1940s-era motel on Treasure Island sold by original owners
By Frances McMorris
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jan 30, 2017

The Sands Motel on Treasure Island was sold by its original owner from the 1940s for $5.25 million.

The motel, which offers efficiency units and one-bedroom units, was sold to Pride Enterprises, which has plans for an extensive renovation of the property.

The transaction includes an ancillary parking lot at 1st Street. The waterfront property, located on the Gulf of Mexico was sold by the Dowling family, whose father, the late Herbert Dowling, a former mayor of Treasure Island, built the property in 1947.

About 10 years later, Dowling built the Surf Motel, which was later sold and then torn down in 2005.

The sale of the Sands was conducted by Pat Calhoon of the real estate brokerage, Smith and Associates.

"This is one of the jewels of the Treasure Island beach properties,” said Calhoon, who has 33 years of experience selling commercial properties in Pinellas County and Tampa Bay.

Frances is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.