Fort Myers BMW Dealership
Belgard® Eco-Holland Permeable Pavers Add Visual Appeal, Provide a Stormwater Solution, and Expands Footprint
Every Project Starts with a Purpose
Kevin Keyes, president of Keyestone Interlocking Pavers, has been a trusted contractor in the Naples, Florida region for more than 40 years. Early in his career, he embraced the principle of earning through learning and carved out a niche specializing in permeable pavement.
As Southwest Florida experienced rapid population growth, Keyes and his team installed permeable pavers for hotels, parking lots, commercial projects and car dealerships across the region. One of those projects was the Naples Germain BMW dealership, where Belgard’s permeable paver system was installed more than 20 years ago and has since required zero maintenance.
“That first BMW installation was about 20 years ago,” Keyes said, “and they have had zero maintenance costs.”
When BMW corporate leadership decided to develop a new Germain BMW location in Naples, Keyes described a lengthy process to bid and secure the contract for the exterior parking and vehicle display areas.
“When development began, the contractors had planned for several retention ponds and culverts on the property, which would have required ongoing maintenance to manage the water runoff,” said Keyes. “That’s been the default solution for handling Florida’s excess water runoff for a long time in a state that struggles with freshwater shortages.”
The BMW management team needed to maximize exterior space for vehicle display while addressing Florida’s stormwater challenges and minimizing long-term maintenance.
The Solution
Solving for Style, Function, and Durability
“Early in the bidding process, I explained the double benefit of installing the Belgard permeable paving system to the BMW General Manager,” Keyes said. “Essentially, he would get more space for displaying cars and increase permeability. He never forgot that and became an advocate for the pavers despite some pushback from various contractors who were more used to building retention ponds.”
For decades, Keyes has sourced permeable pavers through Naples-based Coastal, a subsidiary of Oldcastle APG. The classic shape, smooth ADA-compliant surface and multiple color options made Belgard Eco-Holland the ideal choice for the BMW dealership’s exterior grounds.
As a small business owner in a specialized contracting niche, Keyes has long promoted the aesthetic and durability benefits of Belgard permeable pavers while also advocating for their ecological advantages. Over the years, Belgard has provided both advanced materials and technical support during installations.
“We find ourselves instructing business owners and contractors on the long-term benefits of permeable paver systems,” Keyes confirmed. “The Belgard tech support staff is always a huge help—providing knowledge, case studies and training materials. On this recent BMW project, they helped train the engineering staff—who were accustomed to constructing retention ponds—this was all new to them.”
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The Result
A Lasting Impression:
The Final Transformation
The Keyestone team installed 110,000 square feet of Belgard Eco-Holland in Slate, a gray blend color, significantly increasing the dealership’s vehicle display and customer parking area.
“We were able to provide the business with an extra 1.2 acres of space to display cars—that otherwise would have been used for retention ponds. In the car industry, the number of displayed cars equals sales—the two are directly related. The Germain folks are extremely pleased with the outcome. It really turned out beautifully,” Keyes said.
Since opening in January, the dealership has performed well during typical Southwest Florida storm events. “This is a tremendous solution to Florida’s runoff and freshwater supply shortage,” Keyes remarked. “Without standing water in the parking lot due to the permeable pavement surface, customers don’t have to dodge puddles after it rains.”
Integrity, problem-solving and determination continue to define Keyes’ long-standing business success.
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