TAMPA | The Epicurean Hotel (by Bern's) | 5 stories | 145 Rooms | U/C

[jonknee]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

Garage is hidden (in the back no less!)...

Even better is that the garage faces the Crosstown and CSX tracks--a perfect spot to put the ass end of a building.

[tampaizzy]

Construction to begin this year on Bern's hotel


2007, URBAN STUDIO ARCHITECTS
Initial plans were to build a 75-unit boutique condominium-hotel with a spa, wine store, rooftop pool and sun deck.
Related

Flickr set of artists' renderings

TAMPA --
Plans are back on for The Epicurean, a boutique hotel across from the landmark Bern's Steak House. Construction is slated for sometime this year.

"The hotel is happening," Bern's spokeswoman Brooke Palmer confirmed.

Bern's long has planned for a hotel. But The Epicurean project has been on hold since 2008, when Bern's owner David Laxer announced he had been unable to secure financing.

Initial plans were to build a 75-unit boutique condominium-hotel with a spa, wine store, rooftop pool and sun deck. The condo concept meant units would be available for purchase in the mid-$200,000 range. Owners would have access to the unit 45 days a year and also share in the rental income.

Now the South Howard Avenue project will be a boutique hotel. It is expected to have about 140 rooms and be a signature property for Marriott, Palmer said.

The Bern's Steak House garage is part of the plan and will be used for hotel and restaurant customers.

Other details were sparse Tuesday. Bern's will soon make a formal announcement about the plans, Palmer said.

Laxer initially considered building apartments, then office space with ground-floor retail shops. Then he saw the nationwide trend of boutique hotels. At that point — about 10 years ago — Laxer brainstormed with then-executive chef Jeannie Pierola.

jpoltilove@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7691

Here is another article about this project, not a lot of new info but a nice pic and there are supposedly some pics of what the interior will look like on the site. http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-ne...tel-ar-398849/

[HARTride 2012]

Very neat rendering.

BTW, you may want to recheck your post, the end-quote bracket is missing.

[TampaMike]

The powers of a mod.

[Jasonhouse]

^It does have its privileges.

[DShenise]

I love that project. I think its going to add a lot to the neighborhood. There should be lots of new foot traffic hitting all the dining and shopping further up Howard. The city should look at improving the Bayshore crossing at Howard as I expect you'll see many of the guests hitting the Bayshore for walks and runs.

Plus its a Marriott and I'll get reward points.

[Jasonhouse]

Imagine several projects of this scope and scale lining Howard, rather than the dumpy bars in ramshackle structures.

[DShenise]

Yeah but they add character. Take the Virginia Highlands in Atlanta. There are a ton of dumpy old buildings, but the area is packed because its interesting. Plus at most you'll see one more project of that scale in that neighborhood, because the residents wouldn't put up with anything else. They already cap the hours bars and restaurants can operate. MacDill though, could do with a bit of remodeling.

[Jasonhouse]

I expect to see several more 3-6 story buildings pop up over time in the 'SoHo' area. (even a bit taller could be tolerated near the Selmon, and as you go north towards Kennedy)

There were other projects approved in the neighborhood that were similarly urban, and considerably more attractive than the current building stock, but the recession killed them. While some projects moving forward will be smaller scale, based on what they can finance, it's not like the trend towards higher density in the neighborhood will end now. It's still very much a neighborhood people want to live in and around.

[aarhusforever]

Very nice project

[Del Mayberry]

recent article about Bern's. I had steak there about 10 years ago when Mr. Laxer Sr. was still living. It was the best steak ever. Didn't go to the desert room or go on the whole tour. I hope it's as good today as it was back then. Will be a real treat to wine and dine there while staying across the street at the resort hotel. If you are into steak, then I highly recommend Berns. Put it on your bucket list. LOL

http://www2.tbo.com/lifestyles/flavo...ion-ar-409462/

[soholivin]

I talked to the security guy outside the Berns garage the other night and he said the construction is scheduled to start sometime mid july and will likely be complete mid fall next year.....

[Del Mayberry]

Originally Posted by soholivin

I talked to the security guy outside the Berns garage the other night and he said the construction is scheduled to start sometime mid july and will likely be complete mid fall next year.....

thanks for the update & please let us know about other goings on in that area.

