By Mike Lednovich
A $7 million hotel project on Sadler Road will be reviewed Thursday by the City’s Technical Review Committee.
The proposed hotel is to be located at 1852 Sadler, the former site of an automotive store. The property is owned by Tom Miller, who owns the Water Wheel Cigar store, the Main Beach Putt-Putt and co-owner of Amelia River Golf Course.
The three-story, 60 two-bedroom suites hotel will be 150,000 square feet according to plans submitted to the TRC.
A traffic study submitted reported the following: “It is projected that the proposed development will generate approximately 28 net new trips in the a.m. peak hour (15 enter, 13 exit), 35 net new trips in the p.m. peak hour (18 enter, 17 exit), and 47 net new trips (27 enter, 21 exit) in the Saturday peak hour of generator. Daily trips generated are expected to be 227 net new trips (113 enter, 114 exit).”
The assessment report by BL Companies, Inc., described the parcel as follows: “At the time of the assessment, the subject property was not in active use but is improved with three commercial buildings; a 600-square-foot office building (former residence); a 6,322 square foot showroom and sales office building; and a 14,000-square-foot vehicle service and repair building. Concrete and asphalt pavements are located across the majority of the site around the buildings. A concrete block privacy wall is situated across the southern boundary of the Site. The remainder of the Site consists of landscaped areas.”
Miller’s Sadler Road Partners LLC purchased the property for $2.5 million in November 2022 according to county tax records.
Where is there any hard data to suggest we need 60 new, 2-bedroom suites anywhere here on the island. And how exactly will things go with 227 net new trips daily in close proximity to the light at Will Hardee/Post Office/Walgreens area? Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.
The newest hotel at Main Beach seems to be thriving and booked out most of the time as are most of our island hotels. We are now a hot tourist destination whether we like it or not. Since this is not a vacant lot being developed and the Owners are putting out a lot of money to have this hotel built they must have done their homework to know it will be profitable. Sounds like the highest and best use of that property!
“Seems to be thriving”? “Highest and best use”? As we know, appearances can be deceiving. Likewise, there are a myriad of highest and best uses that would be suitable for this location. No doubt, the TDC has actual data for all the hotel properties on Amelia. It would be most interesting to see what actual stats show before approving something that might be cutting into the revenue streams of existing properties.
We live in America. If somebody wants to put their own money at risk they’re entitled to do so. It is not up to me or anyone else to stop them. The FREE market will determine if this hotel is needed or not. Be thankful we live in a place where people want to risk there capital and where people want to come to. I am.
If it is zoned for such a use and owners have been paying taxes on it I don’t see where anybody should be second guessing what the owner will do with the property. It is not for anyone else to decide whether it is a good economic decision. Whether a new construction will impact on another business is not the government’s role in approving a project. Like building a takeaway coffee shop a stone’s throw from another one. Frankly I think that property has been an eyesore and putting something decent there will add to our property tax rolls. I don’t think there are even any trees impacted.
It’s been an abandon car dealership for over 10 years, so what’s the problem? It’s been an eyesore, so finally someone has the vision to make Sadler Road more welcoming and upscale. Amelia Island needs this instead of an old and tired look.