Three new hotels along Gaines, Jacksonville creeps closer, new downtown bar on the horizon
Three New Hotel Concepts for Gaines Street
I have been ambitious in trying to record every new hotel that has been announced or constructed in the last year. At times, it has been difficult to find space for a blurb about each project. This trend continues. Three developers are working on three different hotel concepts along Gaines. These three projects which are linked by geographic location will be covered together.
Zimmerman Development Company submitted the bottom rendering for a hotel at the intersection of Gaines St and Stone Valley Way. Zimmerman plans to build a 162-key hotel which includes seven stories with a retail component and surface parking. The hotel will border their already completed student housing developments, Stadium Enclave and Urban Enclave.
Hilton submitted the top left site plan for a "Spark by Hilton" hotel at the northwest corner of Macomb and Gaines, the current site of Euphoria Tattoos and Avant Garb Vintage. Hilton Spark was created in an effort to compete with other boutique hotel lines such as Marriott AC. The hotel will be five-stories and contain 120 rooms; parking will be on the ground floor.
Valencia Hotel Group created the top right rendering, depicting their Lone Star Court Hotel in Austin, Texas. The hotel and its architecture pay homage to the city of Austin, capturing both its history and romance. Valencia Group has been in talks with the City to locate land that could be suitable for a similar full-service hotel. The concept would be unique to Tallahassee and pay tribute to its history and feel. Valencia has expressed interest in the city-owned Chevron and Johns parcels on Gaines St which are currently out for competitive bid.
Historic Library Turned Downtown Bar
A permit for renovations at the historic David S. Walker Library was filed under the project name "1903 Bar". The former library, constructed in 1903, is adjacent to the Ballard Building and has been out of productive use for years. Few details are available within the permit filing, but intuition dictates that this will be a welcome addition to our downtown.
The Fieldhouse on Gaines Street
If you squint, it's our very own Flatiron building. North American Properties, an established player in the Gaines Street corridor, has plans for another big building. The Fieldhouse will be a seven-story apartment building containing 100 residential units at the corner of Gaines St and Lake Bradford Rd. The project is notable for being the westernmost development within the area recognized as Collegetown.
Changes Coming to Tallahassee Station
Leon County plans to update the historic Tallahassee station. The building, constructed in 1858, serviced Amtrak's former Sunset Limited Line until the route's cancellation after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Leon County has occupied and maintained the building, as well as sublet to tenants such as Domi Station and All Saints Cinema. The County will be doing minor upgrades to the building, but the larger focus is on the site. They plan to reconstruct most existing paved areas and create a new parking area and driveway. The station will be retrofitted with new stormwater drainage, as well as new landscape and hardscape features.
Jacksonville Creeps Closer
According to recent permit filings, Jacksonville-based Vystar Credit Union is planning an expansion into the Tallahassee area. Vystar will construct three separate banking locations, one in the East, another near campus, and one in Bradfordville.