[Del Mayberry]

Luxury hotel linked to Bern's, Marriott to rise across from Tampa steak house

SOHO — It was a grand vision of fine dining and elegant living that was shelved four years ago.
But a Bern's-inspired luxury boutique hotel is back on the design board and expected to break ground this fall, bringing with it another SoHo restaurant, bar and spa across from the iconic Howard Avenue steak house.
The $32.5 million four-story project is being pitched as a boutique hotel with 145 rooms priced at about $200 a night. Named the Epicurean, the hotel is being built on the 2.3-acre parking lot site of Bern's as a partnership between Bern's and Mainsail Lodging and Development.
It will be marketed as part of Marriott's Autograph Collection.
"We're looking forward to opening this product because it's so unique and so different," said Norwood Smith, vice president of sales and marketing for Mainsail, based in Tampa.
The hotel's first floor will feature a full-service spa, health club, wine shop, bakery and a demonstration kitchen where Bern's, SideBern's and guest chefs can hold culinary classes and events. The hotel will include a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and a rooftop bar and cocktail area.
"For such a small footprint and boutique property," Smith said, "we're expecting a huge relationship with the local residents."
Doug McClain, vice president of marketing and communications for Tampa Bay & Co., the visitors bureau, said the hotel fills a need in Tampa for an upscale hotel for tourists while also creating jobs and more dining choices for SoHo.
"I've seen some of the renderings of the property," he said, "and I really think it's really going to hit a sweet spot for Tampa Bay."
Many of the concepts included in the blueprint were part of the first iteration of the project, a "condo hotel" dreamt up by Bern's Steak House owner David Laxer. But the 2007 project was unable to secure financing when the economy crashed a year later. Under the condo-hotel concept, owners buy units, get access to them for 45 days a year and then get a percentage of room rental profits.
Although initial interest was high, only a few buyers signed contracts for the proposed 75 rooms and suites that were being offered for $200,000 and up. Only a parking garage was built.
"We stopped the project," Bern's spokeswoman Brooke Palmer said. "You don't open a condo ownership hotel in 2008 when the economy is bad."
Mainsail, brought aboard as a development partner, helped refashion the project into a boutique hotel that will carry Marriott's brand. Mainsail also operates an apartment complex and the Mainsail Suites Hotel & Conference Center in Town 'N Country, as well as properties on Anna Maria Island, Scrub Island in the British Virgin Islands, and the Marriott ExecuStay corporate housing franchises in the U.S. Southeast.
Floor plans are being finalized, Smith said. The Bern's culinary team has been meeting with developers to design the hotel's kitchens and restaurant, Palmer said.
Epicurean's development team expects to break ground in August, Smith said, with an opening slated for November 2013.
Justin George can be reached at jgeorge@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3368.

[Del Mayberry]

oops. forgot the link:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/busines...-house/1237528

[kmthurman]

City Council is whining about the building and essentially trying to make it less urban and planning is resisting. It was a Planned development and they made changes to get rid of condos and add more hotel rooms.

Specifically Mulhern went about citing some NIMBY concerns from the the people about having a hotel there specifically they are talking about "not having enough parking" despite a structure behind the darn building already.

It's always concerning when projects like this could get delayed by questions like that from council.

[Del Mayberry]

It's not that big a deal. Get over yourselves, Nimbys. They act like they are building a trailer park or Walmart.

[kmthurman]

Originally Posted by Del Mayberry

It's not that big a deal. Get over yourselves, Nimbys. They act like they are building a trailer park or Walmart.

Oh I know it's not a big deal, just got annoyed.

[TPAMAN]

Originally Posted by Del Mayberry

It's not that big a deal. Get over yourselves, Nimbys. They act like they are building a trailer park or Walmart.

Our place is in Semiole Heights and the people here are up in arms about another Dollar Store going up on Florida right between The Independent and Cappy's...city says there is nothing they can do to stop it as it meets all zoning requirements.
Would LOVE to see what the Nimby's in Hyde Park would say if it went there instead!

[smiley]

Oh I know it's not a big deal, just got annoyed.

Welcome to Tampa.