Estero planners ask entertainment hub developers for 'spectacular' design

The latest proposal for the Village of Estero's planned entertainment and recreation hub bombed with planning board members. They called the design boring.

Michael Comparato, consultant with Bonita Springs-based Vieste LLC, presented the latest design at a Planning Zoning and Design Board meeting in April. After members' comments, Comparato said he would take them back to the architects.

Here's what we know about entertainment complex

Estero owns 20 acres it wants to use for what is being called the Village Center Hub that will be developed through a public/private partnership. The property is bordered by Corkscrew Road to the north, S. Tamiami Trail/U.S. 41 to the west, Williams Road to the south and River Ranch Road to the east. The Hub already is home to Village Hall, Estero High School and Estero Community Park and Recreation Center.

The Village hired Vieste as its capital project manager. Parkway Construction and Architecture – with offices in Texas, California and Utah – is designing the building that will house national entertainment chains Chicken N Pickle and High 5. The Village is in negotiations with the two entertainment companies, Comparato said.

The building will be surrounded by outdoor entertainment, including a miniature golf course and covered pickleball courts; there also will be some indoor pickleball courts.

The Village is closing Golf Coast Driving Range at 9000 Williams Road to make room for the new entertainment hub. The public-private partnership will put some of the property back on the real estate tax roll. After Vieste develops the pads for Chicken N Pickle and High 5, they will purchase the land. The Village will retain ownership of the common areas and will receive some of the revenue from the companies.

Kansas City, Mo.-based Chicken N Pickle is an entertainment venue focused on pickleball with some ancillary entertainment uses such as yard games. The Estero location will have about 20 pickleball courts, according to previous presentations.

High 5, based in Austin, Texas, is predominantly indoor bowling with "a high-end miniature golf, outdoor miniature golf element."

What was presented to council?

Comparato presented a rendering showing a Mediterranean style building consistent with adjacent Via Coconut communities with browns and tans.

It wasn't what the board was hoping for when it asked for an update on the project.

What was board's response?

"What I’m looking at here looks like a storage facility or a storage warehouse. It’s very disappointing. If this is going to be the building center, it needs to be iconic," said board member Jim Wallace.

Board member Michael Sheeley agreed with Wallace.

"I think what's been presented looks like a building that may have been designed for Estero 15 years ago," he said. That's what it looks like to me. It's boring. It doesn't have any zip or pizazz."

Board member James Tatooles said the design needs to be special, unique and standout as a symbol of the village.

"What we're looking at constantly is to be able to take an innovative approach to those two different schemes and make them something other than Tuscany and something other than Old Florida, but yet become the roots of that kind of thinking," Tatooles said. "We've seen some old-Florida designs that almost look like Frank Lloyd Wright did them, so there are ways to change this thing and make it not only different but spectacular. And I think we're looking for 'spectacular' because this is something that's going to be the heart of everybody associating themselves with what the village has produced. It's very important."

Board members and Village Council members see the hub as a center for the community, something that cars see when they are driving down Via Coconut and Williams Road so that we all know that this is the village center," Wallace said. "It isn't just a warehouse distribution center. It isn't just a box."

Sheeley told Comparato, "Let the architect have fun and not be constrained by this Mediterranean code."

"Fantastic," Comparato said. That's great feedback. I think they will be excited."

Previously: Estero planning board gets update on entertainment complex with 'aggressive' timeline

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Estero planners call first renderings of entertainment hub boring