Pier Sixty-Six plans hotel renovation as first step toward new development

By Meryl Kornfield

Fort Lauderdale has endorsed a developer’s plans to renovate the Pier 66 Hotel, one of South Florida’s iconic buildings.

The plans call for possibly adding hundreds of residences, as well as unifying the Pier 66 property with The Sails Marina, its Southeast 17th Street neighbor.

City commissioners approved a development agreement late Tuesday with Orlando-based Tavistock Development Co.

The Renovation plans for Pier 66 don’t need to be turned in until January 2019, but Tavistock senior director Jessi Blakley said the company will work ahead of schedule to begin the work on the property.

Hurricane Irma last year damaged the hotel, which for decades has stood prominently with its space-age architecture and tower crowned with spires. After the hotel is restored, Tavistock will ask to designate the hotel as historical. Blakley said the company “felt encouraged” by the city commissioners’ approval. “We’re excited to move the process along,” Blakley said.

Read the entire article at the Sun-Sentinel.com, click HERE.