Zoning approval clears way for Vinik hotel project
By Staff Report
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 12, 2014

Tampa Bay Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik received approval from the Tampa City Council on Thursday to rezone property in the Channel District in order to build a hotel.

Vinik hopes the property at Old Water Street and Florida Avenue will be the site of a project that includes a luxury hotel like the Ritz-Carlton that would also include condominiums, the Tampa Tribune said.

Living full time in a luxury hotel is attractive to certain wealthy tenants who enjoy the prime location in addition to having gourmet room service, a bellhop, concierge and other amenities, the Tribune said. One example nearby is the five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel and condo complex in Sarasota where a three-bedroom condo is now up for sale for $3.5 million.

The development proposed by Vinik would include 400 rooms for guests, 50 residences and 45,000 square feet of retail space, the Tribune said.