John Bolan <AKA johnnyB>,,,,,
im not one to kick a man when hes"down"John,, BUT<<<< theres always one of Those ,arent there?>,,im sure glad that This mockery of what the Real Bonita Springs,is,and always Has been,has been crushed,,,but also, im intrested in what you are currently planning,, would you care to give more details?, if it wasnt burned in my Fathers house fire, there was/is a picture of my brother and i standing with arms around each others shoulders, in front of Bonita Hardware, which ,then was located Just south of the little strip mall next to Bensons Grocery,< these days>,,,,,,, im Guessing but i think that was about 1961-62,,and across the street was Bonita Pharmacy,and if i remember right the owner then ,"Joe" and he also had a long counter and a few tables , to which you could get a Real milk shake,, sodas, the best coffee around,concidering my innocent young age, i only Heard that,of course,, and just feel at home, and meet almost everyone in town if you could spend the time sitting there,,anyway,,, the point is, Thats what Bonita should re-invent,so to speak,,, if you would, show what you have in mind,with the details, and shoot, ::::whispers::::: we Might even Agree ,,again,,,,,,,,lol
Ed Kent

May 17, 2006 - City Council — with three newly elected council members who all campaigned against the Antaramian plan — discusses the future of Bamboo Village and the city’s partnership with Antaramian.

June 28, 2006 - In a 4-3 vote, City Council kicks Antaramian off the Bamboo redevelopment project.

July 5, 2006 - Antaramian brought back onto redevelopment project in a 5-2 vote, after two newly elected council members reverse their previous decision.

...shows what a flip-flop brought on by an irrational mob accomplished...

Why do you quote John Bolan. The most delusional idiotic person in Bonita Springs. His failed agenda has been shown for what it is. A failing realtor who wants the city to bail him out. Thank God we elected Johnny's buddy Mayor. What's your plan now genious?

“This is a really bad day for Bonita Springs,” said Bonita resident John Bolan, a representative for Downtown Bonita, LLC., which owns property along the Old 41 Road downtown corridor." Not necessarily John. It possibly could mean a bad day for real estate developers and investors but somehow I feel this was actually a good thing for the city as a whole. Now that the "tunnel vision" mind set has been taken out of the equasion, perhaps from the ashes of what could have been will arise the Phoenix of what is yet to come. All things happen for a reason. Let's take a little time and reflect on this and see what the future has yet in store. It could be very surprising.....:)

“That’s pretty wild to work so hard and so long to lose it,” said David Piper, city councilman from 2000-2006 and owner of Everglades Wonder Gardens, a would-be neighbor of Imperial Landing." David, keep the faith, my friend. The future has many good things in store and they could possibly benefit you more than you think. Just be patient. Blessed Be.

so jb, ben nelson wasn't your answer after all? all that political posturing you did was all about your bank account? maybe you should have pushed that hard for antaramian as mayor of Bonita Springs... and your financial future? having a bit a foresite with the entire city in mind rather than padding your own personal bank account would have 'ben' a better idea eh?

Ravenhawk,

I like your attitude. Let's keep positive and find the silver lining.
Actually through the process, Antaramian payed for about $430,000. in site work. Seems to me we are ahead of the game.

Also many others have cleaned up their properties, while others have rezoned and still others like JohhnyB are investing their own money ( taking a risk) to make downtown Bonita better. JohhnyB actually has a really cool idea..

Cire, could you do me a personal favor and quit calling our town
B..... Springs. Bonita means beautiful and we do have so many beautiful things to crow about. If you haven't seen them, let's get to the beach or canoe on the river, walk out in Island Park in Old Bonita, etc etc. Many people love Bonita and have pride in their hometown. It's feels like you are insulting us when you use the moniker you like. Of course you have your right to free speech and all, I am just asking a favor.

Have a great weekend all.

So right you are Martha!
The Art League is building up Bonita's national reputation as a destination for artists and art lovers alike. The natural progression is to create an art village where artists can live, work and hold monthly art fairs.
Bamboo Village has enough land to situate 18 two-story fourplex buildings with 36 1,250 sq.ft. shops and art studios on the ground floor and 36 1,250 sq.ft. apartments on the second floor.

Thanks Martha. Within the next two years something remarkable will be happening...all good. I will see you today at Earth Day celebration at Koreshan State Park. Be well.

My, how the ideas are flowing already! Alan, NastyCracker and of course Alex know what can be in our future. Make it into something phenominal, unique!

Bonita has been given a gift in the form of the backing down of the giant Antaramian Group. Since the day when my great uncle led the government surveying team which named Survey Creek and uncovered what is without a doubt one of the most special areas in South Florida, we residents have known that we live in a jewel. To get an idea what can be done without "condos" and "upscale" as part of a redevelopment package, take a day trip to Micanopy or an overnight to Havana (Florida) and see what the residents of these "gems" have done to encourage civic pride and revitalize their towns. There is a wealth of history, charm and beauty that Bonita can call upon to help bring in tourist dollars and rebuild downtown into an historic destination for those visitors who have had enough of hi-rises on the beach and outlet malls every ten miles. Let's not have outsiders tell us that "upscale" is the answer to all our woes. We have the answer...and it is US.

