Page 123: NAPLES SINCE 1970
Actually our initial residence in Naples was in 1969 at West Winds before permanent residence in 1970. Later in 1972, we acquired and remodeled our larger home on the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico between beach and the primary Gulf Shore Boulevard.
When settling in Naples, I acquired in 1969 the Moorhaven Apartments to have something to do. This attractive property is on Alamanda Drive in the Moorings section. It is convenient to two major shopping centers and the prime traffic artery of Tamiami Trail (U.S. Route 41) from Tampa to Miami. In 1971 the building was refurbished and the ground re-landscaped. Two penthouse dwellings were added, along with 13 carports to render the property one of the community’s attractive rentable places.
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Other pursuits followed, but land and property evaluations seemed unrealistic and excessively priced in this affluent and fast-growing Naples area. That is why in 1974 the decision was made to construct my own commercial building, “The Corner.” This is in historic “Olde Naples” on the corner of Broad Avenue South and third Street South, so central to the elite apparel and high fashion specialty shops.
“Olde City” characterizes the original setting of Naples as a onetime fishing village before the great population influx to Florida. “Olde Naples” is still liked for its proximity to Port Royal and…
Page 124: (Photo) Caption: Topping out party at The Corner. Left to right: John Alpino, job superintendent for George F. Kraft Co., Dorothy Kraft, Bob Carsello, manager of George F. Kraft Co., Helen and myself.
Page 125: (Photo) Caption: The fountain underneath the stairway taken from the parking lot in the rear of THE CORNER.
Page 126: …luxurious houses of the pioneering “snow birds” from the North as affluent retirees and winter season residents.
Renaissance Style
Walter K. Keller & Associates, Inc. designed my handsome Renaissance styled structure having ample parking space to and from both streets. This is a two storied building consisting of fashionable shops and offices on the second floor. To local history buffs it occupies the site of the old movie theater of early times. George F. Kraft Co. constructed the building under my daily supervision. Considering the inflationary bias of money and extraordinarily high interest rate of the 1974 year, I arranged my own financing on a relatively economical basis by borrowing on my life insurance.
Loring Andrews, Cincinnati’s retailer of fine jewelry and gifts as a reputed “Tiffany,” was the first business tenant in this structure of charming Florentine appearance.
“The Corner” has six stores on the main floor with twelve offices upstairs. The building comprises 19,000 square feet of rentable space. Its rear entrance from parking space has a lovely staircase featuring a fountain.
The architect had a problem in figuring out just how to support the stairway and still have a fountain beneath the split-T midway platform. I came forth with the idea of a large circular water fountain which could have inside support off-center and not visible to persons stepping up and down the stairs. There are five lead lion heads spouting water from mouths and four tiny fountains within the miniature pool. All operate from a water pump from underneath the split-T platform.
Page 127: Naples ladies’ apparel stores use this picturesque stairway with lovely balustrade as background for pictures which advertise their latest fashion offerings.
Fully Occupied in 1977
My commercial building centerpiece was fully occupied in 1977. I am proud of this personal achievement because so many persons have told me that it is the most impressively beautiful building in southwest Gulf Florida.
A provision in my last will and testament is that this handsome Renaissance income property be kept in the Paterno Family; that no justification is foreseen for need of a future mortgage on it. It exemplifies my career’s last gleaming, however modest it may be relative to the big realty investments from the Paterno heyday in New York City.
NEXT: CHAPTER XVII • FUN AT SEA
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