Developers are getting ready to demolish a familiar sight on the edge of the Bridge Street business district in Bradenton Beach.
The demo of the defunct Joe’s Eats and Sweets ice cream parlor, 219 Gulf Drive S., would be the first of what could be many to make way for the Bridge Street Hotel.
The city Dec. 12 issued a permit to owners of 219 Gulf Drive S. — AMI Plaza LLC, which leased the property with a letter of intent to purchase to developers Shawn Kaleta and Najmy Thompson PL.
Meanwhile, plans have been filed in the building and permitting office for 219 Gulf Drive S. and other neighboring properties which, when combined, could be sufficient for a hotel/resort.
The properties include 101 Bridge St., formerly the Freckled Fin restaurant, 106 Third St. S., currently a rental home, 105 Bridge St., the Island Time Inn, and 219 Gulf Drive S., which are either owned or leased by Kaleta and unnamed partners, including Najmy Thompson PL.
The other properties involved are 108 Third St. S., 110 Third St. S. Unit W, 112 Third St. S. and 117 Bridge St., all of which are registered to Bridge Street Bazaar Inc., owned by businessman/Bradenton Beach Commissioner Jake Spooner.
Conceptual drawings by Luttrell Architectural LLC of Tampa show a 103-room, 206,987-square-foot resort referred to in the design document as “Bridge St. Hotel.”
The plans include:
• Three floors of hotel rooms;
• Retail space;
• Hotel entrance;
• Lobby;
• Lounge;
• Offices;
• Coffee bar;
• Putt-putt golf facility;
• Gym;
• Rooftop swimming pool;
• Outdoor deck.
Bradenton Beach building official Steve Gilbert said the city received plans in August and although plans were submitted, the project will need review by the city planning and zoning board and the city commission before it can move forward.
“As to what is still needed, it’s quite a bit,” Gilbert wrote. “Flood design and elevations, FDEP is involved, elevation levels above grade. Parking plans that comply. Traffic patterns, dumpster locations, loading and unloading, setbacks, lot coverages, landscaping, etc., mixed-use zoning study because the development is proposed for food, lodging, and retail. There is an easement to be addressed also.”
