http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/suncoasthotel1.jpg

NAME: Suncoast Hotel
LOCATION: Durban Beachfront
STATUS: U/C
FLOORS: 16
HEIGHT: ?
USE: Hotel and Retail.


At this point i dont have a render for the hotel, but as u can see, work is already underway, and the second crane was going up as i took this photo. Maybe someone out there has a render???

I heard that the hotel foryer is going to be on the mezz level were Havana Grill & Jaipur Palace is. I think it will just be an entrance to the casino complex. Any idea who the building contractors are? or the architects? If you do find out tell me, maybe I know so of the guys that are on the project.

They should have started this project along time ago, there is no way in hell that the hotel will be complate by next year Jan (29) weekend of the A1. They would have made a ton of cash if they started earlier.

YES PLEASE IF ANYONE HAS A RENDER PLEASE POST IT! WE WOULD ALL LOVE TO SEE IT

It now planned for completion by Nov/Dec 2006. It will include an addtional 4 restaurants, and plans are also advanced to increase the retail space at suncoast, by creating an addtional 3000m2 of retail space, behind the hotel

As Jerome pointed out, there are conflicting reports in the press. I'll try put it straight as to the best of my knowledge.

There are 2 hotels going up at Suncoast. One to the south (which is this one) and another to the North as part of the redevelopment of the waterworld site into a theme park. The southern hotel is u/c, but the other one will only start construction at a later stage. i think the press might have just got confused...they not the brightest bunch of individuas, they get all sorts wrong all the time!

I spoke to the Exec Marketing Manager of Sun Coast, He told me that they dont have any impressions or renders at this stage, but they going to make a public very soon.

great!! thanx for that :) Cant wait

Durbsboi....can u get someone to tell u the actual height of this building in meters and floors, cos the 16 i got a long time back and i'm not sure if it is still to be 16.

For if u look at the construction site the 2nd crane is really high, much higher than any other crane on the skyline

pics pics pics (new ones)

You Durbs boys are busy! Kaapstad is Slaapstad!!

Will try to contact the guys @ suncoast again, most of them are on leave at the moment

THANX MATE :)

And yes Giles i'll go get some pics!!

I'm so bummed that i'm gonna miss the A1 in Jan! Loving that i'm going to Maurituis, but hating that i'll miss it! Ahh!

What??? Durban's #1 poster is not going to be in Durban for the city's #1 event??? *faint*....

^^

HEHE :) Sadly my trip was planned before the A1, and i only realised today that i would be away for it! Guess i will have to watch bits on tv in Maurituis....hoping that the shots will show the beaches with the cars racing past :)

the hotel is to be run by southern sun and will form either part of the Intercontinental chain, or be a southern sun collection hotel.

At this stage it seems to have 250 rooms...but i still need a height and floor count!!

Crane pic


http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP0983.jpg

yes...its blurry cos i took it while driving on the freeway!

Yo I contacted the Exec Marketing Manager of Sun Coast again, He said his not allowed to give info on the hotel until the public press release. If did he would get into alot of sh*t.

So it looks like we have to wait & see.

yeh...and how f*ing long will that take? these people (suncoast) always seem to leave the press releases til after the event is even important!

Look at the Marriot...they aint even started work and we know every detail!

Cant do anything about dude, just sit & watch the site & imagine wat its gonna look like!

I just posted this on the Durban discussion thread but it's probably more appropriate here.

I am very disappointed to hear that Suncoast is backing out of their initial pledge. Without the adrenelin rides there's no unique "must see, must do" attraction at the complex. It's like any regular casino or gaudy mini-mall. Yawn. :sleepy:

The court action may explain why there has been a delay in releasing details about the hotel. It seems as if it still hasn't been decided whether it's going to be a 3 or 4 star hotel.

--------------

Casino, council locked in legal battle
Tania Broughton
January 17 2006 at 11:41AM

Suncoast Casino and the eThekwini Municipality are locked in a legal battle about plans by the casino to cut back on promised investment on its prime Durban beachfront site by more than R115-million.

The council has accused the casino of reneging on financial pledges it made to secure a temporary casino licence - "shifting from its stated must-see attraction and focusing only on doing things to enhance profitability".

However, the casino - owned by Tsogo Sun KwaZulu-Natal - claims its profits are down and its projections for the next five years indicate that revenues will continue to be an average 24 percent less than expected.

It also says business has been affected by uShaka Marine World and points to the failure of the Ratanga Junction waterworld project in Cape Town as a reason for not wanting to develop its promised "high-adrenalin" rides.

