🏗️ Mattson at Vanderbilt: 150 New Units Coming to North Naples

NORTH NAPLES — Site work is officially underway for Mattson at Vanderbilt, a new multifamily apartment complex that will bring 150 rental units to the heart of North Naples. The project includes a significant workforce housing component, aiming to help ease the region’s ongoing housing affordability crisis.

📍 Location & Overview

Mattson at Vanderbilt is being built on 5.88 acres on the north side of Vanderbilt Beach Road, just east of Livingston Road. The site sits between the existing Bradford Square and Sandalwood Village senior communities.

The development replaces two long-time local landmarks: Naples Safari Animal Hospital & Pet Resort and Bobbin Hollow Equestrian Center. The animal clinic closed in August 2023, and the equestrian center relocated to Ocala several years prior. Both structures were demolished in late July and early August 2025.

The project is being developed by Minnesota-based Roers Companies and will feature a four-story, H-shaped building designed to soften its visual impact from Vanderbilt Beach Road.

🏘️ What’s Being Built

• Total Units: 150 rental apartments

• Building Height: 4 stories

• Design Features: The layout includes landscaped courtyards, a swimming pool, fire pit, grilling areas, a fenced dog park, water features, and shared indoor amenities such as a club room, work-from-home lounge, and mail center.

🏡 Nearly Half the Units Are Income-Restricted

A major component of the project is its dedication to workforce housing:

• 10% of units will be available for households earning 50% or less of the area median income (AMI)

• 15% for those earning up to 80% of AMI

• 15% for those earning up to 100% of AMI

• 8% for those earning up to 120% of AMI

In total, 48% of the project will be rent- or income-restricted. These units are expected to benefit essential local workers such as teachers, healthcare employees, and first responders.

⚖️ From Agriculture to Apartments

To move forward, the developers secured a rezoning of the land from agricultural to a residential planned unit development (PUD). A new zoning overlay — the “Mattson at Vanderbilt Residential Subdistrict” — was created to allow for up to 25.5 dwelling units per acre, up from the previous 16 units per acre maximum. The Collier County Board of Commissioners approved the rezoning and development plan in a 4–1 vote in October 2024.

🚗 Infrastructure & Concerns

• Access: The complex will have a single right-in/right-out entrance on Vanderbilt Beach Road.

• Traffic Impact: Residents and commissioners raised concerns about increased congestion, particularly given the proximity to major U-turn zones and other developments along the corridor.

• Stormwater Management: The project includes a lake system and water-retention features to manage runoff and protect nearby properties.

📅 Project Timeline

• Demolition: Completed July–August 2025

• Site Work: Ongoing

• Construction Start: Expected late 2025 to early 2026

🔍 Why It Matters

Mattson at Vanderbilt reflects the growing tension in Collier County between the need for more attainable housing and concerns over density, traffic, and preservation of green space. With nearly half its units geared toward workforce households, the project seeks to strike a balance between growth and affordability — a pressing issue for Naples’ fast-changing real estate landscape.