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Marriott Residence Inn latest in downtown Clearwater's growth spurt


In print: Thursday, September 4, 2008


The Residence Inn, 904 Court St., Clearwater, is set to open Sept. 18. Each of its 115 suites has a kitchen and 37-inch flat screen TV.
The Residence Inn, 904 Court St., Clearwater, is set to open Sept. 18. Each of its 115 suites has a kitchen and 37-inch flat screen TV.
[JIM DAMASKE | Times]
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CLEARWATER — The finishing touches are being put on a new 115-room hotel that many in Clearwater hope will continue to spur downtown growth and development.

Situated on a 2.22-acre triangular lot at 904 Court St., the Marriott Residence Inn is set to open Sept. 18.

"It's just one more piece of the puzzle," said Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard. "Its greatest benefit is that it's a signal to other industries that Marriott believes that downtown is worthy of investing in."

The Clarkson Group, a Marriott franchisee out of Jacksonville, purchased the property from Senior Citizen Services for $1.7-million, said Assistant City Manager Rod Irwin. It cost another $12.5-million to construct the hotel, which consists of about 100,000 square feet.

The city will provide up to $400,000 in tax incentives to the Clarkson Group for building in an area where development is being encouraged. The hotel has brought nearly 50 new jobs to the city. Clarkson Group also owns a Hampton Inn in Tampa's Ybor City.

"We are excited about it," Irwin said. "It's the first hotel in a long time."

Many of the city's former hotels and motels have been turned into residential units. And the Fort Harrison Hotel, one of downtown's nicer overnighters, was bought by the Church of Scientology in the 1970s.

David Clarkson of the Clarkson Group said his company is slightly ahead of schedule with the hotel's completion.

"We are very excited to be a member of the Clearwater community," he said. "It will be a great spot for an extended stay."

The Marriott is one of several projects that's coming to fruition in downtown Clearwater. A major streetscaping of Cleveland Street was recently completed and progress is being made on the completion of two major downtown condominium projects.

"The hotel is incredibly important," said Geri Campos-Lopez, the city's director of Economic Development and Housing. "It's new development and a new tax base for the city."

Demorris A. Lee can be reached at 445-4174 or dalee@sptimes.com.


>>Fast facts

Equipped to stay

Each of the 115 suites at the new Marriott Residence Inn has a full kitchen with stainless steel appliances and 37-inch flat screen televisions. Other features at the hotel:

• Free Wifi in each room and the common areas.

• A fitness center.

• An outdoor pool.

• A barbecue pit.

• A meeting room.

• 115 parking spaces.


[Last modified: Sep 07, 2008 10:07 AM]



Comments on this article
by Rowdy Sep 7, 2008 10:07 AM
Such positive attitudes. Get a life!
by JR Sep 6, 2008 4:04 PM
When Scientology has completed its takeover of downtown, filling the condos with Scieno's, and creating an exclusively Scieno-owned business district, you pro-city Pollyanas will STILL be praising the fools at City Hall. So naive. RIP Clearwater.
by Marq Sep 6, 2008 2:50 PM
I hope the Marriott will succeed,but it will be tough to get repeat customers once the patrons incounter the Sci-Ti population in downtown. It will creep visitors out as it did myself upon a visit.It's reminiscent of "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers"
by moms Sep 4, 2008 5:45 PM
5 bucks says they already do, Pops!
by Jeff Sep 4, 2008 5:09 PM
I cannot help but wonder if the Clarkson Group did it's homework regarding downtown Clearwater and the the church of scientology?? I aqree that in a few years, it will be bought by the "church". Downtown Clearwater is a goner...thanks scientology!
by Terryeo Sep 4, 2008 5:08 PM
Marriott, of course, is a large business. This represents some deviation from more common Marriott Inns all across the country. But it is interesting to see people carp and complain while business and Clearwater work together toward common goals.
by Pops Sep 4, 2008 10:49 AM
I got 10 bucks that says the Scientologists will own it in 6 years.
by Michael Sep 4, 2008 10:49 AM
Is that really just one more piece to the puzzle Frank? Just how many pieces are there before your pipe dream for a prosperous downtown comes to fruition? Come on, nobody is drinking your Kool Aid Frank.
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