Judge Achmat Jappie ordered the council to consider the application
The dispute has been aired in papers before the Durban High Court, where Suncoast took the matter late last year. Suncoast alleged that the council was refusing to consider a town planning application for a proposed two-storey parkade on the casino site.

Judge Achmat Jappie ordered the council to consider the application, and ruled that the parkade was not prohibited by the town planning scheme, but the council wants to appeal against the decision.

Argument for leave to appeal is expected to be heard next month.

According to papers before the court, the council sold what was then called the "Village Green" site to Tsogo Sun on condition that it be developed in accordance with an integrated development plan and town planning regulations.

The company was awarded a temporary casino licence by the KwaZulu-Natal Gambling Board and proceeded with phases one and two of the development.

This, the company said, was not true
In order to get a permanent licence, it needed to complete phase three. This embodied the construction of a three-star hotel, "high-adrenalin rides" and a contribution of R70-million for a people mover system. The total cost of phase three was estimated at R456-million.

The company approached the gambling board in early 2004 for changes to this requirement and the board approved a change from a three-star hotel to a four-star hotel, the construction of a parkade, improvements to the existing Waterworld and the relocation of the Umgeni Bird Park to the site. It also approved a delay in the payment towards the people mover.

When informed of these changes, the council was unhappy. Municipal Manager Mike Sutcliffe said in a letter to Tsogo Sun Managing Director Jabu Mabuza that the proposed changes meant the casino was now investing only R339-million in phase three - a shortfall of R117-million in terms of the original agreement. The letter forms part of the court file.

Sutcliffe said, however, that the council would support some of the changes if the balance of the money was spent on other council projects. He said the council would support the parkade, but this was conditional "on getting agreement on a full range of proposals".

The council would not support the allocation of R40-million to upgrade the hotel because it was not necessary. He said the council would not support the relocation of the bird park, but would agree to "significant improvements to security at the existing bird park and to the possible relocation of the snake and reptile park to a site near the Umgeni River".

It would also not support the delayed people mover payment because it was "critical to the overall development of the beachfront". Sutcliffe proposed that the company build the parkade and a three-star hotel and make the R70-million contribution to the people mover - a total cost of R276-million.

The sum of R180-million, the balance of the original pledge of R456 million, should be given to the council to build two new paddling pools at the old Seaworld site, upgrade the Ocean Sports Complex, move the snake park and Mini Town, and give R57-million for an interim people mover. In November 2004 the company submitted its plans for the parkade. However, the council apparently declined to consider them, saying they did not conform to the integrated development plan.

This, the company said, was not true. It also contended that the council had no right to withhold plan approval "on grounds unrelated to town planning and only to enforce its contractual rights".

Mabuza said that it was an attempt by the council to force the company to comply with conditions it wished to impose. The council, however, claimed that it had considered the plans and had rejected them. It was argued that the company had taken the matter to court in a "back-door" attempt to have the decision reviewed.

In its papers, the council argued that the company was simply seeking to "defer or avoid its obligations".

"If its financial performance has not been up to expectation, that is an entirely irrelevant consideration. Until such time as there is an agreement on a full range of the changes proposed for the entire zone, the (council) is legitimately entitled to decline to approve construction of any building, including the parkade, on the property. And that is precisely what it has done."

The judge disagreed with this view. In a written judgment, he said it was clear that the council did, in fact, support the construction of the parkade, although it claimed that it did not conform to the integrated development plan.

"In my view the council has elevated the integrated development plan so that it has acquired the status of law. The integrated development plan is no more than a spatial development framework to guide the development of the property... and there appears to be nothing in it which either prohibits or permits a parkade," Jappie said.

He said there was merit in the company's argument that the council was refusing to approve the parkade in order to "achieve agreement on matters which were solely in the council's interest and completely unrelated to the parkade".

"There is no legal justification for it," the judge said, ordering the council to pay the company's legal costs.


This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on January 17, 2006

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=vn20060117064429655C705507

Oh, almost forgot to mention, I found out that a friend's father is working on the project. Needless to say, I got her to phone him and ask about the height/floors. His response was that the hotel has a height restriction (perhaps because of the blocks behind Blue Waters Hotel). He seemed to think it would not be more than 10-12 floors at most. I hope he's wrong.

