Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate to offer to improve downtown Naples parking

Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate is starting new initiatives to ease parking in downtown Naples, including opening parking lots and adding more valet stands. Parking options are pictured in downtown Naples on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.

Shopping and dining in downtown Naples is about to get easier — even in the busy season.

Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate, downtown's largest commercial property owner, has vowed to ease parking shortages through new initiatives that include everything from adding more valet stands on Fifth Avenue South to expanding shuttle services to ferry visitors from Fifth Avenue to Third Street South.

David Hoffmann, principal in the company, said he doesn't think parking is all that bad, but he wants to wipe out the "unjustified reputation" of it being a pain.

David Hoffmann, principal, Hoffmann  Commercial Real Estate.

"We plan to tackle this parking issue head on," he said. 

Since his company's first multimillion-dollar investments on Fifth Avenue South in late 2015, Hoffmann, now a year-round resident of Naples, has visited the street often. He has offices on the street and loves to eat at its restaurants and the ones on Third Street South.

"In two years I've never not found a place to park," he said. "You just need to know where to go." 

More:Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate continues buying spree in downtown Naples

More: Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate buys two more buildings as Third Street expansion continues 

Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate is starting new initiatives to ease parking in downtown Naples, including opening parking lots and adding more valet stands. Parking options are pictured in downtown Naples on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.

The company, he said, will do a better job of spreading the word about the parking spots, or "hidden gems," it has made available to the public at its 21 buildings in the downtown area through a new printed locator map for visitors. Under previous ownership, all of the buildings had private parking for customers and employees only. 

On Feb. 1 the company opened up the parking lot and easement on its property at Fifth Avenue and Fourth Street to all visitors, adding another 200 spots to the public parking inventory. 

Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate pays for the electric Slidr mini-buses to operate downtown, which provide free on-demand rides for visitors to any destination from the Naples Pier to the Naples Zoo. The company plans to buy two of its own vehicles to boost the shuttle service, but still needs approval from city officials to operate them on the streets. 

The company funds five valet stands on Fifth and plans to add valet spots on Third Street.

More:Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate sets its eyes on Third Street South

David Hoffmann said he hopes his company's actions will spur other property owners in the downtown area to improve parking for the benefit of residents and tourists alike.

"There has been a negative connotation on parking," Hoffmann said. "We want to change that perception."  

Naples had a $6 million contract with Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate to buy its 1-acre lot at Fourth Avenue South and Fourth Street South to build a 350-space parking garage, but city council tabled the project indefinitely in October with cleanup costs from Hurricane Irma mounting.

More: Hurricane Irma cleanup costs blow Naples downtown parking garage plan off table

Many downtown Naples residents opposed the garage, arguing it wouldn't be in keeping with the small town look and feel of Naples. 

Hoffmann said he doesn't think the parking garage will be needed with the improvements his company is making. 

Father and son David, right, and Greg Hoffmann, of Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate, at their offices in downtown Naples on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.

Assistant City Manager Roger Reinke said Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate hasn't submitted anything to the city to expand on Slidr's shuttle service yet, but more transportation could be helpful if designed in the right way.  

"I hear in the community that Slidr has been helpful and working well, in addition to other types of rideshare services — Uber and Lyft. I hear from people in the community they utilize them as well." 

The city recently approved Hoffmann's request to expand the hours of its valet stand at Fifth Avenue and Fourth Street, near the PNC Bank building, to offer service from 10 a.m. to midnight. The stand was closing at the same time, but opened at 5 p.m.

"It's on a trial basis for up to three months for February, March and April," Reinke said. "We will evaluate how that works." 

 

Hoffmann has asked for city approval to add a valet stand behind Sails restaurant at the corner of Third Street and Fifth Avenue, but a decision is still pending.

The city has encouraged private property owners with commercial buildings on Fifth Avenue, Third Street and surrounding streets to share their parking with the general public, Reinke said. However, he noted parking was never designed to be too easy for come-and-go traffic, especially along Fifth.

"The philosophy along Fifth Avenue has been for over 20-plus years people should park, then stroll shop and dine along the avenue," he said. "It's not just about parking your car, going to where you are going to go and then getting back into your car and leaving, but enjoying everything Fifth Avenue has to offer."  

Greg Hoffmann, left, and his father, David Hoffmann, of Hoffmann Commercial Real Estate, in their offices in downtown Naples on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018.