06/19/2026
Ever wonder why the streets in Old Naples feel so different from the rest of Florida? They were never meant for modern traffic. Back in 1887, the original city grid was laid out specifically for horse-drawn carriages and pedestrians, prioritizing drainage and Gulf access over wide lanes.
While most Florida towns rushed to modernize and widen their streets when the automobile took over in the 1920s, Naples chose a different path. This narrow street character remains one of the most protected and defining features of Old Naples zoning today. Every effort to widen these roads or increase density has failed because the community recognizes that this 140-year-old layout is a unique asset. Purchasing property here means investing in a piece of history that has been deliberately preserved against the pressure to conform.
Discover the fascinating urban design history that explains why these streets command such a premium.