$43 million hotel approved in downtown St. Pete
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Apr 6, 2023

A 14-story hotel with a rooftop pool and bar proposed on the Fit2Run property in downtown St. Petersburg received a key approval Wednesday.

The St. Pete’s Development Review Commission voted 7 to 1 to approve Kolter Group’s site plan for the hotel, which is planned for 232 and 256 Second St. N. The Tempo by Hilton hotel will have 192 hotel rooms and a 127-space parking garage.

According to city documents, the project is expected to cost $43 million. The property is currently home to the Fit2Run retailer and a surface parking lot.

Documents show the ground floor of the tower will feature a lobby, two entrances to the garage and ground-level parking spaces and back-of-house facilities. Scott Webb, president of Kolter Hospitality, told members of the DRC Hilton insisted on the hotel being “activated,” meaning there will also be a hotel bar and coffee area in the lobby.

There will be parking on floors two through four. The fifth floor will be amenity space, and the sixth to 13th floors will be hotel rooms. The 14th floor will also be an amenity space.

The hotel is located near the Sundial in the heart of downtown. Kolter purchased the two properties in 2021 for a combined $7.5 million. Webb previously told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that construction would likely begin by late 2023 or early 2024.

Orlando-based L2 Studios Inc. is the architect for the project. Kolter is working with Hilton on interior designs for the hotel.