Ave Maria Florida Real Estate Expansion: 17,738 Planned Homes and Major Growth Coming to Eastern Collier County

Ave Maria, Florida has already become one of the most talked-about master-planned communities in Southwest Florida. Families, retirees, remote workers, and buyers looking for new construction near Naples have been paying close attention to Ave Maria because it offers newer homes, community amenities, golf cart-friendly living, schools, parks, shopping, dining, and a true small-town feel.

Now the story is getting even bigger.

A major Ave Maria Florida expansion was recently backed by Collier County planners, and it could significantly increase the size and long-term growth potential of the community. According to the recent proposal, the expansion would add more than 2,000 acres to Ave Maria, bringing the town to nearly 8,000 acres total. It would also add 6,738 residential units, bringing the total planned number of homes to 17,738. The plan also allows for nearly 1 million square feet of additional retail, office, and medical space.

For anyone thinking about moving to Ave Maria, buying a new construction home, or investing in eastern Collier County’s future, this is a major update.

What Was Approved for the Ave Maria Expansion?

The Collier County Planning Commission backed a plan from Ave Maria Development LLLP to expand Ave Maria under the county’s Rural Lands Stewardship Area program. This program allows large-scale development in designated areas in exchange for infrastructure, conservation, and other planning requirements.

The biggest headline is the number of planned homes.

For years, many people talked about Ave Maria as a community planned for around 11,000 homes. With this new expansion proposal, the total planned residential units would increase to 17,738 homes.

That does not mean 17,738 homes have already been built or sold. It means Ave Maria’s long-term plan could now allow for that many homes over time.

That distinction is important. Ave Maria is still growing, and this expansion shows how much future development may still be ahead.

What Else Is Being Added to Ave Maria?

This expansion is not only about more homes. It is also about making Ave Maria a more complete and self-sufficient town.

The plan includes:

More than 2,000 additional acres added to Ave Maria.

A total town size of nearly 8,000 acres.

6,738 additional residential units.

A new total of 17,738 planned homes.

Nearly 1 million square feet of additional retail, office, and medical space.

New town centers along Immokalee Road.

A 1,000-acre senior living community east of Camp Keais Road.

This is important for buyers because one of the biggest questions people ask about Ave Maria is whether it is too far from Naples.

The more Ave Maria adds retail, medical services, office space, restaurants, shopping, and community services, the more convenient daily life can become for residents. Instead of driving west toward Naples for everything, future residents may have more options closer to home.

Why the Ave Maria Florida Expansion Matters

Ave Maria has always been different from a typical subdivision. It was designed as a master-planned town with neighborhoods, schools, parks, shops, dining, places of worship, and Ave Maria University near the center of the community.

This new expansion could make Ave Maria an even bigger hub in eastern Collier County.

For home buyers, that matters because long-term growth can affect lifestyle, home values, convenience, traffic, amenities, and future demand.

The expansion could help Ave Maria become more than just a residential community. With additional commercial, office, and medical space planned, the town could continue evolving into a place where more people can live, work, shop, and access services without always needing to drive into coastal Naples.

That does not mean every buyer will love the growth. Some people move to Ave Maria because they like the quieter feel, the open space, and the distance from the busier coastal areas. More growth could bring more convenience, but it could also bring more traffic, construction, and change.

That is why buyers should understand both sides before making a decision.

New Town Centers Along Immokalee Road

One of the most interesting parts of the expansion is the plan for new town centers along Immokalee Road.

Immokalee Road is one of the major corridors connecting this part of Collier County. Adding town centers along this route could bring more shopping, dining, office, medical, and daily services to the area.

This could be a big deal for Ave Maria residents because convenience is one of the most important factors in long-term community growth.

Many buyers love Ave Maria’s newer homes and community feel, but they still ask practical questions like:

How far is the grocery store?

Where is the nearest medical office?

How far do I have to drive for restaurants?

Will there be more shopping nearby?

Are more jobs coming to the area?

The planned commercial expansion could help answer some of those questions over time.

A 1,000-Acre Senior Living Community Is Also Planned

Another major part of the expansion is a planned 1,000-acre senior living community east of Camp Keais Road.

This makes sense when you look at Southwest Florida’s buyer demand. Many people moving to Florida are retirees, active adults, and empty nesters looking for newer homes, lower maintenance, warmer weather, community amenities, and a quieter lifestyle.

Ave Maria already has active adult options, family neighborhoods, golf cart-friendly areas, and amenities that appeal to a wide range of buyers. A large senior living component could increase demand for medical services, shopping, dining, recreation, and community support services.

It may also help Ave Maria continue to attract buyers who want a Naples-area lifestyle but may not want Naples coastal pricing.

Affordable Housing Is Part of the Expansion

The expansion also includes an affordable housing requirement. Under the Rural Lands Stewardship Area program, the project must provide 511 affordable housing units tied to the expansion. Developers said they plan to meet the requirement off-site through three rental housing locations totaling about 230 units for low-income families, including sites at Wave at Rose, north of Lake Trafford, and a 35-acre farmland parcel.

