Median makeover set to resume in Naples, residents frustrated

NAPLES, Fla – A controversial project to renovate the median on Gulf Shore Boulevard is set to continue after almost being scrapped earlier this week.

The median makeover is causing a stir in the neighborhood. Bulldozers, constructions signs, uprooted trees, and a flattened median with no shade is all that’s left at one end of the road. On the other, new trees are starting to pop up.

“I decided to come down and take a look at what they’ve done and it looks like cut down a lot of the low overhanging trees,” Gary West, who lives in Naples, said.

The project was brought up in 2006 because the roots of the trees that were already there started to affect the sprinkler system. The trees no longer had room to grow. However, redevelopment stalled because of the recession.

Fast forward to just a few months ago and now Gulf Shore Blvd. looks entirely different.

“The big thing was, ‘what happened to our landscaping?’ and ‘now all I see is a warzone,'” Mayor John Sorey said.

When the construction started, residents started speaking up. Several people told WINK News off camera that they’re not happy with the way things are going, saying there is a lack of shade now.

“There were areas where it was grown to the point that it was very difficult to have a clear line of vision,” Mayor Sorey explained.

Mayor Sorey is requesting an additional $500,000 for the project, but says he plans on having a more efficient way of listening to neighbor’s concerns.

“We’ve heard from about 100 people but there’s 4,900 we aren’t hearing from. There’s about 5,000 people out there so we’ll see what the reaction is,” Mayor Sorey said.

Once completed the project is estimated to be about $1 million. The next budget meeting will be on September 2nd.