Affordable Housing Coming to 951

Marco Islanders traveling northbound on Collier Boulevard have recently observed significant changes near the Dolphin Car Wash. Each morning, construction workers can be seen clearing the property on the east side of 951, drawing curiosity from passersby about the nature of the ongoing work. 

The activity at the site is part of the initial phase for the new Ekoson Creekside Affordable Housing Development. Ekos on Creekside will have 160 apartments for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and rents averaging 30 percent below the market rate. 

When completed, the building will be seven stories high and contain two- and three-bedroom apartments. Residents will have access to their own clubhouse, complete with a state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor pool with BBQ grill, a clubroom with a kitchenette, and a business center with computer stations. 

Workers are currently clearing the location, preparing the foundations, and installing utilities for the project, which is being developed by Miami-based McDowell Housing Partners with a total investment of $63+ million. Other properties developed by McDowell Housing Partners include Ekos Cadenzaon Rattlesnake Hammock Road and Ekos on Santa Barbara.  

Collier County acquired the land for the housing project using funds raised through the Workforce Housing Land Acquisition Surtax fund, the first workforce affordable housing project to receive the funds. In 2018, voters approved a one-cent local government infrastructure surtax with $20 million of the surtax to be used for land acquisition. The landis under a 99-year land lease with the county. Financing comes from 4% Low Income Housing Credits, Tax-Exempt Bonds, and State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) funds. The projected completion of the project is slated for early 2027.