Developers, residents discuss downtown Embassy Suites construction

Yet another crane is poised to go up in downtown Sarasota later this year, and with it comes the logistical headaches and side effects associated with construction.

Jebco Ventures has applied for a permit to build an 18-story Embassy Suites hotel at 202 N. Tamiami Trail. The hotel, which would include 180 rooms, restaurant and ballroom space and more than 200 parking spots, could be under construction as soon as September, according to those involved with the project.

On Thursday, Jebco representatives held a community workshop to discuss the construction staging for the project. Contractor Charles Kimsey said the construction should take about 15 months, though the most intensive structural building will be limited to the first nine months.

Residents in attendance Thursday expressed some concern about the use of an alley near the project site between Second Street and Fruitville Road. As part of the construction effort, Jebco will be using a new temporary alley coming directly off of Fruitville, rather than the existing alley — plans designed to minimize the impact on neighboring commercial and residential properties.

“Our goal is really to build a beautiful building for (Jebco CEOa) Jim (Bridges) and for the city, and to be good neighbors in the process of doing that,” Kimsey said.

Other questions pertained to the hours of construction — which fall between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays or 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends, per city code — and parking for construction workers, which will take place on a site owned by Bridges at Fruitville and Cocoanut Avenue.

Further concerns related to the long-term use of the alley once construction is completed. Some of the audience Thursday asked if it was possible to restrict the hotel’s use of the alley completely, preserving it solely for existing residential use. City Engineer Alex DavisShaw ruled out that possibility, as the alley is a public road that requires continued public accessibility.

Tim Litchet, the city’s director of neighborhood and development services, said it was possible to include a condition that requires the developer to instruct service vehicles to take a route other than the alleyway. Bridges suggested he would be amenable to that condition, which Litchet said should be an effective tool to avoid congestion on the alley.

“Theoretically, you shouldn’t have any more truck traffic than you already have,” Litchet said.