A proposed development at the former Marco Island Trailer Park site is stirring debate among business owners and residents who live and operate along Bald Eagle Drive.
The site, located directly next to the Snook Inn Restaurant and Chickee Bar, was purchased and demolished in 2023 and 2024 for about $16 million by Minnesota-based Global Investment Properties LLC. The current proposal includes a five-story hotel, two 150-seat restaurants, a boardwalk, a marina with 40 slips, a ship store, retail shops, and a parking garage, according to designs by MHK Architecture. However, the project still requires permits and construction approval.
"It caught us by surprise, just like everybody else around here. It's a very massive project in a very small little area," said Luigi Carvelli, owner of Snook Inn.
Carvelli worries that the development could impact the character of the Old Marco Village area and add to already dense traffic at the dead end of his street.
"The last thing we want to do is to lose the charm of Old Marco Village. The problem is obviously, traffic — traffic and traffic jams," said Carvelli.
Other nearby business owners share similar concerns, particularly at the Olde Marco Shoppes just a few blocks away.
"When I come down here on Bald Eagle, there's trees on either side. Now they're going to start doing this construction. I don't see how they can keep those trees there," said Betty Newman, owner of Betty Newman Art Gallery.
The project has not been listed on any upcoming agendas at the time of publishing this story.