FL Star Begins Consruction of Vanderbilt Apartments

Construction is underway for Vanderbilt Apartments, a new luxury apartment complex developed by an affiliate of FL Star at the intersection of Collier Boulevard and Vanderbilt Beach Road.

“We have a premier location for this community,” said Gary Hains of FL Star. “It provides easy access to a variety of lifestyle amenities with shopping, restaurants and medical services nearby. And it is very convenient to the transportation network of I-75.”

Vanderbilt Apartments will offer a selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom units within the intimate community of 48 luxury apartment homes. Hains noted that the new community responds to a growing need nationwide for apartment homes.

“Many people are choosing apartment living as a lifestyle choice, preferring the maintenance free aspect of a managed property,” Hains said. “The number of apartment dwellers is expected to swell in the next few years as younger people wait longer to buy a home and as immigration swells the population.”

For more information about Vanderbilt Apartments, contact Gary Hains, gary@fl-star.com.

Vanderbilt Apartments is being developed by an affiliate of FL Star, a conglomerate of real estate entities lead by David E. Torres and Gary Hains. Other projects include Hammock Park Apartments, a 265-unit community soon to start construction at the corner of Collier Blvd. and Rattlesnake Hammock; Milano Lakes, a 296-unit luxury apartment community, and Sapphire Cove, a new residential community in South Naples. FL Star is also building a selection of single-family homes in Golden Gate Estates. In addition to construction and development activities, the company provides management services for commercial and industrial buildings for real estate owners and condominium associations including maintenance, collection of rents and financial reporting. Projects totaling in excess of 1,500 residential units are in the pipeline for the coming years.

Source:
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/money/real-estate/2022/02/05/fl-star-begins-consruction-vanderbilt-apartments/9298755002/

FL Star begins permitting for retail shopping center

FL Star has begun the permitting process for a new retail shopping center, Hammock Park Retail Center, to be located on Collier Boulevard near Rattlesnake Hammock Road in South Naples. The 20,000 square foot center will include a variety of retail shops with 5,000 square feet of restaurant space and additional outdoor dining.

“The center is designed to complement our new Hammock Park Apartments, providing residents within the community and the surrounding neighborhoods with the convenience of upscale retail shops nearby,” said Gary Hains, vice president of FL Star, developer of both Hammock Park Apartments and Hammock Park Retail Center. “We see this part of Naples as an area of vitality and growth, a very desirable place to live with exceptional amenities.”

Nearby there are healthcare and recreational activities as well as easy access to the transportation hub of I-75. Enrichment and educational opportunities include nearby Serenity Park and the Collier Boulevard bike trail, Florida Southwestern State College, Physicians Regional Hospital and an array of other medical facilities.

“Location is always a primary consideration when selecting where to live, and Hammock Park is located in a premier area,” Hains said. “Hammock Park offers residents excellent access to shopping, healthcare, and recreational activities as well as the nearby transportation hub of I-75. Enrichment and educational opportunities include nearby Serenity Park and the Collier Boulevard bike trail, Florida Southwestern State College, Physicians Regional Hospital and an array of other medical facilities.”

“Residents of Hammock Park Apartments will be able to walk to the new Hammock Park Center for an afternoon of shopping or dining,” Hains said. “The area provides the perfect Florida lifestyle.”  For more information, contact Gary Hains, gary@fl-star.com.

Hammock Park Center is being developed by an affiliate of FL Star. At the helm of FL Star, a conglomerate of real estate entities, are David E. Torres and Gary Hains, who offer more than 45 years of combined experience in the construction industry. Projects by FL Star include Hammock Park Apartments, a luxury apartment community with 265 units; Sapphire Cove, a community of single-family homes; and Milano Lakes, a luxury apartment community, all located off Collier Boulevard in Naples; Vanderbilt Apartments, 48 luxury apartment homes off Vanderbilt Beach Road in Naples; Arrowhead Reserve, a community of single-family homes in Immokalee; single-family homes in Golden Gate Estates; and custom homes throughout the Naples area. Projects totaling in excess of 1,500 residential units are in the pipeline for the coming years. FL Star also provides management services for commercial and industrial buildings for real estate owners and condominium associations including maintenance, collection of rents and financial reporting.

Source:
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/money/real-estate/2022/01/29/fl-star-begins-permitting-retail-shopping-center/9208747002/

FL Star begins construction on Hammock Park Apartments

FL Star has begun construction of Hammock Park Apartments, a new luxury apartment complex located at the corner of Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Collier Boulevard in South Naples. The complex will include 265 units, offering a selection of apartment sizes and configurations.