Oh, almost forgot to mention, I found out that a friend's father is working on the project. Needless to say, I got her to phone him and ask about the height/floors. His response was that the hotel has a height restriction (perhaps because of the blocks behind Blue Waters Hotel). He seemed to think it would not be more than 10-12 floors at most. I hope he's wrong.

Which company he works for, or tell if u can tell me the architects or building contractors I could find out more

dont thnk there are height restrictions there as most of the beach front is high rise. Durbans offical height restriction is 120m with air rights available for further features depending on the benifit to the city and its people. Thats why SR has been allowed to go higher as its deffinatly a benifit to the city and is helping spur develiopment in the point

well i doubt it is 10-12F, cos the larger crane on site is much bigger than any other crane in durban at the moment, and higher. And who's view would they block? There's no one behind! You cant say the people behind blue waters, cos it blocks them already. Anyway, when the Taj is built on the film studio site, it will be massive. Anant has got the same architects that designed the Pearls to design the Taj Hotel tower.... will be impressive me thinks!

film studio site? you mean Natal command? I thought the Taj was near the ICC

nope the Taj is part of anant's film studio dev on natal command. it will include a retail section with restaurants and bars opening onto the road...the hotel will have amazing views.

The ICC hotels will more than likely be Radisson and Golden Tulip hotels. One being on the ICC campus, opposite from Tilt niteclub. the other on the site that presently houses the old fort value mart.

then wat hotel is gonna be built on the old Military museum site?

personally i believe that the old mil musuem site will get an apartment tower and hotel. And as for who will operate it...well i have no clue...but it is a super prime site!!

lets hear more about the Pavillion site . Hell I remember around 1996 a proposal was issued by the council and there were 3 competing bids with some super tall towers. Up to 40F if I remebre correctly

really?

All i know is that 3 developers have sent the council letters of intent. Minimun height has been set at 30F and the site has to include a hotel of no less than a 4 star standing.

sounds good

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/IMGP0928.jpg

^^Not that you were trying to be artistic, but that picture's really cool!

Anyways, I can't believe that cranes are up and still no renderings!!

-thryve

^^Not that you were trying to be artistic, but that picture's really cool!

Anyways, I can't believe that cranes are up and still no renderings!!

-thryve
Yes me too, dont know why its soo "Top Secret"

who is contractor?

maybe they draw us a picture or something just an idea of how its going to look .....will it be themed like suncoast ???(that would be intresting)

who is contractor?
I saw a WBHO sign on the crane, so looks like wilson bailey homes is doing it.
They also doing alot at Simbithi Eco Estate, every contractor is getting their fare share of work.
http://photo-origin.tickle.com/image/63/1/7/O/63176047O197534489.jpg

this one is going up quick...they plan to open by december...so i guess they have to. Its up to 4F on the front already

still no render?

nope...annoying!

they a bunch of piss arses if you ask me, why be so quiet on something soo big! Its the going to be the newest Hotel on the beach & I dont know how great its going to be, but its now putting pressure on its self by them keeping the public in the dark, we all expecting something great!

oooh!!! getting a render sent to me!!! had a reply to email and they sending the render this week!

excellent , cant wait. I recon it will be south beach miami -esq

what about a height?

excellent , cant wait. I recon it will be south beach miami -esq
Deff, keep up with the whole suncoast theme. Who you getting the render from Dysan?

some guy at wbho...no word on height...durbsboi cld u find that?

Dont know ne one at whbo, but will ask that guy from Suncoast

p2bsa...please tell us more of the design u have seen and how tall u think it will be! 10F only? same as Blue waters? Anyone know of what other retail/restaurant it will offer?

^^I know the head of Nino's SA, he was offerd a spot in the hotel, apparently the entrance to the hotel from the suncoast complex will be on the upper level next to havana grill, now as you enter the hotel part, on that level they were 2 spots for restaurants & a few retail shops. Thats all I know so far, not sure whats happening on level 0.

render yet ???

these suncoast people are USELESS! they say they will do one thing and never do! Why on earth do they think they need to keep it a secret? its not as if its the best new building for durban or something

So take it no one has managed to get anything out of the suncoast people. Well from what i have seen it is now at 10F, and looks like it is still going up more...

I counted 8 the last time, maybe I'm blind. Whats with these guys & the secrecy!!

