Then and Now

In the 1960’s, the present 208.2 acre site of the Landings was a commercial gladiolus farm, owned by Jack Shanklin.  Our Landings’ history:

Spring 1972	Developers J.Foster Pate and Werner Hoffmann, owners of McGregor Villas, Inc., envisioned an elegant, active development along the Caloosahatchee River, and agreed to purchase the land from George Sanders, who days earlier agreed by a handshake to purchase it himself.  While they struggled to get zoning for this first-of-its-kind-in-Lee-County development, Stan & Jo Hamilton agreed to buy a home when the project was ready.
Nov. 6, 1972	McGregor Villas, Inc. closed on the land from the Manson Corporation, George Sanders’ company, for $2,300,000.
1973	The Landings Yacht and Golf Club, Inc. (LYGC) was incorporated.  Architect Burt Hill designed the villages and residences, and Bill Bozes designed the golf course.   Foster subsequently moved into Windjammer, followed by Mary Root – the first Landings residents. The Landings overall land plan was done by internationally acclaimed Edward D. Stone, famous for his design of the Kenedy Center in Washington DC, the PGA World Center and even the San Diego Zoo. The Landings makes History with the first overpass ever approved in Lee County
1978	Title of the amenities and undeveloped property were transferred to The Landings Ltd., owned by Foster and Werner, with financing by USLife.

1979-89      Ten villages were completed and turned over to the owners' associations:             

Feb. 2, 1987         The name was changed to the Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club, Inc. (LYG&TC).

Jan. 20, 1989    All of the villages, the LYG&TC, the Landings Environmental Waterway and Roadway Maintenance Association, Inc. (LEW) (responsible for the levels and quality of the waterways, common roadways maintenance and community security) and Landings Ltd. joined together to sign the Storm Water Management Program Agreement.

July –Dec. 1989  The Southeast Corporation purchased the remaining undeveloped property,  the right to lease the existing onsite realty office, the name Landings Realty, Inc., and the neighboring “Sutphin Parcel” which became the Riverside Yacht Club Estates, with access rights through the Landings. Landings resident, George Severson, offered his handshake and $3,500,000 to purchase the amenities in the name of Severson Enterprises. On July 28, control of the LYG&TC and responsibility for the amenities passed to the membership, and in December the LEW merged with the LYG&TC.

Apr.-Dec. 1995    Control of four Villages was turned over to their owners' associations:                     

Nov. 1995             The LYG&TC purchased the undeveloped parcels 5 (Whale Harbor) and 6 (Sandpiper Village), to reduce the planned density of the Landings by 144 to a total of 1128 residences.

Aug. 20, 1996      Landings Realty, Inc. sold the name and rights to the realty office lease to Corax-Florida, Inc., owned by Landings resident James E. Corace, Jr., who continued the payment of rent and royalties to the LYG&TC for all sales and rental activities.

July 3, 2002         By a vote of 842 to 58 with 27 abstentions, the members of the LYG&TC approved the purchase of the amenities from Severson Enterprises for $7,950,000.  The Landings, a member-owned residential and “country-club” community, is completed!

February, 2007  Riverside members receive full voting rights on issues within the scope of their memberships.   

June, 2007          The membership votes for a major renovation of the Helm Club, Administration and Sales Offices, and the riverfront Wheelhouse.