"Let's not have outsiders tell us that "upscale" is the answer to all our woes. We have the answer...and it is US." Better words could not have been chosen. By the way, I absolutely love Miccanopy!

Ravenhawk: Not a new idea, I've been floating it since Coconut Village was razed. I drew up plans for the City to sell off the property as individual lots and retain the waterfront.
I still have the plans.
City hall was not interested because someone convinced them that luxury high-rise condos and upscale shops and restaurants would work in that location.
In the 70's I was a Realtor on Capitol Hill working on the NE quadrant urban renewal(30 City blocks were burned during the MLK murder demonstrations). In the 80's when Lewes Delaware gentrified from the old fishing village rooming houses we were buying and renovating historic (200 year-old) buildings as a part of the success it has become. I've seen and sold enough to have a feel of what will and will not sell.
I wouldn't have wanted the listing on Imperial Landing luxury condos.

Maybe Cire is correct with all his negative dribble about B-- Springs. After 30 years of trying to get something done on Old 41, still nothing has happened. All you naysayers, many of whom probably never tried to do any good for your community, should look in the mirror and say "I'm going to do something positive for my City". The majority of City leaders including Martha won't quit trying to fix Old 41. It is THE biggest problem in the city. They need all our help and support.

For the record, I'm no realtor and no owner of downtown property. I have lived here for a long time and want Bonita to be the best town possible. Unfortunately, there are several outspoken citizens who do not at all care about the downtown. Some live in gated communities and don't understand that improving the downtown brings up the entire City.

Depends on what your idea of 'improving' is.

Fake stucco with styrofaom trim Italian Villas has done nothing but degrade Naples. Is this what Bonita wants?

Posted by klfeeley
Thank God for the departure of Antaramian. The city and its leaders now have the opportunity once again to do what is right for the people of Bonita Springs. The whole concept of high rise condos and high intensity commercial development on the Bamboo Village site is and has been an absolute sham foisted upon the people by the past Mayor and council members like Nelson. The people of Bonita Springs own the choicest peace of open riverfront land in Southwest Florida, and they have overwhelmingly stated they want access to it. Now is the time to insure that they have it. The site can be redeveloped in a unique way that will draw people to it, That will inspire redevelopment around it, and that will leave it in the hands of the people of Bonita, NOT IN THE HANDS OF MONEY GRABBING DEVELOPERS. No Commercial Development On Old 41.
Redevelop YES, for the people, all of the people of Bonita Not Just the Developers and Local property owners. Time to take off the blinders and see a whole new picture for OLD 41. Time to think outside the box. We do not need high rise commercial development on the PEOPLES GOD GIVEN ASSET, the LAND THAT THE PEOPLE OWN. Think smart and say Amen and farewell to the likes of Smiling JAck Antramian. The city does not own the Bamboo Village property the people do and it belongs in the hands of and control of the People of Bonita , There are alternate proposals that can and will be presented to our elected council. Do not allow the city to spend one more dime on this untill ALL ALTERNATIVE PLANS including those that do not encourage "TAKE AWAY" DEVELOPERS To try again to steal from the People of Bonita what is theirs.

For toowoos4s

Please contact the Bonita Springs Historical Society about your knowledge of Survey. They are trying to archive information and you may have resources to add. Plus there may be a book on early Bonita Springs forthcoming. You may leave a message for them at 992-6997 and ask for Charlie.

3 of the elected campaigned against???..sounds like fatso and the 2 jerks whom ran for Naples city council some 12 years ago...broke, stay broke..a lot of pain in the next 2 years...

I guess I must visit Micanopy.

The one and only time I stopped at Micanopy was when I first moved to Tampa in 1978. My husband and I decided to go skiing in Pennsylvania for Christmas. We decided we would drive.

We stopped for gas at night in Micanopy which was one of the few exits on 1-75 at the time. As we pulled in we noticed a State Troope'rs car parked at the two pump gas station.

I swear I thought I was in the Dukes of Hazard or something. The trooper was about three hundred pounds and packed in behind his steering wheel so tight it looked like he was going to pop.He was wearing the old Florida trooper uniform.

The gas station attendant was handing him a donut ( I kid you not) and said to the trooper with a real southern drawl. " Here ya go Junior. Fill 'er up?"

You had to be there . We couldn't stop laughing for a hundred miles.

Then it's decided. You're going to visit Micanopy...for the donuts.

I was always against the I.L. project on the river site. I actively made my opinion known. Now that it has fallen through, I feel encouraged that we have another chance to build something great downtown. Other projects on in-fill parcels would also go a long way toward revitalizing Old Bonita. We can keep our historic character and enhance it. It's already looking refreshed with store front improvements. We can do even more!