Guys,
link below shows an architects impression of SunCoast hotel

<http://www.southernsun.com/SSH/jsp/doDSM.jsp?vgnextoid=d6ad77afe6449010VgnVCM1000001b3d17acRCRD&HotelId=91&BrandId=47>

Here you go, doesnt' look 16F to me...

http://www.southernsun.com/SSH/SSHContents/SiteContent/Brand/Southern%20Sun%20Hotels%20and%20Resorts/Images/Suncoast_Body.jpg

Sean

Looks nice. At least it's not painted bright green, pink, blue, orange, purple, yellow etc like the casino!

Finally!!! Thanks so much for posting! Looks okay, I suppose, although I still can't fathom any reason why it took so long for it to be revealed. Looks 9-10 floors to me.

Will look nice as the A1 cars go streaming past it next year Jan.

By the way, is that a pool in front of the hotel??


Here's the accompanying text....

-----------

Opens end December 2006

Situated in the heart of Durban's famous Golden Mile, Southern Sun's SunCoast Hotel and Towers offers spectacular views. Golden Beaches. Luxurious surroundings. And, of course, the incredible SunCoast Casino and Entertainment Complex, where striking gold is just an arm's length away.

From luxurious surrounds and a welcoming reception and lounge area, the SunCoast Hotel and Towers promises accommodation of the highest order. The Towers boasts 17 executive rooms, 10 junior suites, 8 luxury suites and the sumptuous Presidential Suite. The hotel features 128 rooms with a stunning en-suite shower. A unique 700 m² Balinese-style Spa complex offers both simple and traditional Balinese Spa treatment regimes dedicated to the rejuvenation and restoration of the body.

http://www.southernsun.com/SSH/jsp/doDSM.jsp?vgnextoid=d6ad77afe6449010VgnVCM1000001b3d17acRCRD&HotelId=91&BrandId=47

FINALLY!!! Yeah it doesnt look anywhere near 16F...pity! And it is alot smaller than it was supposed to be too in terms of rooms...

Is it just me, but has anyone else seen that they clearing land on the other side of suncoast next to news cafe...wld be great to have a tower hotel on each side...

will be a great hotel to stay in

Thanx warren!!! by the way...welcome! :)

How rude of us! Welcome Warren!! Post often!

welcome warren , tell us about yourself in the intruduction thread
Ill add this render to emporis plus reduce it to 12F

Finally a fucking render! Thanx a million Warren, at the moment, (until the render of our stadium comes out) you are god! oh & Welcome :D

looks like its finally topped out

^^Whats that mean? I took a drive past there this weekend, they got some lights in so I could see a bit inside, they have some huge round brick work thing, maybe a staircase? but it go's quite high, maybe 3 floors, some entrace feature?

we will have to wait and see...

i meant it has reached roof level.

No it has'nt, they still extending the lift shaft

You were right. the main section that abutts the road is alot taller than the section next to the casino complex. finally putting some paint on it. for those out of durbs, we must get some more photos, i have been bad lately.

Ya me too, I must try & get some pics

Work on the hotel...those views and private beach will be great. It will look good on A1 too!

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/Copyof216317962_e51d5d046b_o.jpg

if u look to the left of the pic u can see the demolished stadium too! And in front is the natal command site where the film studios are going...will be great little precinct soon enough

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8533/suncoast1jv6.jpg

^^ Awesome news! So instead of the 3 star hotel it was supposed to be, it is a 4 and 5 star...i take it then that the "Towers" component will be the 5 Star side. its interesting to see one hotel split into two star gradings.

It will be a fantastic hotel and will definately provide beach accomodation for a segment that has for far too loong been ignored.

This is turning out very nicely; better than what I expected...

---------------------------

New gem for Durban's Golden Mile
Barbara Cole
September 06 2006 at 09:47AM

The planners have thought of everything at the "jewel" of the Golden Mile: the new R158-million Suncoast Hotel & Towers next to the beachfront casino.

They even added another R400 000 or so to their costs, just to provide guests with extra-special sea views on the development's reception level.

"The original plans did not have doors in that area. But there were such magnificent sea views on the other side of the planned wall, that it was decided to put in doors to open up the area, as well as a wrap-around outside deck," said Kaliq Essop, the general manager.

There are two hotels in one at the site: the Suncoast Hotel will be four-star, while The Towers will be five-star with a unique Balinese-style spa on the ninth floor and a "sumptuous" presidential suite on the 10th.

'This is not just a hotel: it's a destination'
The hotels are owned by Tsogo Sun (KZN) and will be managed by its sister company, Southern Sun.

The development is the first of its kind to be built on the Golden Mile for 30 years.

