Two new hotel developments could hit downtown Tallahassee if city commission approves the sale of multiple properties next week.
The potential sale of the $ 8 million Chevron and Johns parcels bordered by Gaines Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Duval Street could mean further changes to the downtown skyline.
The city was founded by the Valencia Development Corp. contacted in an unsolicited letter dated June 15 to purchase the packages.
In addition to hotels with up to 580 guest rooms, the Houston-based company plans to build a cozy bar, a wine café and a bar and restaurant on the roof.
There are also plans to build a large ballroom, breakout meeting rooms, and a resort-style pool and cabana. The intent is to design two hotels that will serve as live music venues and serve as “destinations for the local community and Tallahassee visitors”.
Valencia has a number of swanky hotels in the Lone Star State, and has told the city staff that entering the community could mean high-wage jobs and partnerships with Florida State University’s Dedman College of Hospitality.
“These hotels would employ around 175 people in the Hotel Valencia and around 75 people in the Courts Hotel. There will be no minimum wage jobs in either hotel, ”wrote Doyle Graham, CEO of Valencia, in a letter to City Manager Reese Goad.
“We encourage promotion within and there is a clear path from entry-level positions to high-paying management positions. All of our current general managers have been promoted, usually from entry-level positions. ”
The employees aim to sell without an invitation to tender, for which the approval of the city commission would be required. The site currently has sand volleyball courts and parking spaces, both paved and gravel.
The city bought the Johns property, which is home to the volleyball courts and food truck area, from the state for $ 2.95 million in 2005 in hopes that it would be home to a performing arts center. The other package was purchased for $ 2.9 million.
Some of the proposed amenities listed in Valencia’s offer letters, namely the grand ballroom and large meeting rooms, are reminiscent of those considered by the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency to build a convention center on property across the street from the FSU operated.
These were canceled in May when the IA diverted funds to renovate the university’s football stadium.
More news from development:
A number of hotel projects have transformed downtown Tallahassee in recent years.
After two years of construction, the AC Hotel and luxury apartments overlooking Cascades Park were recently completed and developer North American Properties is moving into Phase 2 of the project, a rate of new townhouses and more apartments in an 11-story building.
Other similar projects didn’t go as smoothly.
Work on the Washington Square project, a proposed 19-story mixed-use office and commercial tower anchored by a Lowes hotel behind the Leon County Courthouse, halted in late 2019
The project has been plagued by legal issues: liens filed by unpaid contractors, an irritated settlement with the city over an easement, and a recent lawsuit by a consultant alleging he owed more than $ 600,000.
Most recently, the city found that the developer had violated the building permit and has set a deadline of 120 days to reactivate the building permit or secure the construction site that was obstructing pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the city center.
When you go
The Tallahassee City Commission meets on Wednesday at 3 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall. Public comments can be made in person or in advance or virtually by registering by Tuesday 9:00 p.m. at www.Talgov.com/CitizenInput.
Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.
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