Coconut Point a sample of the new all-in-one neighborhood

Five hundred acres; 1.2 million square feet of open-air retail space; 90,000 square feet of office condominiums; 200 to 400 residential units; and a 7-acre lake equals a place to work, shop and play on the edges of Bonita Springs and Estero.

Three distinct areas of Coconut Point were planned out very carefully by the minds of Simon Property Group and Oakbrook Properties to provide guests with a one-stop community, open to all.

For those who live and work in the community, they can bike or walk from their residence or office to pick up office supplies, pet supplies, clothing, bedding and more without driving through gridlock during season or five o'clock traffic, making what was once a hassling 15-minute stint from point A to point B into a easy commute from shop to shop, whether by foot or by car.

Carol Lopez, of Estero, and Carol Dalia, of Bonita Springs, shopped at Old Navy on Monday anticipating the opening of the rest of Coconut Point.

Dalia is happy she no longer has to drive from Bonita Springs to Naples to buy camera supplies.

"I like the way it's laid out. They're putting in stores we need," Dalia said.

Dalia has lived in Bonita Springs for 20 years, and admits to driving to Fort Myers only 10 times because of the hassle. Now, she anticipates frequenting Coconut Point for most of her shopping needs.

"I've been waiting for something like this," Dalia said.

According to Lopez and Dalia, in addition to liking all of the shops that will soon be opening in Coconut Point, they also were happy that everything was centralized in one location, but it was scattered to provide breathing room.

"I can't wait until Bed, Bath and Beyond opens. About time we get some home furnishing stores. I don't want another bank," Lopez said.

And, that's what the people at Simon had in mind, according to Les Morris, of Simon Property Group.

"I would definitely call (Coconut Point) a community," Morris said. "It represents our best thinking."

According to Morris, a great deal of planning went into Coconut Point so that it would not just be a shopping destination, but a place people would want to spend a great deal of time at.

There are three distinct areas of the Town Center — the Community Center, the Lakefront, and the Village.

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Coconut Point off U.S. 41 will offer a community where people can live, work and play.

The Village will have two parks and many other casual gathering spots, centered around a Main Street with a Mediterranean theme. It will feature a department store, a bookstore and a megaplex theater, in addition to four restaurants and close to 100 retail shops.

On the west side of Main Street, office space with balconies overlooking The Village, will be sold as condominiums/office and other leasable space.

The east side of Main Street will house luxury condo units complete with a clubhouse and a pool, which will be visible from various parts of the main drag.

More top retailers are opening everyday in The Community Center at Coconut Point, including PetSmart, Old Navy, Pier 1 Imports and Ross Dress for Less, on the left of The Village.

The Lakefront will serve as a transition between The Village and The Community Center, but according to a press release, will be a destination of its own. More restaurants and shops will surround a seven-acre lake, and a boardwalk will be the place to go for musical events, boats in the water and other displays.

As for transportation, most people who visit Coconut Point will drive from one side to the other, but can easily walk in each of the three sections, just like a huge open mall.

According to Morris, there are no current plans for other means of transportation within Coconut Point, but they have tossed around ideas, such as tram or bus stops within the community.

"We just think it will be spectacular," Morris said.