The Bonita Springs city council has approved a lease agreement with Barron Collier Companies for the property known as Imperial Crossing. This 5.3-acre property consists of two empty lots, divided by the Imperial River, that sit across from the Everglades Wonder Gardens on Old 41. This lease agreement has been in the works since July of 2022, but the final was just reached between Barron Collier and the City of Bonita Springs.

The Imperial Crossing property was once a mobile home park, but has sat vacant for the past twenty years. Barron Collier has big plans to unlock the potential of this prime piece of Bonita real estate. Though details have yet to be released to the public, the lease gave us some hints about what this development might entail. We’ll save you from 59 pages of real estate jargon.

Preliminary Plans for Imperial Crossing

Here’s what we know: Barron Collier has proposed a mixed-use development for both parcels, meaning that there will be both residential and commercial units on the property. The plans include 120 apartments and 10,000 square feet of commercial space. Early renderings show residential units on both parcels with commercial space along the river on the south side of the river. Plans for this parcel also show a dock with public water access, though the lease specifies that access will be limited to unmotorized watercrafts like canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards. The North side will feature more residential units with a community pool and a public park along the river.

The lease also hints at using both parcels as venues for events.  The city has limited Barron Collier to one “special event” per quarter which was defined as “outdoor theatrical events, music festivals or art festivals.” However, farmer’s markets will be permitted on a weekly basis.

This lease is a major step in the development of this lot. However, there is still a long road of design details and permitting ahead. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on this exciting project!