Updated 3-2016 and 9-2017 below.
Back in 2001, a former landmark restaurant “Pete Renard’s”, and briefly “Marina Bay”, lay abandoned and deteriorating in the heart of Holmes Beach. Opposite the main mall Island Shopping Center, and sitting on prime waterfront with boat canals and docks, the previously family run night spot with the revolving floor and popular restaurant changed hands and then closed.
It’s been 7 15 years since an aspiring developer put together a plan for a complex of 40 luxury hotel condominiums, a deepwater marina for yachts and boats up to 65 feet in length, a restaurant, lounge and meeting facilities, to be called Tidemark Lodge & Marina.
Pre-construction sales of condominium suites were priced from the $300,000s to the $600,000s. The plan was approved by the city commission and demolition began. Periodic press releases promised great things even as long periods passed with no activity on the site.
Financial backers changed several times until Reliance Realty Partners resolved the bankruptcy in May 2007. Work began on rebuilding the seawalls and docks.
Meanwhile, one street away, the Holmes Beach Marina (Moreland Marine) site was razed and rebuilt into completed condos, the real estate market topped out, and condo sales languished.
Some 7 years later, the Tidemark project appeared to be revived with a possible permit application for Building A and B, on the north end, with 7 units in each. Hotel condo units were marketed as fractional ownership in which a buyer purchases an eighth of the unit, with prices starting at $155,000. Owners have use at any time of the year but subject to availability.
Other building blocks are designed to have 5 to 7 units and the lodge part of the project will have 10 accommodation units.
Tidemark Beach Residences, on 66th Street gulf-front, (formerly the Beach Inn), is now under construction was rebuilt adding 30 more units to the combination of a beachfront and (proposed) boating marina package and renamed Mainsail Beach Inn and Mainsail Marina.
Update 2012: More years passed and the foundations for the marina-lodge remained unimproved. Many of the marina slips are occupied by charter boats but the building site is overgrown with weeds. City of Holmes Beach Commissioners propose to request Mainsail developers to explain their intentions for the site, after years of delays and an eyesore construction area. (Islander news link)
Update 2013: Holmes Beach commissioners voted to revoke the existing site plan permit and requested the current property owners to present new plans for re-approval. The project comprises 37 two story hotel units, lodge with 80-seat restaurant and 50 boat slips. Changes to the approved 2001 plan include increased setbacks, revised parking, buffering neighbors, 3 to 2 level lodge with 3 fewer units, 40 fewer restaurant seats, and 25 fewer boat slips. Mainsail president has requested the commissioners to reconsider their decision in order to avoid “legal machinery” going into action.
Update 2016: On March 1st, City of Holmes Beach issued building permits for “Waterline”, two buildings in 3 stories, containing 37 units. The accommodation units will be on the upper 2 floors along with an 80-seat restaurant, offices, meeting rooms, shops, and exercise spaces at ground level. Foundation work is expected to start immediately and buildings within the next year. The adjacent shopping strip mall is also planned for a facelift.
Update August 2017: Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club owner Mainsail Property Management are in the final stages of receiving occupancy permits from the City of Holmes Beach. Opening date has been delayed but currently expected to be October 1, Oct 15, November 15, December 1, 2017.
