A major hospitality project is taking shape along West Bay Drive in Belleair Bluffs, highlighting continued investment and redevelopment activity across Pinellas County.
Local hotelier and businessman Tony Utegaard is proposing a 100-room boutique hotel on approximately 1.67 acres along West Bay Drive near the Belleair Causeway. Plans call for a building reaching approximately 75 feet in height, with Utegaard envisioning the property as a long-term community landmark comparable in character to some of Tampa Bay’s best-known boutique and luxury hotels. (Tampa Bay Times)
The project represents an estimated $30 million to $40 million investment and would transform a long-vacant commercial parcel into a hospitality destination. Plans include a high-end restaurant and outdoor dining area, while design decisions such as eliminating balconies and a rooftop bar are intended to reduce impacts on nearby residential properties. (Beacon Media)
A Changing Commercial Corridor
The proposed hotel comes as Belleair Bluffs continues to see new business activity along West Bay Drive and Indian Rocks Road. New restaurants, fitness concepts, retailers and service businesses have recently entered or expanded within the market, adding momentum to the area’s commercial base. (Beacon Media)…