SARASOTA OBSERVER
YourObserver.com
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014
2014 ISSUES TO WATCH
DOWNTOWN HOTELS
SIESTA BEACH CONSTRUCTION A series of major renovations to Siesta Key Public Beach will break ground this month, marking the first steps of a $21.5 million county project to alleviate a parking crunch at the area’s top tourism attraction and update its facilities. The kickoff of the Siesta Beach improvements will coincide with the wrapping up of perpetually delayed Beach Road drainage improvements. That project was scheduled for completion by December, but was stalled by heavy rainfall in September.
Siesta Beach renovations
File photo
Standing water from heavy September rains stalled progress on the Beach Road Drainage Improvements project.
The Siesta Beach renovations, which suffered years of delays, will expand beach improvements project, now projected to parking lots and construct a new conces- be complete in April, will overlap consion stand. struction work for the Siesta Beach im“Any more delay in this project is going provements by more than three months. to add $100,000 to $200,000 a year,” CounThe drainage improvety Commissioner Joe Barbetta ments will ultimately colsaid in August during a debate lect rainwater runoff from about the project’s final plans. the Siesta Beach parking OVERVIEW: Exten“We need to get this thing movlot in a retention pond, sive renovations to ing.” and then pass the runSiesta Beach are set Contractors began stagoff through ultravioletto break ground in ing equipment at Siesta light filtration units on its January. Beach Dec. 28, in anticipaway out of a 2,000-foot tion of the launch of Phase 1 of underground pipe into PLAYERS: Saraconstruction this month. the Gulf of Mexico. The sota County, Sweet County officials authorized project’s intent is to proSparkman Archithe construction manager to tect Gulf water from contects, Jon F. Swift work on Saturdays through taminated runoff; it is General Contractors March 1 to make up for worknot expected to alleviate TIMELINE: Beach days lost due to heavy rains at flooding on Beach Road. Road drainage imthe end of 2013. The two-year Sarasota County Managprovements expectproject will be done in four er Alex Boudreau said coned to be complete phases with Phase 1 limited in struction at Beach Road is by April 8. Siesta scope to the eastern portion of scheduled for completion the park. Beach renovations by March 8, with cleanup “According to the construcprojected to be at the site set to be done by tion manager, they anticipate complete by the end April 8. being able to catch up by the end of 2015. According to Boudreau of February, and after that work and Gaubatz, contractors will resume on weekdays only,” for the two projects are said Brad Gaubatz, Sarasota County meeting weekly to discuss how to Public Works project manager, addressbest use resources and coordinate ing concerns about construction activities efforts to stay out of each other’s way. coinciding with the beach’s heaviest recreAsked what he needed most for the ational use during the weekends. drainage project to be completed by the Phase 1 will comprise the installation revised end date, Boudreau replied: “Good of underground conduits and prepara- weather.” tions for future improvements, which will County officials said the phased apinclude expanded parking, updated play- proach of the beach project will mitigate ground and family picnic facilities and a the construction site’s interference with pedestrian esplanade. normal beach access, keeping the area’s No. 1 tourist draw open for business Beach Road drainage through 2014. The $4.5 million Beach Road drainage — Nolan Peterson
BREAKDOWN
“Any more delay in this project is going to add $100,000 to $200,000 a year.We need to get this thing moving.” — Commissioner Joe Barbetta, referring to the Siesta Beach Park renovations
3A
The property at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream Avenue was emblematic of the housing trend during the last decade: targeted for a highprofile, high-rise condominium development, only to see the land remain vacant and plans fizzle out due to a lack of demand. Now, it’s emblematic of a different trend, because it’s slated to become the home of one of at least four hotel developments in downtown Sarasota aiming to break ground in 2014. The Kolter Group plans to build a 250room Westin Hotel, in addition to a 144room condominium, on the 2.9-acre bayfront property. Dwight Thomas, the west coast regional president with Kolter, said the group has targeted a vertical construction date around June. The Kolter project, called The Vue, hasn’t received the final stamp of approval from the city, for occupants of the nearby Tower Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota have called into question the quality of a traffic study performed to gauge the impact of the development. Still, it’s one of several projects with forward momentum heading into 2014. Rendering courtesy Jim Bridges Another hotel at 1289 N. Palm Ave., developed by Floridays Development Plans call for the construction of an Co., was able to move ahead with its Embassy Suites along U.S. 41. plans after lawsuits tying up the property were dropped in the summer. The city and the timing’s right,” Bridges said. approved the preliminary At U.S. 301 and Main proposal in June 2012, and Street, the county is in final plans were submitted the process of negotiating to the Development Review with a development group OVERVIEW: Four Committee Dec. 18. led by Civix President Rod downtown hotels The development, adConnelly. The County could all begin conjacent to the Palm Avenue Commission instructed struction this year, parking garage, is designed staff to negotiate with the but some hurdles to be a boutique hotel that developers in October afremain. embraces the city’s arts ter hearing a proposal for community. Early plans inPLAYERS: Jim a 150-room Kimpton hoclude up to 225 rooms in the Bridges, CEO, tel on the county-owned 10-story hotel. Jebco Ventures; Rod property. In 2012, Jebco Ventures Connelly, president, Although all of the hotels submitted a proposal to Civix; Angus Rogers, have a construction winbuild an Embassy Suites at president, Floridays; dow that would push their that Palm Avenue location. Dwight Thomas, completion into 2015, the That proposal was not seWest Coast regional groundwork is being laid lected, but the project appresident, Kolter this year. Still, accordpears to have resurfaced at ing to city Chief Planner Group U.S. 41 and Second Street, Steve Stancel, things could TIMELINE: Throughwhere Jebco Ventures plans change quickly depending out 2014 to begin construction on an on the economic condi18-story Embassy Suites this tions. fall. “Because they’re submitJebco Ventures CEO Jim Bridges ted, because they’re in the planis aware that the market could be inun- ning stage, it doesn’t necessarily mean dated with new hotels, but he said there they will all get built,” Stancel said. “It was no hesitancy regarding the develop- remains to be seen what the market will ment of a 200-room project. bear.” “We looked at the surveys we’ve done, — David Conway
BREAKDOWN
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