Mike Dowsley, Suncoast's executive director, said it would "make an amazing contribution to the upgrading and rejuvenation of the beachfront" and give Durbanites another reason to be proud.

The site was handed over to the construction company last October, and with more than 60 sub-contractors working around the clock, it will be open for business on December 15.

More than 1,6-million bricks and 5 000 cubic metres of concrete will have been used.

The rooms have wireless technology, the safes are deep enough to take laptops, and the closets, which have mood-setting uplighting, have hanging space for the longest dresses, as well as suitcases. And there are imported dimmer switches.

In the standard rooms in The Hotel, there will be unique elevated beds with extra-long high mattresses to make "the sleep experience" unforgettable.

There are canvas blinds instead of curtains to block out the light, and the doors and windows are soundproof.

With suitcases and other obstacles tucked away, the spacious rooms would be "chic, practical and workable".

There will be no more "Do Not Disturb" signs hanging from doorknobs either: there will be service lights on the outside of the rooms instead.

And guests will be spoilt with an array of coveted Molton Brown toiletries.

One "junior suite" has already been furnished to give an idea of what guests can expect. There is solid, designer-made furniture, classy fittings and lighting behind curtains.

Guests staying in the premier suites will have balconies, too.

The colour scheme is soft blues and greens to reflect the ocean.

Guests checking into The Towers will go straight through to the upmarket VIP lounge.

The hotels (there will be a total of 165 rooms, including one for the physically challenged) are fully booked for next year's Indaba tourism trade show.

It is also booked for the A1 Grand Prix, with the presidential suite reserved for A1 chairman, Sheikh Matoum.

"This is not just a hotel: it's a destination. Nowhere else in the city do you get a luxury hotel, beach, spa and entertainment complex in one place," said Essop, a former manager at the Elangeni Hotel.

Patsy Esposito, the spa operations manager, who went to Bali on a three-week research trip, said experts from Bali would be arriving soon to train the locally-recruited spa staff.

There would be 12 permanent therapists, seven treatment rooms as well as two "couples" treatment rooms. The room rates are still being worked out.

Lindiwe Mahlangu, the chief executive of Durban Africa, the city's marketing body, said she was excited about the development and that it was something to be confident about.

She hoped that it was the beginning of a trend that others would follow.

"It shows that business is serious about investing in the city and we would like to encourage business people to look at their facilities and improve them. The Golden Mile is our asset and we need to provide a diverse range of products."

This article was originally published on page 9 of Pretoria News on September 06, 2006

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=14&click_id=417&art_id=vn20060906060441219C793688

its going to be fantastic. it is alot more upmarktet than i thought it was going to be. and i cant get over its eviable location.

Anyone know what that building to the right is? - it's not the casino.

That's the adjoining 3 star hotel, as far as I know. The main photo is of the luxurious Tower Hotel.

jerome its 4 star...read ur own article mate :)

The Tower is 5 star

The Suncoast Hotel is 4 star.

Have u guys not walked past the site while at the suncoast beach? the "Hotel" is between "the tower" and the casino.

Oh ok...I thought the first few floors of the tower were the 4* and top floors were the 5*

Nope its 2 seperate structures, but they joint

jerome its 4 star...read ur own article mate :)

The Tower is 5 star

The Suncoast Hotel is 4 star.



Oops. :)

This hotel opens on Friday!

pics pics pics of the finnished buildings

this place is looking great. keep going to suncoast beach and keep forgetting my camera. sorry guys. will get pics this week

yeh, I heard the opening was a grand affair, there was even an Ice sculpture of the hotel in the lobby, I think it should still be there, unless the heat melted it.

I'm sure this is nearing an end now.

^^ its been open a few weeks

FINALLY here's a photo tribute to the completed Suncoast Hotel and Towers

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc1.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc2.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc5.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc4.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc3.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc6.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc7.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc10.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc13.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc14.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc15.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc12.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc18.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc19.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c128/dysan1/sunc17.jpg

Whooa, thats flippin wick'd, the outside keeping up to its Miami stylin, inside more the Miami mafia type, the stair case looks awesome. Deco is great. Lover the bath over looking the beach. I wouldnt mind spending a night here.

showed the wife these and she saidf we will stay here on our next trip to Durabn, beats Quaters me thinks

It is flipping nice

looks uh intresting the inside is neat thou

Went to Suncoast like after a whole year yesterday, the place still doesnt do much for me, but the sundeck is awesome & the Towers look fantastic in the night.

http://i31.tinypic.com/wv7qsm.jpg