Two Towers planned for Rocky Point Area

[tampasteve]

Some new development in the Rocky Point area of Tampa. This will look great with the Westin and some other projects under development in that area of town. Now, if we could only like Rocky Point, the Air Port, Westshore, and Down Town by rail we would really have something going!

Bayfront Hotel, Condos Planned For Rocky Point

By SHANNON BEHNKEN The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jan 4, 2007

TAMPA - New waterfront condos and a luxury hotel could replace an aging hotel at Rocky Point.

Clearwater-based Orion Communities and its affiliate RPS LLC have proposed building two 260-foot towers. One would house a hotel with 325-rooms and 20 condominiums. A 132-unit condo tower is planned next door.

The developer has a contract to purchase the 6-acre property - south of Courtney Campbell Parkway and west of Rocky Point Drive - contingent upon a rezoning request. The proposal is expected to be presented to the Tampa City Council in April.

A waterfront Westin hotel is under construction across the street from Orion's proposed hotel and condo. Another condominium is being built beside the Westin site.

John Grandoff, the attorney representing Orion, said the site for the new hotel is close to everything. "This is an excellent site because of the water views and the excitement of Rocky Point's bars and restaurants."

The Radisson Bay Harbor hotel is on the site, at 7700 W. Courtney Campbell Parkway, and would have to be razed.

Orion representatives could not be reached for comment.

Grandoff said the development would include boat docks for condominium owners.

The Rocky Point area is home to several hotels, and condominium projects there are gaining popularity.

Daniel Peek, managing director of Regent Street, an affiliate of The Plasencia Group, a hospitality consultant based in Tampa, said hotels with condominium components are successful in other cities but haven't been built in Tampa.

"Most four- or five-star hotels built in the U.S. in the last five years include condo units," Peek said. "Without those units, the project wouldn't have been feasible."

The Radisson was the site of four shooting deaths involving a former hotel worker in 1999.

[sunshine]

no renderings?

[tampasteve]

None that I have seen yet, if I find any I will put em' up though.

Steve

[tampaguy03]

Nice to see they are razing the Raddison, I miss the old days of Crawdaddys, and Raggae Sundays at Whiskey Joes..are those places still open? And of course the Green Iguana on Rocky Point is missed.

[tampa2308]

Has anyone heard anything else about this project?

[FloridaFuture]

The hotel will be a Ritz-Carlton. I know this is a crappy rendering, but it is the only known one so far. It would be nice to have the Ritz in downtown where it could help spur the surroundings more, and where it can help make a more urban envorment, but this should still help Rocky Point and Tampa as a whole.

[shekelmeisterMan]

The Rocky Point area...ah yes...still remember great happy hours etc at Whiskey Joes, and Rusty Pelican.....whew....

The Towers will certainly add to the area and activity between TPA and Clearwater for sure, but I fear that they may not have done enough homework for egress/ingress on the Casueway...the traffic is nasty westbound at 430 !

[FloridaFuture]

Tampa may get Ritz glitz by 2011

A ritzy risk is how some observers see plans for a luxurious Ritz-Carlton hotel and condos near the Tampa airport.

By Steve Huettel

Published February 10, 2008

An artist's rendering of the planned Ritz-Carlton project in Tampa.

About the Ritz: What the new hotel and ajoining condo tower would offer:

-Hotel rooms: 269

-Average daily rate: low $300s

-Condo units: 176

-Average condo price: $2.2-million ($784 per square foot)

-Hotel amenities: Spa and wellness center; private club lounge; beach club; marina.

-Project cost: $425-million.

The St. Petersburg Times

Note: Links are preferred to posting full text of news articles. Thanks, Tom

[tombarnes]

This looks like it should be a successful project. I think the city is ready to support this sort of hotel. I hope it may bring an attendant wave of development.