>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING ARTWORK IN NAPLES AND HAVING DIFFERENT THINGS. >> IF YOU LIVE IN NAPLES, YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THIS MURAL ON THE SIDE OF A NEW APARTMENT BUILDING. SOME PEOPLE SAY IT LOOKS LIKE A KLEENEX BOX. THE DEVELOPER DIDN’T USE THE DESIGN THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNTY LEADERS. THEY DID THIS INSTEAD. WELL, TONIGHT, NBC TWO’S ALEXA VELEZ’S IN EAST NAPLES WHERE SOME PEOPLE ARE HOPING TO SAVE THIS UNIQUE MURAL. >> THIS BOLD MURAL NICKNAMED THE KLEENEX BOX BY SOME LOCALS IS COMING DOWN. BUT OUR ENTHUSIAST SAY THAT IT’S DOING WHAT ART IS SUPPOSED TO GENERATE DEBATE, START CONVERSATION AND BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER. >> AND WHILE I BELIEVE WHAT’S HAPPENED WITH OUR QUOTE, KLEENEX BOX HAS UNITED, I TRULY HAS UNITED OUR COUNTY, RIGHT? I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE TALKING SO THIS THE MURAL IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT ARTIST SUPPOSED TO DO. A MAN DIJERON PRESIDENT OF THE BAYSHORE ARTS DISTRICT NONPROFIT ISN’T GIVING UP WITHOUT A FIGHT. SHE MADE THIS PETITION TO KEEP THE MURAL ON THE NEW ASCENT LUXURY APARTMENTS OFF US. 41 AND DAVIS BOULEVARD. >> IN JUST 2 WEEKS, SHE’S GATHERED 720 SIGNATURES, HOPING COMMISSIONERS WILL LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE WE TALKED TO SEEM TO LIKE THE MURAL. YEAH, I DON’T LIE AND SAY THE PROBLEM WITH THAT AND SAY THAT AT LEAST THAT IT ADDS NO SPARK TO THE COMMUNITY. >> ALEXIS CUMMINGS DRIVES BY THE MURAL EVERY DAY ON HER WAY TO WORK. I FOR ONE DON’T HATE >> I LIKE THE IDEA OF HAVING ARTWORK IN NAPLES AND HAVING DIFFERENT THINGS TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, HAVE THINGS STAND OUT FROM ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE IN NAPLES, EVERYTHING DOES KIND OF LOOK THE SAME. >> BUT AFTER SHOWING HER THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, SHE SAID IT’S VERY NAPLES. ALL HAS TO FIT INTO ONE AND KIND OF LOOK THE SAME AS EVERYTHING ELSE. VERY MONOTONE. >> I THINK THEY SHOULD KEEP IT THE WAY IT IS AND LET THEM BE DIFFERENT. >> THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS APPROVED BY COLLIER COUNTY COMMISSION BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGAN. BUT ONCE THIS FLORAL MURAL WAS REVEALED, OFFICIALS PUSHED BACK. THEY THREATENED LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE DEVELOPER SAYING A CODE ENFORCEMENT CASE COULD FORCE ITS REMOVAL AND IT WORKED DISTRICT. 4 COMMISSIONER DAN KOH ALL TOLD NBC 2 THAT THE DEVELOPER REACHED OUT LAST WEEK CALLING THE MURAL AN HONEST MISTAKE. THE DEVELOPER HAS AGREED TO CORRECT THEIR MISTAKE. BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO EXACT TIMELINE WHEN IT WILL BE COMPLETED.
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Controversial mural in East Naples set to be removed
Updated: 6:14 PM EDT Sep 17, 2024
A bold mural on the side of the Ascent luxury apartments on Davis Boulevard and US-41—nicknamed “The Kleenex Box” by some locals—is coming down. But art advocates say it’s doing exactly what art is supposed to do: spark debate, get people talking, and bring the community together.Amanda Jaron, president of the Bayshore Arts District non-profit, isn’t giving up without a fight. She put together a petition to keep the mural, painted on the Ascent luxury apartments in East Naples. In just two weeks, she’s gathered 720 signatures, hoping commissioners will listen to the community. “People are talking. So this mural is doing exactly what art is supposed to do, which is, you know, generate energy, create excitement, create conversation, and get people really engaged in the community,” Jaron said.Locals seem to agree. Tyler Novak, who’s lived in Naples his whole life, told us, “I don’t mind it. I don’t see anything wrong with it. I think it’s great for the community.” He added, “It adds a spark to the community. We’re close to the Bayshore District, and we’re trying to turn that into an art district. So I don’t agree with taking it down.”Alexis Cummings, who drives by the mural every day on her way to work at Serenity Bait Company, said she doesn’t hate it. “I like the idea of having artwork in Naples. In Naples, everything does kind of look the same,” she said.But after seeing the original design for the building, she pointed out, “It’s very Naples. All has to fit into one and kind of look the same as everything else—very monotone. I think they should keep it the way it is and let them be different.”The original design for the Ascent was approved by the Collier County Commission before construction began. But once the floral mural was revealed, local officials pushed back, even threatening legal action against the developer. They warned that a code enforcement case could be opened to take the art down.And it worked.District 4 Commissioner Dan Kowal told NBC2 that the developer reached out last week, calling the mural an honest mistake. The developer has agreed to remove it and return to the original design.As of now, there’s no exact timeline for when the mural will be repainted.
A bold mural on the side of the Ascent luxury apartments on Davis Boulevard and US-41—nicknamed “The Kleenex Box” by some locals—is coming down. But art advocates say it’s doing exactly what art is supposed to do: spark debate, get people talking, and bring the community together.
Amanda Jaron, president of the Bayshore Arts District non-profit, isn’t giving up without a fight. She put together a petition to keep the mural, painted on the Ascent luxury apartments in East Naples.
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In just two weeks, she’s gathered 720 signatures, hoping commissioners will listen to the community.
“People are talking. So this mural is doing exactly what art is supposed to do, which is, you know, generate energy, create excitement, create conversation, and get people really engaged in the community,” Jaron said.
Locals seem to agree. Tyler Novak, who’s lived in Naples his whole life, told us, “I don’t mind it. I don’t see anything wrong with it. I think it’s great for the community.” He added, “It adds a spark to the community. We’re close to the Bayshore District, and we’re trying to turn that into an art district. So I don’t agree with taking it down.”
Alexis Cummings, who drives by the mural every day on her way to work at Serenity Bait Company, said she doesn’t hate it. “I like the idea of having artwork in Naples. In Naples, everything does kind of look the same,” she said.
But after seeing the original design for the building, she pointed out, “It’s very Naples. All has to fit into one and kind of look the same as everything else—very monotone. I think they should keep it the way it is and let them be different.”
The original design for the Ascent was approved by the Collier County Commission before construction began. But once the floral mural was revealed, local officials pushed back, even threatening legal action against the developer. They warned that a code enforcement case could be opened to take the art down.
And it worked.
District 4 Commissioner Dan Kowal told NBC2 that the developer reached out last week, calling the mural an honest mistake. The developer has agreed to remove it and return to the original design.
As of now, there’s no exact timeline for when the mural will be repainted.
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