by Walter Jurgenson
The original developer of this community was a Minnesota Corp. called MoAmCo which filed the original "Declaration of Protective Covenants" at the Collier County Court House in March of 1973 establishing Riviera Golf Estates as an adult mobile home subdivision to be developed in East Naples around the existing 18 hole public Riviera Golf Club. Two months later MoAmCo sold the subdivision to Riviera Estates Corp. This developer built the Clubhouse and a construction building now known as the Annex, completing them in 1974, and began the installation of manufactured homes. Two years later, in 1975, the then existing homeowners formed a Civic Association and elected their first president. This Civic Assoc. continued to function until 1985.
In 1976 the property was acquired by a new developer, AD&D, which formed a non-profit Corp. calling itself Riviera Golf Estates Home Owners Assoc., Inc. (the "Assoc.") consisting of all current (and future) home owners and having 5 board members. The previously mentioned "Civic Assoc." continued to function as a separate entity. About 1981, AD&D began building concrete block and stucco homes in a separate section of the property while still continuing to install manufactured homes in the original area.
In 1985 the Civic Assoc. board negotiated with a new developer (Champagne Realty) for the purchase by the Assoc. of the recreation facilities which consisted of the Clubhouse and Annex buildings, pool (30'x60'), tennis (2) and shuffleboard (6) courts, and the property on which they are located for the sum of $557,750. The purchase was approved at a special meeting of the home owners and the Civic Assoc. became the Homeowners Assoc. with 6 board members. The following year a mortgage was signed with the Barnett Bank of Naples for $650,000 and the Annex building was leased to the developers for their continued use as a construction office.
In 1982 the number of members on the Association's Board of Directors was increased to 9 with 3-year staggered terms so that only three chairs would be up for re-election each year.
In 1989 bulk cable television service was added as a common expense of the Assoc. and included as part of the monthly maintenance fee. This was done, of course, to take advantage of the more favorable group rate.
With the passing of a new federal law "The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988" which prohibits any community assoc. from discriminating against a person based on the person's age, the ability of the Assoc. to remain an adult community came into question. A committee that was formed to review the regulations in the law as promulgated by the federal agency HUD, found an exemption that would permit a community to qualify as "Housing For Older Persons" by having at least 80% of all occupied lots occupied by at least one person 55 years of age or older and by having facilities in the common areas to serve the needs of older persons. A survey showed the community was well over the minimum 80% requirement and steps were taken to install handicap access ramps and toilets, parking spaces for the handicapped, handrails, etc. in the recreation facilities. In March 1989, an inspection by HUD to resolve a law suit, determined that Riviera Golf Estates met the criteria for a Community For The Housing of Older Persons.
After the lease with Champagne Realty on the Annex building was terminated at the end of 1990 and the building evacuated, renovations were undertaken and completed in early 1992 which provided a billiard room (2 tables), two card rooms, and a storage area. Two years later a fitness center was added with various pieces of exercise equipment such as tread mills, exercise bikes, etc. In 1995 accordion type hurricane shutters were installed on the Annex and Clubhouse doors and windows.
Beginning in 1996, a $ 100 annual assessment was imposed on all homeowners (after approval by a majority of homeowners) to pay down the mortgage on the recreational facilities in six years. In March of 2001 the final mortgage payment was made and a mortgage burning party held to celebrate the event.
Beginning in 1996 and continuing to the present, several new facilities have been installed and renovations made to the recreational facilities including two additional shuffleboard courts, another bocce court, another treadmill for the fitness room, a new pool area deck and pool relining, painting of both buildings and a new ceiling, lighting, and entrance for the Clubhouse, complete renovation of the Clubhouse ladies and men's rooms, a computer and new furniture and carpeting for the office, a computer for the Computer Club, a solar heating system for the pool, a card access security system for the Clubhouse and Annex buildings to replace the keyed locks, etc. In 2003/2004, in order to provide more room for Clubhouse functions, a wall between the kitchen area and main room was replaced by a series of folding panels that can be opened to make one large room.
There are a total of 692 lots in the community, 2 of them are owned by the County which purchased them to build a pumping station if a storm sewer is ever put in the ditch along Charlemagne and the ditch filled in. The balance of 690 were totally built out with homes by 2004.
In 2001/2002 the number of Directors on the Board was reduced from 9 to 7. The annual Assoc. budget has grown from $160,000 in 1986 to $505,375 for fiscal 2004/2005. The monthly maintenance fee has increased from $25 in 1973 to the current $70.
For potential new (and current) homeowners who would like more details, including names of past and present board members and photos of past and present board presidents and the recreation area, there is a "History" book available in the Assoc. office during the week when the office is open for business.