Multifamily
Mar 11, 2026
How London Bay’s Mark Wilson Is Building Saltleaf at Estero Bay Into Southwest Florida’s Next Luxury Community
Traded Media
Traded Media
Traded Editorial
4 min read
For decades, the luxury narrative along Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast has largely centered on Naples. But just twenty minutes north, a new waterfront community is quietly taking shape along the protected waters of Estero Bay.
At the center of that transformation is Saltleaf on Estero Bay, a master planned waterfront community developed by London Bay Development Group that spans more than 500 acres of land between Fort Myers and Naples. The project is anchored by the $750 million Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay, and is designed to evolve into a multi-tower luxury coastal village with a marina, waterfront dining, outdoor recreation, and resort-style amenities.
Leading that vision is Mark Wilson, CEO of London Bay, who has spent more than three decades developing luxury communities across Southwest Florida.
Identifying a rare waterfront opportunity
Wilson launched London Bay in 1990 and has watched the region’s growth patterns evolve for more than three decades. That long view helped shape the firm’s strategy when the Estero Bay opportunity first appeared.
The initial acquisition involved roughly 30 acres of waterfront land adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort, including an unfinished marina and undeveloped entitlements. What made the property particularly compelling was its proximity to a much larger neighboring tract known as Raptor Bay, which had been tied up in litigation for years.
Wilson believed that conflict could eventually create an opportunity to assemble a much larger waterfront position.
That thesis proved correct. Over time, London Bay expanded its holdings to more than 500 acres, giving the company nearly a mile of bayfront along one of the most environmentally preserved waterways on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
In a market where most waterfront land has already been developed, the scale of the assemblage is difficult to replicate.
A strategic location between Naples and Fort Myers
Estero sits directly between Naples and Fort Myers, two cities that have steadily grown into a continuous coastal corridor of development
While Naples remains the region’s most established luxury market, Wilson saw Estero as the next logical chapter in the area’s expansion. The location provides proximity to the Southwest Florida International Airport, access to both cities, and a quieter natural environment along Estero Bay.
That positioning has helped the project generate nearly $800 million in sales so far.
At the center of that transformation is Saltleaf on Estero Bay, a master planned waterfront community developed by London Bay Development Group that spans more than 500 acres of land between Fort Myers and Naples. The project is anchored by the $750 million Ritz-Carlton Residences, Estero Bay, and is designed to evolve into a multi-tower luxury coastal village with a marina, waterfront dining, outdoor recreation, and resort-style amenities.
Leading that vision is Mark Wilson, CEO of London Bay, who has spent more than three decades developing luxury communities across Southwest Florida.
Identifying a rare waterfront opportunity
Wilson launched London Bay in 1990 and has watched the region’s growth patterns evolve for more than three decades. That long view helped shape the firm’s strategy when the Estero Bay opportunity first appeared.
The initial acquisition involved roughly 30 acres of waterfront land adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort, including an unfinished marina and undeveloped entitlements. What made the property particularly compelling was its proximity to a much larger neighboring tract known as Raptor Bay, which had been tied up in litigation for years.
Wilson believed that conflict could eventually create an opportunity to assemble a much larger waterfront position.
That thesis proved correct. Over time, London Bay expanded its holdings to more than 500 acres, giving the company nearly a mile of bayfront along one of the most environmentally preserved waterways on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
In a market where most waterfront land has already been developed, the scale of the assemblage is difficult to replicate.
A strategic location between Naples and Fort Myers
Estero sits directly between Naples and Fort Myers, two cities that have steadily grown into a continuous coastal corridor of development
While Naples remains the region’s most established luxury market, Wilson saw Estero as the next logical chapter in the area’s expansion. The location provides proximity to the Southwest Florida International Airport, access to both cities, and a quieter natural environment along Estero Bay.
That positioning has helped the project generate nearly $800 million in sales so far.
One of the most significant early milestones was securing a partnership with Ritz-Carlton for the first two residential towers. While Wilson believes the development could have succeeded without a
brand affiliation, the Ritz name accelerated both pricing and sales velocity by reinforcing the project’s luxury positioning, service level, and signaling confidence to early buyers.
Buyers seeking privacy and lifestyle
The buyer profile at Saltleaf closely resembles the clientele London Bay has served across Southwest Florida for decades.
Many purchasers come from the Midwest, a demographic that has historically driven demand throughout the Naples region. Others already live locally in Fort Myers or Naples and are drawn
to the quieter natural setting of Estero Bay.
Buyers range from executives still in their careers to retirees entering their next phase of life.
Many are entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and professionals who have built successful careers and are seeking a long term lifestyle investment.
For many of them, the appeal of Estero Bay lies in its balance between access and seclusion. Naples continues to attract significant wealth, but increasing density there has made it harder to find the kind of privacy and natural surroundings that Saltleaf offers.
London Bay has also invested in the lifestyle component of the community. The company recently partnered with celebrity chef Michael Mina to open Acqua Bistecca, a waterfront
restaurant that has quickly become a focal point of the project’s hospitality offering. The restaurant represents Mina’s second location for the concept and reflects the developer’s effort
to introduce a higher tier of dining and social experiences to the area.
Designing for coastal resiliency
Developing along Florida’s Gulf Coast requires careful attention to long term resiliency.
Saltleaf benefits from its location within a dense mangrove ecosystem, which helps absorb storm surge and soften the impact of major weather events. Mangroves play a critical role in protecting coastal communities during storms.
Beyond the natural landscape, the buildings themselves are designed with durability in mind.
Residential towers begin more than 21 feet above ground level, mechanical systems are elevated well above flood zones, and structural systems are engineered to withstand hurricane
conditions. Flood barriers and storm hardened infrastructure are also integrated into lower levels to reduce the risk of water intrusion.
These design considerations reflect decades of lessons learned from coastal development as well as the significant strengthening of Florida’s building codes since Hurricane Andrew.
A long term vision for Saltleaf
Saltleaf is planned as a multi-phase coastal village anchored by a series of residential towers along the bayfront.
When fully built out, the community is expected to include ten residential towers along with a marina, waterfront dining, golf amenities, walking and biking trails, and additional lifestyle
offerings designed to support a long term residential community.
For Wilson, the goal extends beyond simply completing a successful development. It’s about creating a long-standing luxury community that, as he puts it, “allows people to live their lives to
their best.
Published: Mar 11, 2026Last updated: March 11, 2026