Affordable housing is a major topic across Collier County because many workers, families, and essential employees struggle with rising housing costs.

There may be debate over whether affordable housing tied to Ave Maria’s expansion should be located inside Ave Maria or off-site in nearby areas. But either way, housing affordability will continue to be part of the conversation as eastern Collier County grows.

What About Traffic and Roads?

Traffic is one of the biggest concerns whenever Ave Maria growth is discussed.

During the hearing, transportation impacts were raised, especially around Immokalee Road, roadway capacity, and safety. One resident expressed concern about driving with children on Immokalee Road while dump trucks and construction traffic are present.

The expansion plan includes several road and infrastructure improvements, including:

Widening Oil Well Road around 2028–2029.

Upgrades at Immokalee Road and Camp Keais Road.

A new roundabout at Camp Keais Road and Pope John Paul II Boulevard.

Additional sidewalk and transit requirements.

For buyers, this is one of the most important things to watch.

Growth can be exciting, but infrastructure has to keep up. More homes, more residents, more commercial space, and more construction can all increase traffic. Road improvements will be a key part of whether Ave Maria’s growth feels positive and manageable over time.

Is Ave Maria Becoming the Main Growth Hub of Eastern Collier County?

Ave Maria is not the only major growth story in eastern Collier County.

Nearby, the Town of Big Cypress is also part of the larger eastern Collier growth conversation. The Town of Big Cypress is located east of Golden Gate Estates near Oil Well Road and the future Big Cypress Parkway, and it is connected to planned villages including Rivergrass, Longwater, and Bellmar. The official Town of Big Cypress website says the broader area is planned to include residential options, employment centers, retail, services, entertainment, healthcare, and other everyday uses in eastern Collier County.

Collier Enterprises describes the Town of Big Cypress, Rivergrass, Longwater, and Bellmar as bringing homes, job opportunities, retail shops, restaurants, entertainment, a community park, school sites, affordable housing, commercial areas, and a business park to the area east of Golden Gate Estates.

So when people talk about Ave Maria’s growth, it is helpful to understand the bigger picture. Eastern Collier County is seeing multiple planned-community growth areas, not just one.

If you heard something like “Old Immokalee,” you may have been hearing about growth near Immokalee Road, eastern Collier County, or the Town of Big Cypress area. Based on the information available, the major named nearby town project to watch is Town of Big Cypress, along with Rivergrass, Longwater, and Bellmar.

What This Means for Ave Maria Home Buyers

If you are thinking about buying in Ave Maria, the expansion could be a positive sign. It shows that the community is still in a major growth phase and that more homes, services, commercial space, and infrastructure are planned.

But it also means buyers should be realistic.

Ave Maria is not a fully finished town. It is still developing. That can be exciting if you want to buy into a growing area before everything is built out. It can also mean dealing with construction, changing traffic patterns, and waiting for certain services or amenities to arrive.

Before buying in Ave Maria, you should think about:

Your daily commute.

How often you need to drive to Naples.

Whether you prefer a newer growth area or a fully established area.

Which neighborhood best fits your lifestyle.

How close you want to be to schools, town center, shopping, dining, or future commercial areas.

Whether you are comfortable living in a community that will continue changing over time.

For some buyers, Ave Maria’s growth is one of the biggest reasons to buy. For others, the growth may be something to carefully consider before making a decision.

Is Ave Maria Still a Good Place to Buy?

Ave Maria can still be a strong option for buyers who want newer homes, master-planned amenities, a small-town feel, and more value compared to many coastal Naples communities.

The expansion adds another layer to the story. It suggests that Ave Maria may continue becoming a larger and more complete town with more housing choices, commercial services, medical space, and lifestyle options.

However, buyers should not look only at the growth numbers. The best decision depends on the specific home, builder, neighborhood, price, lot location, HOA fees, commute, and lifestyle fit.

A home in Ave Maria may be perfect for one buyer and not right for another. That is why it is so important to compare Ave Maria with other Naples-area options, including Golden Gate Estates, North Naples, East Naples, new construction communities, and coastal areas.

Final Thoughts on the Ave Maria Florida Expansion

The Ave Maria Florida expansion is one of the biggest real estate and development stories in eastern Collier County.

With the potential to grow to 17,738 planned homes, add more than 2,000 acres, include new town centers, expand commercial and medical space, and bring a major senior living component, Ave Maria is clearly not slowing down.

At the same time, growth brings important questions about traffic, infrastructure, affordability, construction, and long-term planning.

For buyers, the key takeaway is simple: Ave Maria is still evolving. If you are considering moving to Ave Maria, buying new construction, or comparing Ave Maria to Naples, understanding this expansion can help you make a smarter decision.

Ave Maria may not be the same community five or ten years from now. It could be larger, more convenient, more developed, and more connected to the broader growth happening across eastern Collier County.

And for many buyers, that future growth may be exactly what makes Ave Maria worth watching.