“Hammock Park is designed to provide all of the features that renters want in an apartment home,” said Gary Hains, vice president of FL Star. “Floor plans are designed with space arranged to live like a private residence with amenities such as a washer and dryer in the unit. Outdoors, there will be resort style recreational amenities.”

The buildings of Hammock Park are designed around a interior courtyard, offering many of the residences a view overlooking the landscaped recreational center for the community. There will be a resort style pool with poolside seating and cabanas as well as a covered pavilion for outdoor activities.

“Location is always a primary consideration when selecting where to live, and Hammock Park is located in a premier area,” Hains said. “Hammock Park offers residents excellent access to shopping, healthcare, and recreational activities as well as the nearby transportation hub of I-75. Enrichment and educational opportunities include nearby Serenity Park and the Collier Boulevard bike trail, Florida Southwestern State College, Physicians Regional Hospital and an array of other medical facilities.”

Leasing of the apartment homes is anticipated to begin in the third or fourth quarter of 2023, Hains said. For more information, contact Gary Hains, gary@fl-star.com.

Hammock Park is being developed by FL Star. At the helm of FL Star, a conglomerate of real estate entities, are David E. Torres and Gary Hains, who offer more than 45 years of combined experience in the construction industry. Other projects by FL Star include Sapphire Cove, a community of single-family homes, and Milano Lakes, a luxury apartment community, both located off Collier Boulevard in Naples; Arrowhead Reserve, a community of single-family homes in Immokalee; single-family homes in Golden Gate Estates; and custom homes throughout the Naples area. FL Star also provides management services for commercial and industrial buildings for real estate owners and condominium associations including maintenance, collection of rents and financial reporting.

Source:
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/money/real-estate/2022/01/08/fl-star-begins-construction-hammock-park-apartments/9087529002/

FL Star expansion prompts new office opening

As part of the company’s on-going expansion, FL Star has opened a new office at 3520 Kraft Road in Naples.

“We have begun new projects throughout Naples, with two new multi-family communities, single-home construction in several areas and additional commercial projects,” said Gary Hains, vice president of FL Star. “The new office is centrally located off Pine Ridge Road to enhance our presence and access to all of our projects. This is one more aspect of our on-going expansion.”

A conglomerate of real estate entities lead by David Torres and Gary Hains, FL Star’s current projects include Vanderbilt Apartments, a new 48-unit apartment community on Vanderbilt Beach Road; Hammock Park Apartments, a 265-unit community soon to start construction at the corner of Collier Blvd. and Rattlesnake Hammock Road; Milano Lakes, a 296-unit luxury apartment community, and Sapphire Cove, a new residential community in South Naples. FL Star is also building a selection of single-family homes in Golden Gate Estates and custom homes throughout Naples. In addition to construction and development activities, the company provides management services for commercial and industrial buildings for real estate owners and condominium associations including maintenance, collection of rents and financial reporting. For more information visit FL-Star.com.

Source:
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/money/real-estate/2021/11/27/fl-star-expansion-prompts-new-office-opening/8723941002/

Move-in ready home nearing completion in Immokalee

IMMOKALEE — FL Star Construction is nearing completion on the Fiesta, a new available home in Arrowhead Reserve, a single-family home community off Lake Trafford Road in Immokalee.

“This home is perfect for buyers who are eager to move in soon,” said Elvira Nodal of David C. Brown Realty, associate responsible for sales at Arrowhead Reserve. “This home offers all the benefits of high quality new construction, the most desirable interior features, and  pricing that is among the lowest in the area for new construction.”

Nodal notes that timing for buyers, especially first-time homeowners is excellent as interest rates remain low and several programs are in place to assist first-time buyers.

The Fiesta is a three-bedroom plus study design with 1,765 air-conditioned square feet. With a covered entry, a lanai and a two-car garage, the home has a total of 2,505 square feet under roof. The great room, kitchen and breakfast nook offer a contemporary open concept living space. Double doors create an impressive entry from the great room to the study. A private retreat at the back of the home, the master bedroom offers two walk-in closets and a master bath with dual vanities, a walk-in shower and water closet. Two guest bedrooms and a full bath are at the front of the home.

The Fiesta is available for purchase at $199,900.

Home plans at Arrowhead Reserve range from three bedrooms and two baths in 1,297 feet of air-conditioned living space to a design with three bedrooms plus a den with 1,915 air-conditioned square feet. There is flexibility with several designs, offering a choice of three bedrooms or three bedrooms plus a den or the four-bedroom plan. The most popular interior finishes are available including granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and undermount sinks.

