Commission approves Hyatt Regency Sarasota replacement. Meanwhile, Mira Mar developers want to build towers higher than zoning allows.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: March 28, 2025
Host: The race for height in and around downtown Sarasota continues. Ramon Lopez gives us updates on two twin-tower projects: the Hyatt Hotel makeover in the Quay area and the Mira Mar luxury condo downtown.
The Hyatt Regency hotel, soon to be replaced.
Ramon Lopez: Goodbye to Sarasota’s 50-year-old Hyatt Regency hotel, and hello to the Hyatt Centric Harborside full-service hotel.
According to a company press release, aside from 174 guest rooms, the hotel will offer more than 7,000 square feet of event space, including a grand ballroom and meeting rooms. Of course, there will be a grand pool and pool bar.
The hotel will share the 1000 Boulevard of the Arts building with 117 luxury condos as part of a two-tower redevelopment of the Hyatt Regency property. It will also include ground-floor retail space and a restaurant. The Hyatt Regency hotel will close this summer.
Meanwhile, the Sarasota city commissioners recently voted to endorse redevelopment of the Hyatt Regency hotel site. It was the first time the commissioners got an official look at developer Kolter Urban’s plan for the redevelopment of the hotel site, which shares property lines with The Quay to the west and south.
At issue was whether the Planning Board’s sign-off of the developer’s request to relocate the main driveway access to the project and widen that driveway to 33 feet, nine feet more than the 24 feet permitted by code, was up to snuff.
Downstairs: The historic Mira Mar structure.
But after a marathon three-hour meeting, and with little discussion, the commissioners by a 4 to 1 vote affirmed the Planning Board’s decision, with Jen Ahearn-Koch casting the lone nay vote.
They said based on criteria, there is competent and substantial evidence to affirm the Planning Board’s approval. They did say any issues might be further addressed during the site planning process.
Meantime, the fate of the historic Mira Mar will be discussed by the City of Sarasota Planning Board on April 9.
The 100-year-old Mediterranean Revival-style Mira Mar plaza on South Palm Avenue was sold in mid 2023 to Seaward Development.
Upstairs: The 18-story towers Seaward Development wants to build behind the existing building.
It wants to preserve the existing building. But in order to pay for the project, the developer says it must build two 18-story towers behind it. However, the current Downtown Core zone permits only 10 stories. Local residents are opposed to the company’s design.
This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
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