Bonita council kicks developer off downtown redevelopment project

The Bonita Springs City Council has kicked Naples-based Antaramian Development, Inc. off the redevelopment of 5.3-acre Bamboo Village site.

The city council 4-3 told the staff not to continue any negotiations with Antaramian to develop the site into a mixed use of restaurant, shops, condominiums and river access.

The late-night vote from the council elicted loud boos from the audience, which had gathered in support of the project. Although the meeting wasn't over, most of the crowd, which reached 200 at one point, stormed out of the council chambers yelling at the council members, saying they shouldn't expect to stay on council long.

The city had planned on using the Antaramian plan as a catalyst to revitalizing the Bonita Springs downtown. The property was purchased for $2.6 million in 2003 -- with another $900,000 put into it -- for that expressed purpose.

The council selected Anatarmian in January, but three new members came on the council following the March 7 election. The strength of the new members is why Antaramian was kicked off the project.