Drew Wilson
The development company behind Water Street Tampa said Tuesday that construction is underway on the first of 10 buildings planned for the 55-acre district in Downtown Tampa.
The first project in the pipeline for Strategic Property Partners is a 26-story, 519-room JW Marriott Hotel that’s set to open in 2020. The JW Marriott brand is one of Marriott’s luxury focused labels.
The hotel is one of three Marriott hotels planned for SPP’s mixed-use neighborhood. The developer announced last week that Water Street Tampa would be getting one of Marriott’s top-tier “EDITION” hotels, while the existing Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina is set to get a full renovation.
“Through our partnership with Marriott, we’re thrilled to offer a one-of-a-kind hospitality experience to residents and visitors alike across these three very unique hotels, while also elevating the hospitality experience in Tampa Bay,” SPP CEO James Nozar said in a press release.
“Breaking ground on the JW Marriott Tampa is a momentous milestone for the broader neighborhood we are creating. Water Street Tampa aims to add a fresh new perspective to Tampa’s ongoing urban renaissance, offering a new destination for travelers and providing Tampa residents with an exciting new space to explore and enjoy every day.”
The three hotels are part of nearly 9 million square feet of planned development for Water Street Tampa, which is also set to bring the downtown area its first new condominiums in nearly a decade as well as the first office towers in a quarter century.
SPP said when construction in the district hits its peak in spring 2019, it’ll require the use of about 20 construction cranes and up to 2,800 workers daily.
The JW Marriott Tampa hotel is being designed by Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe & Associates, with interiors by Champalimaud Design. The hotel will be adjacent to the Tampa Convention Center and Amalie Arena, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning. SPP is a partnership between Lightning owner Jeff Vinic and Bill Gates’ investment arm, Cascade Investment.
“Tampa has become one of the most sought-after cities because of its high quality of life, affordability, and culture,” said Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “Downtown Tampa has long been earmarked for development. The new JW Marriott Tampa and the Tampa EDITION will introduce an incredible hospitality offering with premium amenities to the city, complementing the transformational Water Street Tampa neighborhood and enhancing Tampa’s ongoing renaissance.”
Among the amenities touted for the new hotel are a full-service spa and fitness center, restaurant and retail space, and a rooftop lounge and terrace that will “boast sweeping 360-degree views of downtown Tampa and Hillsborough Bay, and will become the highest rooftop bar in Tampa Bay.”
