Saturday, November 14, 2026
Construction of the Assisted Living Facility at San Marco Road faced challenges in summer and fall.
The vacant Sanitasole building had been under consideration for a new facility. The project is still lingering.
The Island Country Club is finishing extensive renovations.
Boat canopies are now legal after getting a permit and paying the $150 application fee.
Swearing in newly elected city councilors Greg Folley, Darrin Palumbo and Eric Brechnitz.
2022 would be a year of debates, elections and progress within the city. It would also see growth on several fronts. We will run a two-part series on some of the highlights of the year which may have affected you and your families, as well as some of the changes the community has undergone as we move into the future.
Work by the Chancey Design Group regarding the planned Assisted Living Facility (ALF) at the intersection of Heathwood Drive and San Marco Road has been one that has drawn the attention of residents and casual observers, as its progress has appeared to have stalled. The Chancey Design Group confirmed that his firm has been affected by some scheduling issues and other matters requiring their attention. “In the next week to ten days our contractor will be remobilizing onsite, and we’ll be moving forward,” Walt Chancey told the Coastal Breeze News.
The Chancey Design Group project has laid dormant for most of the summer and into fall months. This after replacing the seawall on the property and preparing to lay in drainage infrastructure material. Work has recently resumed on that project.
Developer representatives over the summer hosted a neighborhood meeting to discuss with residents the potential utilization of the vacant Sanitasole building as well as the properties on either side of that vacant structure. In March of 2018, Triad Real Estate Investors sold the Sanitasole property to Centerfield of Marco Island, a Georgia Limited Liability Corporation who shows offices at 4488 N. Shallowford Road, Suite 103, Atlanta Georgia.
The lots on both sides of the 218 South Barfield location (208 and 228) were also sold to Centerfield of Marco Island in March of 2018 and the total acreage now is approximately 1.3 acres.
A neighborhood public information meeting was held to discuss preliminary plans for a proposal to construct an 86-bed facility which will house 44 beds for Assisted Living and another 42 beds for Memory/Dementia Care, according to Robert Mulhere, President of Hole Montes Engineer and Planning Company out of Naples, Florida.
That project is still lingering in the evaluation and planning stages.
The much-anticipated conclusion to the Island Club renovation project is nearing as it has battled through issues with its contractor, supply chain material shortages and the ravages of Hurricane Ian. Regardless of all those substantial challenges, the facilities are nearing full completion and the initial positive compliments meet or exceed the expectations of their membership.
What began as an idea five years ago would eventually turn into reality on Monday, March 22, 2021 as proud members of the Marco Island Country Club Board of Directors, members of the club, staff members and city officials attended the official groundbreaking for the $13.5 million renovation and expansion of what some refer to as the crown jewel of the island.
Work has been completed on the renovation of the newly dedicated Wellness Center for club members. That building had previously served as the club’s Double Eagle Grille Room. The new facility provides members with a free-standing 6,000 square state of the art Wellness Center.
The locker rooms in the main building have been undergoing renovations for its members. In addition the Grille Room, which was previously located separately from the main club house, moved into that main facility with outdoor dining and a new outdoor bar on the ground level.
The main Club House dining facilities have been completely remodeled with expanded indoor and outdoor dining which is available overlooking the 18th hole of the newly revamped championship course.
Boaters seeking added protection for their marine craft would be caught between a difference in opinions involving councilors and city staff. Each time they thought they had reached a simplified solution to their request they were once again disappointed at the staff’s solution which they and a majority of council believed made the issue more complicated and expensive. That impasse would only further disappoint councilors who had been dealing with it since late 2021.
Finally, late in the fall of 2022 council put the issue to bed and the utilization of the canopies was approved, but not before a protracted debate over what should be considered permanent versus temporary. The use of the canopies is now legal after getting a permit and paying the $150 application fee.
Citizens returned formerly elected council members Greg Folley and Erik Brechnitz to fill two of the three open seats, while electing newcomer Darrin Palumbo to the third open seat during the November 8th city election.
Council elected Councilor Greg Folley to chair the seven-person board for the next year and re-elect councilor Jared Grifoni to the Vice-Chair position for the next year’s term.
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