Verandah by Bonita Bay Group is proud to be named a Where To Retire Magazine 100 Best Master-Planned Communities for 2009.  This is the second time that the Verandah community has been recognized for its outstanding layout, amenities and strong attention to detail.  Verandah has been the featured cover story in both 2007 and 2009.

Verandah’s inclusion of natural elements not only accentuates its beauty, but residents can enjoy their homes knowing they have not upset the natural habitats of animals living in the area.
The most recent article also applauds Verandah for being an environmentally friendly community for its conservation of 500 acres of nature preserves, lakes, parks, wetlands, golf courses in a riverfront conservation buffer.  Verandah encourages the building of Green homes and has been the recipient of many awards commending it’s commitment to being Green. Such awards include 2007 Project EverGreen’s Because Green Matters, as well as being recognized by Florida Association of Realtors’ with the 2006 Environmental (ENVY) Award, along with many others.

In addition to its environmental accolades, Where To Retire was impressed with the amount of activities offered to its residents including nine miles of walkways, paths and fitness trails, a tennis and fitness center, canoe/kayak livery and two golf courses.  Karen Northridge, Where To Retire, publisher, wrote in a letter to Bonita Bay Group that each of the 100 communities honored “are leaders in providing a high quality of life to those who are embarking on new adventures in retirement.”

Explore Bonita Bay Group’s Verandah community and make your retirement exciting.

The residents of Bonita Bay Group’s communities strongly believe in helping their community.  Shadow Wood and Verandah residents have spent countless hours raising money for Habitat for Humanity of Lee County; an organization that builds simple, decent and affordable housing through volunteers.

This year, the communities of Bonita Bay, Shadow Wood and Verandah reached an important landmark by raising over $280,000 for their 2009 efforts.  To date, these residents have raised $1,737,980 for Habitat for Humanity of Lee County.  Residents of the Bonita Bay community formed the committee in 1996.  Shadow Wood residents have offered support and generous donations since 2003; these contributions have lead to the sponsorship of over 15 homes.   Residents of the Verandah community formed a committee this year and partnered with First Bank in Fort Myers to sponsor their first home.

The committees have raised funds through such events as golf tournaments, raffles, auctions and an 8K race.  Residents have also volunteered time with the construction of the new homes.  The donations in accordance with volunteering in the construction of the homes help Habitat for Humanity of Lee County provide housing for those living in sub-par conditions and grant them the dream of owning a home of their own.

Cal Walker, a Bonita Bay resident, committee member and volunteer coordinator noted, “These are people much like us, with families, who so badly want to have an opportunity to own their home. Makes you feel that you’ve done something positive to change peoples’ lives.”

Habitat for Humanity of Lee County is grateful for all the hard work.  Karen Quanstrom, Vice President of Development for Habitat for Humanity of Lee County said “Bonita Bay Group assists these communities in their commitment to supporting local families to realize the dream of homeownership.”

Five outstanding communities by Bonita Bay Group offer a luxurious lifestyle and truly reflect the Bonita Bay Group’s desire to build quality homes for Southwest Florida residents.

For instance, Mediterra, which covers 1,697 acres in Naples, Florida, has intimate neighborhoods connected by approximately eight miles of walking and biking paths, and a series of historically themed parks. Mediterra’s theme is influenced by the Italian countryside and has two 18-hole championship golf courses, designed by Tom Fazio.

Located north of Naples in Bonita Springs on the Gulf Coast is Bonita Bay, a 2,400-acre master-planned community with its delicate ecosystem which features the wonderful Estero Bay that opens to the Gulf of Mexico.

Sandoval, which has homes starting from the mid $100,000’s, has a community center, volleyball and basketball courts and 4.5 –acre Calypso Park with covered picnic areas and fishing pier.

Located on Immokalee Road in Naples, Florida, TwinEagles has coach, villa and single-family homes, starting from the $200,000’s. With golf courses designed by Gary Player and father-and-son team Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II, as well as parks that connect miles of recreational paths and trails, TwinEagles is a beautifully designed environment for its residents.

Ensconced by its many beautiful trees, Verandah has homes available in the low $200,000’s and are reminiscent of Florida’s past with unique architectural styles and accents. Verandah is located along State Road 80 and is 10 minutes from downtown Fort Myers in Lee County.

For more information, be sure to visit www.bonitabaygroup.com where you will find all the facts about our individual communities.

Located between the River House and Boat House in Verandah's River Village, the new butterfly garden at the Verandah community is representative of the Bonita Bay Group’s dedication to excellence and contribution to the local community. With beautiful flowers and plants that attract butterflies, the garden is providing a unique learning resource for Lee County students.

Starting in early February 2009, local students with special needs were tasked with installing and maintaining the new butterfly garden to provide them with skills that could eventually lead to a vocational job. The garden is 500 square feet and is perfectly suited to give the students some marketable gardening skills. All of this was made possible via the Lee County's high schools “Exceptional Student Education Program” which seeks to provide work experience and teach students long-term skills.

The Verandah community in Ft. Myers, Florida offers homes from the low $200,000s to more than $1 million and its new butterfly garden optimizes the community’s environmentally friendly philosophy. Verandah has received multiple awards for its dedication to the environment since its inception and will most likely receive many more because of its dedication to green building and preservation. For more information about Verandah, contact the Verandah Information Center at 888-877-7430. The Verandah Information Center is located two miles east of I-75 on State Road 80 (exit 141). You can also visit our website at www.Verandah.com.

Verandah is one of seven communities in the Bonita Bay Group family.  It offers a lavish South Florida lifestyle unmatched by many in the area.  Recently, a new model home opened its doors for public viewing. 

The San Lucas model is built by Arthur Rutenberg Homes/A.R.B.C. Corp. and features 3,135 sq. feet of air conditioned living space.  Total sq. footage is 4,790, which includes the cabana, lanai, covered entry and garage.  This home, which is built to Florida Green Building Coalition’s green home standards, also has formal living and dining rooms, a leisure room and den.  Large windows and walls of sliding glass display views from many of the model’s rooms.  The San Lucas Model comes completely furnished and is priced at $1,264,985.

The community of Verandah is located in the Fort Myers area and has been named by Where to Retire magazine as one of “America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities” in 2007 and was named “Community of the Year” by the Lee Building Industry Association in 2005 and 2008.  Whispering Oak, Verandah’s second 18-hole championship golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II, was named by Golf Inc. magazine as one of the top five new private courses in the country in 2007.

Verandah residents invited friends to join them for the fourth annual "Experience Verandah" weekend during the 2009 season. More than 500 guests enjoyed golf, nature walks and kayaking in Verandah's River Village, as well as partner events including jewelry & fashion shows, a luxury car tour, and giveaways at Verandah's model homes.

Bonita Bay Group is offering the Southwest Florida community the opportunity to tour more than 60 model homes behind the gates of four private, master-planned communities during its Showcase of Homes. The exclusive two-day event will be held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30 and 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free by registering at www.BBGShowcase.com.

“During the two days of the tour, we are extending unprecedented offers from our premier builders along with valuable developer incentives on club memberships and community association fees,” said Kelli Eastman, BBG director of sales. “Combine these exceptional offers with very low interest rates; now is a great time to purchase!”

The Showcase of Homes will feature homes in Mediterra in North Naples, TwinEagles in Naples, Sandoval in Cape Coral and Verandah in Fort Myers. During the two-day event, many of Bonita Bay Group’s preferred builders within the four communities are offering a 10 percent reduction on select models as well as a 5 percent reduction on future homes.
Gate passes are required to enter the private communities during the Showcase of Homes. To register online and receive your gate passes, go to www.BBGShowcase.com.