ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – June 21, 2017 – The historic Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club will be seeking St. Petersburg voters’ approval in November for a privately funded one-story parking garage, part of a larger multi-year $50-million-plus redevelopment project at the hotel.
The improvements do not involve taxpayer funding, will not alter the hotel’s footprint or St. Petersburg’s waterfront parks system, and will add approximately 270 new parking spaces. Increased parking will be available for hotel guests, attendees of on-site events, people in the community who use The Vinoy’s facilities, and diners who visit the hotel’s restaurants, which are open to the public. The parking garage will assist nearby residents alleviating some congestion and parking on the streets in front of their homes.
The proposed garage will be one story and located immediately behind the hotel. Eight existing tennis courts will be replaced on top of the new parking garage.
Voters will be asked to vote yes on the referendum question in the November 7, 2017 election. As a historic part of downtown St. Petersburg, portions of The Vinoy property are subject to deed restrictions and require approval from the City’s residents for construction.
The voter approval process was put in place during a 1984 agreement when The Vinoy helped complete the city’s waterfront park system by trading its waterfront property for some of the area immediately behind the hotel. Voters supported similar improvements to The Vinoy in referendums in 1997 and 2007.
“We think voters will be pleased to support the idea of additional parking at The Vinoy, because it does not involve taxpayer dollars, does not alter the footprint of the hotel, or impact our waterfront parks system,” said Barbara Readey, General Manager at The Vinoy Renaissance Resort and Golf Club.
The entire redevelopment project is privately funded by the hotel owner, FelCor Lodging Trust. The project includes updates and expansions to the spa, fitness center, golf course clubhouse, tennis courts, public restaurant facilities and parking garage. Paul’s Landing, the new 200-seat marina-front restaurant, will be open to the public and includes indoor and outdoor seating as well as a large grass event space.
“Hotel ownership is committed to the long-term health of The Vinoy and ensuring it continues to be an iconic part of downtown St. Petersburg,” said Debra Feldman, Vice President Capital Transactions at FelCor Lodging Trust, owner of The Vinoy. “We look forward to answering residents’ questions about the project and continuing to ensure that The Vinoy is a good neighbor.”
About the Vinoy referendum:
The Vinoy’s redevelopment project tied to the November referendum includes the construction of a one-story parking garage with eight tennis courts on top on the 7th Avenue NE side of The Vinoy property in downtown St. Petersburg. For more information, visit www.VinoyImprovements.com.