The Melbourne City Council in Florida has granted preliminary approval to developer Willow Street Capital for the development of a new 156-room Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel in Melbourne, according to a report from The Real Deal.
The firm has already secured a lender and a group of equity investors to fund the 11-story hotel, which is expected to cost $33 million. The council will decide on the final approval for the development by May 8, 2018.
Willow Street Capital plans to redevelop a city-owned parking lot in downtown Melbourne. The proposed hotel will have a three-level parking garage open to the public, rooftop lounge and event space. If the project receives final approval, the council will allow the firm to construct a 123-foot hotel, exceeding the current limit on building height at 96 feet. The city council will decide whether to grant the final approval by May 8. 2018.
Willow Street Capital, Duke Hospitality, The Charre Group and their capital partners signed a franchise agreement with Hilton to develop the new Tapestry Collection hotel. The property would be the brand's first in Florida. The new-build 156-room hotel is expected to open in early 2020 in Florida's Space Coast near the Orlando Melbourne International Airport. Duke Hospitality will manage the hotel designed by architectural firms Overcash Demmit and Malcolm Berg EoA Group.
This new hotel would follow the recent addition of the Black Fox Lodge in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., to the brand’s portfolio in early April 2018. The 178-room riverfront hotel near LeConte Center at Pigeon Forge will officially begin operating under the Tapestry Collection brand by August 2018 once minor renovations are complete.
The Tapestry Collection became Hilton's 14th brand in January 2017, and is a soft-brand collection positioned in the upscale segment. There are currently seven Tapestry Collection hotels in operation, in North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; New York; Louisiana; Virginia; and the aforementioned Tennessee. Three more proprties are slated to come online in Georgia, New York City and Kentucky.
At the time the brand was announced, Hilton said there were an additional 35 deals in process.