Ceremonial Groundbreaking - Planned For September 18th

The Kolter Group is pleased to announce that construction has commenced on the Westin Sarasota and VUE Sarasota Bay, which together will occupy the corner of Gulfstream Boulevard and US 41, in downtown Sarasota.

To mark the occasion, a ceremonial groundbreaking took place yesterday, September 18, at the bayfront site.  Guests included stakeholders in the property, local business and government leaders and key officials from Westin Hotels, The Kolter Group, Kast Construction and Michael Saunders & Company.

The $300-million construction project includes the concurrent development of VUE Sarasota Bay, a 141-unit luxury condominium; the 18-story, 255-room Westin Sarasota, an adjoining motorcourt and parking structure.  Kast Construction, Kolter’s general contractor, has received all necessary permits for the project’s clearing, staging and foundation work. Preliminary site work actually got underway earlier this summer with the permitted demolition of a former Denny’s restaurant.

“The removal of the restaurant was the first visible step towards creating an iconic new landmark in downtown Sarasota,” said Mike Neal, President of Kast Construction.  “With the first 25% of our construction contracts awarded, we have already mobilized our building team; and in doing so have helped create a significant number of new jobs for Sarasota County.”

Owned and developed by Kolter Hospitality, The Westin Sarasota will open in July 2016 as part of a new development in downtown Sarasota’s vibrant arts and marina district.  It will feature 255 spacious rooms with spectacular waterfront and skyline views.

“This new Westin hotel will inspire well-being in Sarasota, the cultural centre of southwest Florida, within close proximity of the city’s best theatres, arts and beaches,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. “Here, guests will enjoy all the Westin brand’s signature programs and amenities, designed to send guests home feeling better than when they arrived.”

The Westin Sarasota will offer 14,000 square feet of market-leading meeting facilities, ideal for weddings, social galas and business functions. Additional facilities will include a full-service restaurant, a Westin WORKOUT® Gym and a roof top pool and food services overlooking the bay and a Heavenly Spa. 

The hotel’s companion structure, VUE Sarasota Bay, will include 141 condominium residences within easy walking distance of nearby theatres, restaurants, art galleries, the Sarasota Opera House; and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Centre.  The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Siesta Key Beach and St. Armands Circle are a short drive away.  Its expected completion date is fall 2016, following the opening of The Westin Sarasota.

“With commencement of VUE Sarasota Bay’s construction, we have converted our early reservations into formal contracts,” says Ed Jahn, Kolter’s vice president of sales. “We formally launched the project in March, with sales to date exceeding all expectations.”

Residences at VUE Sarasota Bay are priced from the $800s to over $2 million.

Sales are being represented by the New Homes & Condominiums Division of Michael Saunders & Company; and are being conducted by a team of professionals at the VUE Sarasota Bay Sales Gallery—located at 100 South Washington Boulevard. 

For an appointment or additional information, please contact the sales gallery at 001(941) 363-9700.

About VUE Sarasota Bay:

Through ten-foot walls of glass, residents of VUE Sarasota Bay will enjoy views of Sarasota Bay, the Sarasota skyline, its barrier islands and the Gulf of Mexico.

Designed by Nicholas, Brosch, Wurst, Wolfe & Associates, and influenced by the design principles championed by Sarasota’s famed Sarasota School of Architecture, other features include access-controlled elevators that open directly into private elevator foyers; and enhanced indoor/outdoor living with spacious terraces that are a minimum of 10’ wide and 20’ long.  Many floor plans include terraces that expand to over 40 feet in length.  Two covered, secured and assigned parking spaces are provided with each residence; and amenities include an elevated pool deck, outdoor grille overlooking the waterfront, a rooftop dog park, resident fitness centre, business centre and lounge areas.

About The Kolter Group:

The Kolter Group is a diversified real estate development and investment firm that has invested in projects with expected value in excess of $10 billion.

Headquartered in Palm Beach County, Florida, and with a southeast operational footprint, Kolter’s market and sector knowledge has positioned the firm to capitalize on emerging trends in U.S. real estate. Currently, Kolter is developing in 40 locations throughout the southeastern United States.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts:

Westin Hotels & Resorts offers innovative programs that transform every aspect of a stay into a revitalizing experience. All Westin signature services – like the Heavenly Bed®, delicious SuperFoodsRx® and WestinWORKOUT® studio – have been designed with the guests’ well-being in mind.

Westin hotels, with more than 190 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels& Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with nearly 1,200 properties in 100 countries and 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties.

Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®,Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. The Company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates.

Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

(Photo cut line: Team responsible for the construction and sales of VUE Sarasota Bay and The Westin Sarasota turn a ceremonial shovel of dirt at yesterday’s groundbreaking for the pair of bayfront structures. L. to R., Bob Vail, James Hanson, Ed Jahn, Michael Saunders, Georgia Kopelousous, Lisa Morris and David Arent.)