The Island at West Bay Club has reached a more tangible stage. As the tower rises over The Gulf and buyer activity continues, the decisions surrounding a future residence are becoming more immediate—from evaluating the right floor and view to considering the details that will shape the finished home.
For buyers who first considered The Island earlier in development, this season presents a noticeably different picture. Construction is visible, the market response is easier to read, and the project is moving closer to the point when plans and renderings give way to a completed residential setting within West Bay Club.
The original Island at West Bay Club update captures that shift clearly: vertical progress, stronger buyer decision-making, residence personalization and an evolving club environment are beginning to converge at the same time.
The Tower Is Turning the Plan Into a Place
The Island is no longer a project defined primarily by renderings. Vertical construction has moved beyond the 21st floor and is progressing toward a September topping out, giving the tower an increasingly visible presence within its coastal setting at West Bay Club.
Kolter Urban is leading development while Garcia Stromberg’s architectural vision becomes more apparent with each new level. The plan calls for 86 residences with four homes per floor, creating corner positions throughout the tower. Floor-to-ceiling glass and wraparound terraces are designed around views of Estero Bay, the championship golf course, protected preserves and The Gulf.
As construction advances, the character of the building is becoming easier to understand in real terms: expansive interiors, natural light, a strong sense of privacy and a direct visual connection to the water and landscape surrounding the property.
Buyer Decisions Are Becoming More Specific
Buyer interest is building alongside the tower, and the choices prospects are making are becoming more precise. Residence position, elevation, views and interior flexibility are no longer abstract considerations; they are increasingly tied to a building that is visibly taking shape.
“Buyer activity at The Island is becoming more decisive as construction advances and the range of available residences evolves. Prospects are looking closely at elevation, views of The Gulf and the opportunity to shape their interiors, which is why this season has become an important point in the selection process,” said Ed Jahn, Senior Vice President, Kolter Urban.
The Island’s location within West Bay Club adds another layer to those decisions. The residential offering sits inside an established Estero community with access to Bonita Springs and the broader Southwest Florida coast, so buyers are evaluating the home and the club setting together. That relationship between residence and club is central to how private club and real estate integration is understood in a club community.
Personalization Moves From Possibility to Process
Construction progress is also making interior decisions more consequential. At The Island Sales Gallery, a dedicated Selections Coordinator guides buyers through curated finishes, materials and design details intended to shape each residence before completion. For purchasers who want a more personalized result, this stage creates an opportunity to make those selections while the relevant options are still available and the homes are actively taking form.
West Bay Club Adds New Energy to the Golf Program
The residential story is developing alongside changes within West Bay Club itself. Ed Clark has joined the club as Director of Golf, bringing new leadership to one of the community’s central recreational experiences.
His arrival points to a renewed focus on the details that shape everyday golf at the club, including programming, service and the relationships built through the game. Those elements matter because the value of a private club is expressed not only through its facilities, but through the consistency of the member experience around them.
For future Island residents, the golf update becomes part of a broader West Bay Club proposition that also includes dining, recreation and coastal access. It is the kind of full-club story that benefits from a clear private club marketing strategy—one that connects the residential offering with the day-to-day life of the club rather than treating the two as separate ideas.
The Next Phase Is Already Coming Into Focus
This season’s developments are part of a larger transition at The Island. Construction is advancing, buyer interest is becoming more decisive, residence personalization is underway and new golf leadership is shaping the club experience. Taken together, those updates make the project feel materially closer to its finished form than it did earlier in the development cycle.
For prospects revisiting The Island, that may be the most important change. There is now more to evaluate than a future promise: the tower can be seen, the residence choices are becoming more defined and the surrounding club continues to evolve. Readers looking for broader context on how private clubs, residential communities and membership value intersect can also explore Cotton & Company’s private club industry FAQ.
