Ave Maria - The Town & University
Ave Maria will boast two firsts; it is the first town and
university to be designed & built together and it is the first
project to implement the Rural Lands Stewardship Program.
Currently under construction, it is located 25 miles east of
Naples & 5 miles south of Immokalee. The brainchild of Domino's
Pizza founder Tom Monaghan & the Barron Collier Company, they
are investing over $100 million in the first phase.
The $220 million Ave Maria University will be the
heart of the community and town center. The first new Catholic
university in the United States in the last 40 years, it is
expected to employ over 10,000 people and attract 6000 graduate
& undergrad students. Plans are also in the works for a private
K-12 school to be affiliated with the university.
The town of Ave Maria will bring 11,000 new homes for an
estimated 30,000 residents to southwest Florida and will protect
17,000 acres of natural habitat. Utilities, public health and
public safety infrastructure are expected to be completed in the
summer of 2007, with retail and commercial services to
follow.
Pulte Homes is the principal residential developer for the
project and will offer a wide range of community options to meet
the needs of the expected customer base including families,
active adults over 55 and luxury real estate purchasers.
The Barron Collier Company is also including 1000
moderate-income units which must be owner-occupied, 700
low-income units which must be 50% owner-occupied, and 200 very
low-income units. They are also donating 28 acres to Collier
County Habitat for Humanity which will provide 150
additional homes. Deed restrictions will be in place that will
allow a 5% per year appreciation rate for buyers who sell within
5 years. Remaining profit would go toward a fund for affordable
housing at Ave Maria.