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Resort operator TradeWinds has started prep work for a $500-million expansion at its massive, 25-acre property along St. Pete Beach in Florida that will prioritize sustainability and pedestrian-friendly spaces.

Three highrise hotels with 650 hotel rooms are being added to the existing Island Grand and RumFish Beach Resorts onsite, which have a combined 967 rooms and 102,400 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

The size of the resort will be increased by roughly 850,000 square feet, that will include 68,000 square feet of new restaurant and retail space across the towers. Conference facilities totalling 33,000 square feet will be added, along with a 20,000-square-foot ballroom, three swimming pools and three parking garages with up to 2,000 spaces.

The beachfront project, at 5500 Gulf Blvd., is slated to be built in four separate phases over a 20-year period. Work on the initial stage has been started. All four phases will be completed by 2043.

St. Pete Beach commissioners voted in favour of a development agreement and conditional use permit recently for the expansion plans, with a list of conditions, paving the way for construction to begin.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to keep St. Pete Beach residents top of mind in our planning, and we’ll continue to do so as the expansion begins,” TradeWinds owner Joe Smith commented in a statement.

The developer says the aim of the project is to set a new standard for how tourist destinations can evolve without compromising on environmental or community values.

In the first phase of construction, a 12-storey, 154-key hotel building with a two-storey beachfront restaurant and 575-space, six-storey parking garage will be built on the south side of the resort property.

The second phase will be carried out between 2028 and 2029 and will entail construction of an 11-storey, 261-key hotel building, along with a 736-space parking garage, conference centre and retail space.

The third and fourth phases will be carried out between 2032 and 2043. Phase three will consist of a 12-storey 235-unit hotel, with a 297-space parking garage and retail component. In the fourth and final phase of the project, a two-storey hotel lobby will be developed, along with a 34-space parking deck.

An outstanding feature of the expansion will be the introduction of a new, 30-foot-wide pathway that provides direct access to the beach. The walkway will be lit at night to make it safe and accessible.

Residents in the area had concerns about traffic congestion that could occur as a result of the development. However, the developer says measures have been taken such as reducing the number of entrances and exits onto Gulf Boulevard to four from nine to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

Flooding along Gulf Boulevard has also been a concern for many residents and the resort is investing in a multimillion-dollar, state-of-the-art stormwater system to manage rainwater runoff.

In expanding the resort, developers will make use of underused surface parking lots. This means little demolition is needed, with the exception of one small two-storey building on the property.

Architects is designing the project. The firm has designed many hotels in the state.

According to TradeWinds, the vision for the project goes beyond mere growth and is about “evolving in harmony with the environment and the community. The expansion is not just about adding rooms or amenities; it’s about creating a space where guests, locals and nature coexist in perfect harmony.”

To that end, the developer is prioritizing a pedestrian-friendly environment over cars by providing wider sidewalks along Gulf Boulevard that also improve the esthetic appeal of the area.

Interior roadways on the resort have also been designed to ensure smooth vehicular movement within the property, reducing the need for guests to drive around on external roads.

The developer also says sustainability is at the core of the expansion and every decision from infrastructure to landscaping is made with an eye on the environment.

The design of the project has also been largely shaped by feedback from the community. For example, the developer decided to revisit the design of parking garages and added more screens and greenery to the structures to enhance the esthetics.

“Every aspect of the expansion, from infrastructure upgrades to design tweaks, underscores the resort’s unwavering commitment to the people of St. Pete Beach,” the developer says in a statement. “By actively seeking feedback and making informed decisions, TradeWinds is setting a gold standard for how resorts can grow while staying rooted in community values and aspirations.”

It is anticipated the community will gain an estimated $20 million in new annual tax revenue from the project. In the construction phase, approximately 500 jobs will be created. Once it is completed, the resort will contribute another 300 permanent positions to the local job market.