With a population of about 12,000 and an emphasis on quality of life, Wilton Manors is a boutique city that’s long been in search of a boutique hotel. Over the years, several projects have been proposed only to quietly be abandoned before ever breaking ground.
Depending on who you’re listening to, there are up to three possible locations, two proposals on the table, and one that appears ready to be breaking ground.
But like the old saying goes: if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, oh what a Christmas it’d be, which is a snarky way of saying that no one should start looking to book a room any time soon.
Here’s a breakdown on hotel proposals (and possible proposals).
Let’s Do the Tryst
Seemingly out of the blue, Tryst Hospitality announced plans to build a hotel on Wilton Drive. They wouldn’t give specifics and, on closer inspection, it appears there are no specifics to give.
Tryst hotels tend to be about 50 rooms, and The Gazette learned that they are looking to build on the sites of Johnsons, Art Frenzie, and Wilton Executive Suites on the north end of The Drive with the hope of closing as early as January. However, one source tells The Gazette that the owner(s) of the proposed properties have not even been contacted about selling.
The owners of Art Frenzie told The Gazette that no one has contacted them and that they have the first right of refusal to buy the land.
They want their customers and the community to know they are open for business and plan to stay that way.
Queer News Tonight has reported that Tryst is looking at four lots. That would leave the building with the Italian Civic League next to the Suites and the mixed use townhomes next to Johnsons as the wild cards.
One tenant of the former said they’ve heard nothing.
As for the latter, taking over the townhome property would require more than an act of god, it would require five of the six townhome owners to agree to sell.
Also, the city has not been approached about any development. One realtor described buying three (or four) high-priced, high profile properties for a project without consulting the governing municipalities as “bizarre.”
Dilly Dallying on Dixie
Another hotel proposal is much further along, but seems to be losing momentum. The Wilton Hotel and Pool Club on Dixie Hwy. is in at least its fourth year of discussion. The proposal is for a 123 room hotel. While construction fencing finally went up making it appear that groundbreaking was imminent, the project appears stalled.
Its pros include having more room and being more attractive to small conventions and corporate retreats.
Those types of events would benefit nearby businesses such as The Venue, Wilton Collective, and Gray Box Theater which are prime meeting space.
The project was put up for sale over the summer.
City commissioners have publicly said the project is still going forward, but multiple people have told The Gazette the project “is dead.” Adding to the issues, the site is dilapidated and has thousands of dollars in code-driven liens.
