Condo Confidential

Ah, the rich.They’re different from you and me. That is unless you’re rich. (If that’s the case, we encourage you to stop reading this right now.) The difference is that the poor tend to handle problems on their own, in wife-beaters and in their underwear, with a can of beer that strengthens their resolve. The rich are, at the very least, better dressed, prefer scotch, and don’t have the physical stamina to run the great distances necessary for an episode of Cops. That’s why they have lawyers, frankly. And we expect to hear from a few of them any minute now. Why? Because we’ve decided to look at life in one of the most exclusive high-rise condominiums in Naples—the Enclave at Gulf Shore.

Don’t kid yourself, your choice of housing says a lot about you. For example, if you live in a mobile home—you’re mobile (just not upwardly). If you live in a single-family residence—you know, with a yard and a garage and neighbors who wander over every time they see you outside—you’ve bought into the American dream. But if you live at 4601 Gulf Shore Blvd. N. in Naples—oh brother and/or sister—you’re living the American dream.

Checking in at a whopping 29 stories (it was completed in 1991, just before lower height restrictions kicked in), it features a mere 28 units, meaning each resident of the beachfront condo has an entire 7,500-square-feet floor to themselves—giving every owner spectacular 360-degree views of Naples and the surrounding area. And while some other neighboring buildings might be newer, and more luxurious, none has the cachet of the Enclave.

You see, not only is it home to a fascinatingly eclectic collection of one percenters, it might also be the murder scene of one of the world’s most famous mystery writers. Then again, it might not. (Our attorneys feel that last sentence is important.) But more on that later.

In case you’re wondering, the impetus for this story was to look for the coolest condominium in Southwest Florida based in large part on who lives there now or had lived there in the past. (Think The Dakota or 740 Park Ave. in NYC.) And after months of research, what we can say for sure about the residents of the Enclave—both past and present—is that they’re rich, accomplished and tight-lipped. In fact, one of the reasons best-selling author Robin Cook (Coma, Outbreak, Contagion to name a few) bought his magnificent penthouse was the privacy.

“The benefits of condos are that they’re turnkey and it’s easy to get your FedEx packages,” says Cook, laughing. “The disadvantage is (usually) the lack of privacy. You have interaction with strangers. You always have people who stare at you a little … The beauty of the Enclave is that it’s a very high-end condo and there aren’t a lot of people. Even in the height of the season, there are as little as half of the units occupied at any given time. The other benefit is that you don’t have to pass anyone in the hallways—because there are no hallways. The elevator just drops you off right in your unit.”

That exchange might make Cook seem a little antisocial (or a lot), but if you’d written 28 international best-sellers—many of which make Big Pharma look like the anti-Christ—you’d probably be a little skittish, too. Since moving in, his equally bashful neighbors have included the likes of Allen Jacobson, former CEO of 3M; Paul Corddry, retired co-president of Ore-Ida Foods and a former director of Albertson’s and H.J. Heinz Co.; Jay Baker, former president of Kohl’s; Raymond Mueller, co-founder of Comair airlines; Robert Springborn of Springborn Laboratories, and his wife, artist Carolyn Springborn; world travelers Herb and Ann Rowe; and the late novelist, Robert Ludlum—best known for creating the character Jason Bourne—and his equally late wife, Karen. All appreciated the level of security afforded by life at the Enclave. But it should come as no surprise that there are stories of how top-notch security is a double-edged sword.

Someone who prefers to remain anonymous (which was pretty much everyone we talked to, honestly) tells the story of a former resident bachelor who, after a vicious divorce, enjoyed entertaining young women in his unit. That, in and of itself, is not a big deal, but the elevators contained security cameras—which were reviewed each morning. It turns out that security had to ask him to please delay the really entertaining parts of his evening until he actually got into his unit. It seems the elevator wasn’t the only thing willing to go down with the touch of a button.

“He had quite the bachelor pad,” recalls one resident. “He was particularly proud of his bedroom—he had a remote control for everything in that room.” A former employee of the Enclave recalls that every time our bachelor would throw a party, he’d go to the area’s best galleries and get art on consignment, only to return the art after the party, saying it just didn’t suit his taste. Sadly, he later fell on hard times, had to move and eventually committed suicide by leaping off the roof of his new residence. I guess he thought the elevator would have been too intrusive.

For those wondering what life is like at the top (literally), one needs only to smile for the camera, push P4 and keep your hands to yourself. After a surprisingly fast ride, the elevator doors will open to Cook’s spectacular penthouse where you’ll feel as though you’ve just stepped into a Greek temple: White marble floors flow under white furniture set against white walls lined by white Greek statues, white columns and white curtains. And though it is one of Cook’s main residences, you have to wonder if he sublets to Zeus. Based on the height alone, it does have a Mount Olympus vibe to it. (If you hear thunder, now you know where to look.)

Not surprisingly, Cook does have some pretty powerful friends. A few years ago he had former President George H.W. Bush, the First Lady and Jeb over for lunch. The Secret Service spent three days on site making arrangements for the visit.