to far off yet to know .

[Taz22]

Originally Posted by hardluk1

So you have not seen a panther in the wild ? Perhaps you could spend some time walking in the Fakahatchee Strand but Go in on the Jones Grade road entrance off us-29 park and walk west on the old grade across what we new as 12mile prairie into the strand . The trail goes into the main line , turn north and you might see the remains of our old camp on the north end of the pond / borrow pit. Use to be a camp on each end of that pond . I saw my first panthers back in '77 and sat down on the edge of the main line grade just to watch a momma cat and two younger cats . Momma finally spotted me about 80 yards away and walked off the grade . By a can of bear spray if your a novice in the wilds . ha
Lots of good memories from times spent in thats swamp.
.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fl...!4d-81.5157535

Thanks for the link. Sounds like a day with sunscreen, water and a good camera. I’d be thrilled to see a Florida panther. Collier has a panther crossing sign, it’s hard to believe the cats would be lurking here with all the noise and traffic.

I’ll definitely be checking out Fakahatchee Strand, what a great moment it must have been to see that mama and her cubs! The Everglades are beautiful.

[Tripower455]

Originally Posted by hardluk1

Will you stay down there when you retire or to far off yet to know .

The plan is to stay, but we'd also planned to stay in Naples, and you know how that turned out.

We'll see how badly they mess up this area and how it affects us on a daily basis, once retired. A lot can happen in 7 years.

We had dinner with some old Naples friends that came to visit last weekend, and they brought some other Naples folks, that were up for a local antiques show with them. We'd met them a few times over the years.

While enjoying cocktails on our lakefront deck, they asked why we'd moved from Naples. The lady was actually offended when I explained that the rampant overdevelopment, with near zero infrastructure improvement, rendered my already difficult commute untenable.

She told me that the traffic wasn't bad(!) and that the roads down there were amazing.

The only other people I've heard say that in the last decade has been here on City Data.

Everyone else that we know still living down there complains about it on a daily basis. All are planning their exodus upon retirement.

Turns out, she works from home and rarely leaves her house, so of course, it's not bad for her.


Hope things are going well for you brother!

[hardluk1]

Originally Posted by Tripower455

The plan is to stay, but we'd also planned to stay in Naples, and you know how that turned out.

We'll see how badly they mess up this area and how it affects us on a daily basis, once retired. A lot can happen in 7 years.

We had dinner with some old Naples friends that came to visit last weekend, and they brought some other Naples folks, that were up for a local antiques show with them. We'd met them a few times over the years.

While enjoying cocktails on our lakefront deck, they asked why we'd moved from Naples. The lady was actually offended when I explained that the rampant overdevelopment, with near zero infrastructure improvement, rendered my already difficult commute untenable.

She told me that the traffic wasn't bad(!) and that the roads down there were amazing.

The only other people I've heard say that in the last decade has been here on City Data.

Everyone else that we know still living down there complains about it on a daily basis. All are planning their exodus upon retirement.

Turns out, she works from home and rarely leaves her house, so of course, it's not bad for her.


Hope things are going well for you brother!

Different strokes for different folks . Hard for newer people to the area to try to understand why some of us want out or already long gone while others will continue to move to collier county or naples and love it for what it is today . And life goes on !

[hardluk1]

Originally Posted by Taz22

Thanks for the link. Sounds like a day with sunscreen, water and a good camera. I’d be thrilled to see a Florida panther. Collier has a panther crossing sign, it’s hard to believe the cats would be lurking here with all the noise and traffic.

I’ll definitely be checking out Fakahatchee Strand, what a great moment it must have been to see that mama and her cubs! The Everglades are beautiful.

Long PM sent . Ted

[Sweetbottoms]

Small town charm was gone over a decade ago. We left 6 years ago and haven't been back since. Had family go back to visit and said traffic is a nightmare people are ornery as ever. My gf whom grew up with me in Naples through the 80's 90's and through the mid 2000's went back last autumn and said she didn't even know the town anymore and had no desire to go back after that last visit. She used to be a regular every year. I dunno how it is like I said I haven't been back in a good while but from the sound of it on these boards and from ppl who i know that visit doesn't sound like I'm missing much now. Now with Desantis banning books and all such things I'm glad we got our daughter out when we did.

[JPrzybylski07]

Originally Posted by Sweetbottoms

Small town charm was gone over a decade ago. We left 6 years ago and haven't been back since. Had family go back to visit and said traffic is a nightmare people are ornery as ever. My gf whom grew up with me in Naples through the 80's 90's and through the mid 2000's went back last autumn and said she didn't even know the town anymore and had no desire to go back after that last visit. She used to be a regular every year. I dunno how it is like I said I haven't been back in a good while but from the sound of it on these boards and from ppl who i know that visit doesn't sound like I'm missing much now. Now with Desantis banning books and all such things I'm glad we got our daughter out when we did.

I’m only 34 and only lived in Naples from 2015-2022 but if you grew up in Naples in the 70’s and 80’s then the Naples of today must be an absolute **** hole compared to what it was. Back then I believe there were beautiful sand dunes in North Naples. Many more trees on the eastern fringes and orange groves as well. The traffic was almost non existent, water quality better, etc etc etc.