Community Corner

15-Story Hampton Inn Coming to South Clearwater Beach?

A 116-room, mid-priced hotel is planned for the site of a parking lot on Clearwater Pass.

Looks like a Hampton Inn and Suites could be coming to Clearwater Beach, again.

The hotel company was going to be the flag of the Pier House 60 Hotel until developers clashed with the company over art decorations.

But this week the city's Community Development Board gave its approval to a plan that could bring 150-foot-tall changes to a lot on south Clearwater Beach.

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Developers want to build a 15-story, 116-room hotel at the site of the existing Quality Inn parking lot on Clearwater Pass.

The city council would also have to sign off on the deal, which would use 76 hotel rooms from the Beach by Design density reserve. The plans are expected to go before the city council in February, according to Joelle Castelli, city spokeswoman.

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There are 947 total rooms available in the density pool, which was established with 1,385 rooms in 2008 as part of the Beach by Design charter.

Clearwater Grande Development proposed to split the Quality Inn lot to create two parcels for the development of the Hampton Inn and Suites. 

The plan is to demolish the Quality Inn parking lot to develop the 15-story Key West Coastal design hotel. The room rates would be between $89 and $160.

That's not all. 

The existing 91-room Quality Inn will undergo changes that include adding architectural trim, Bahama shutters and a green metal roof. The blue roof for the IHOP will remain, according to the development agreement.

Because of the lot adjustment and changes in development code, the allowable amount of rooms at the Quality Inn would be 31. So developers also have to ask for 60 rooms from the Hotel Density Pool. 

If approved, the two hotels would share a 247-space parking garage that would take up the first five floors of the Hampton Inn and Suites.

The hotel also would feature a pool on the ground level, meeting space and a business and fitness center. The sixth floor also would have a terrace with outdoor seating overlooking Clearwater Pass and the Gulf of Mexico.

The development agreement also includes a provision for the mandatory evacuation/closure of the hotel in the event of the posting of a hurricane watch in Clearwater Beach by the National Hurricane Center.


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