Developers release downtown Kimpton Hotel renderings

One proposed downtown hotel now has a face with its name.

Rod Connelly, president of Civix, a Sarasota business working with SHD Partners to build the proposed Kimpton hotel at U.S. 301 and Main Street, released design renderings of the development to the Sarasota County commissioners Friday.

The hotel is projected at 10 stories with 150 rooms, built on a little less than an acre of land downtown. The first floor will include some mixed-use space, such as a restaurant. The hotel is aimed at snagging business clientele.

SHD Partners is under contract with the county for the land at 20 N. Washington, which is currently a parking lot. The closing date is Dec. 31.

The county commissioners approved an agreement to swap land with SHD Partners for the proposed development in February in a 3-2 vote. Some commissioners were especially concerned that the plan would fall through before the end-of-the-year closing date.

SHD Partners had to finalize a five-year agreement with Kimpton Hotels, place $1 million in escrow as a guarantee for construction completion and give the county proof of financing and construction agreements.

The swap came with a deal for the county—SHD Partners proposed to make a parking lot with 86 spaces for county use, and upon completion would transfer it to the county.

The target completion date is October 2016.