Built by FL Star Construction, home prices begin at $168,900.

For information about these homes and others at Arrowhead Reserve, contact Elvira Nodal at at David C. Brown Realty in Immokalee or Gary Hains, FL Star Development, email Gary@Fl-star.com.

FL Star Construction LLC is an affiliate of FL Star, a conglomerate of real estate entities lead by Gary Hains and David E. Torres. Other current projects include Milano Lakes, a new 296-unit apartment community, and Sapphire Cove, a new residential community, both being developed off Collier Boulevard in South Naples.

FL Star also provides management services for commercial and industrial buildings for real estate owners and condominium associations including maintenance, collection of rents and financial reporting.

 
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Gary Hains and David Torres create successful FL Star

Gary Hains and David Torres took a big risk and it paid off with big success. At the height of the recession, the two men left their jobs with Toll Brothers to strike out on their own.

“We both realized there was opportunity out there,” Hains began. “We both left when the market was a bad as it could be. That is when there is the most opportunity when the market is bad.”

The move was especially risky for Hains.

“My wife told me the night before we resigned that she was pregnant with our second kid,” he said.

But Hains and Torres believed in themselves and were ready for the challenge of striking out on their own. So they created FL Star LLC.

“When you are one of those individuals that wants to be an entrepreneur, you are confident you will be successful,” Torres explained.

Their strategy was to buy now and build later.

“It was good because we weren’t building at that time,” Hains explained. “We were buying properties at the time. We were buying distressed notes.”

“There was a lot of opportunity to buy below costs and be patient,” Torres added.

So the men purchased property and were patient.

They bought land at Arrowhead in Immokalee. Arrowhead was an existing development with about 100 houses. Hains and Torres bought the remaining 229 lots. They also purchased land at Hacienda Lakes and some property off Collier Boulevard in Naples. When the economy began to revive, the men started to build. They began their first construction in Arrowhead. Soon they started building at Hacienda. Now they are constructing their first apartment complex near Collier Boulevard that will have 296 units. Milano Lakes will have eight, four-story buildings that have one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 800 square feet to 1,400 square feet and price from $1,300 to$1,700 a month.

The duo believes an apartment complex is needed in the area and is a good way to grow their business.

“In Collier, you don’t get the density you get in Fort Myers,” Hains explained. “Collier is very limited. This site had the ability to have high density, and in Collier there is definitely a shortage of places for working people to live.”

“It is demand,” Torres added. “We have population growth in our area. Once you have people coming down, you have jobs and housing is expensive, so there is a market for renters, and Collier is the best because there is limited place for people to enter the market. There are limited places with high density.”

When Hains and Torres first struck out on their own six years ago, their lives changed in many ways. They became the boss, yet didn’t really live a boss’s lifestyle.

“Your lifestyle has to change slightly,” Hains said about the beginning years of FL Star.

But now with the growth in the economy and success of his business, he knows he made the right choice.

“Now prices have gone up and people missed that window,” he said.

Hains and Torres saw that window when they were working together at Toll Brothers. The men spent about 10 years with that company.

Hains became Toll Brothers Division Vice President for Southwest Florida. He was responsible for locating, financially analyzing, conducting market research and negotiating land acquisition for future development projects throughout Florida. Torres became division president for Toll Brothers Northeast Florida. He was responsible for direct profit and loss in that region and was involved in land acquisition of thousands of lots for future development.

“Getting together in this new venture just seemed a natural step,” Hains said. “We’ve always enjoyed working together. And our backgrounds and education complement each other. We’ve both been involved in every aspect of real estate development, and we share a background in finance.”

David Torres and Gary Hains of FL Star oversee the

David Torres and Gary Hains of FL Star oversee the new apartment complex they are building in Naples. (Photo: Andrea Stetson)

Hains and Torres are also both high achievers. Hains is a graduate of Brown University and the London School of Economics. Torres is a graduate of Columbia University in New York City, where he received a bachelor of science in civil engineering and a minor in economics.

The men took their experience to do more than simply buy land and build homes or apartments. FL Star provides management services for commercial and industrial buildings for real estate owners and condominium associations. They assist with maintenance, collection of rents and financial reporting. They also manage distressed real estate funds and look for distressed real estate opportunities for customers and private investors.

Now that business is booming, Hains and Torres can see how their risk paid off.

“I grew up in that environment,” Torres said. “My father had his own business. It was more natural to do this than working for someone the rest of my life. You just have to take the risk and be patient.”

 

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