BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — The sign may be dated, but it is finally relevant. The new “Holiday Inn is Coming Soon.”
Work began to clear the lot at the corner of U.S. 301 and Southeast 145th Terrace. Here, the entrance to the Lincoln City community, is located across the highway from the Murray vehicle dealership. Located just outside of Starke’s city limits, the land is zoned for intensive commercial development.
There is also an empty convenience store at the location with some hope of redevelopment with the opening of the hotel.
The Holiday Inn has been expected since July 2018 when the Bradford County Commission, sitting as the Board of Adjustment, granted a variance to allow the hotel to exceed the 39-foot height restriction and build up to four stories.
At the time, a development this size had an assessed value of $2.5 million, which would generate tens of thousands of dollars in additional tax revenue for the county, not to mention the utility revenue the city would receive for the water and sewer connections. It would also raise Tourist Development Tax revenue.
The hotel is expected to have an even bigger economic impact, drawing customers from the bypass to support local restaurants, gas stations and other businesses.
According to property records, the parcel was sold for $315,000 in 2018 to F&R Enterprises, a development company in Orlando.
The site plan states Holiday Inn, but the development was introduced to the commission as a four-story Holiday Inn Express with nearly 80 rooms. Generally speaking, the difference is in amenities and staffing, with express hotels offering a slimmed down experience. Two of the nearest Holiday Inn Express hotels are in Gainesville and Alachua, but they also feature suites.
The site plan indicates the building will exceed 12,000 square feet, but there will be no direct access from the highway. Instead, ingress and egress will be made from Southeast 145th Terrace.
Fire safety and the ability to rescue occupants from a fourth floor was a concern at the time the commission granted the variance because the county did not have a ladder truck. Engineer Chris Gmuer admitted while there is no specific requirement to have firefighting equipment to reach the fourth floor, safety is a concern.
He noted that 50 feet is the maximum height, but the actual access to the fourth floor is around 38 feet. The Florida Building Code will also require a full sprinkler system that provides additional coverage in hallways to increase protection in emergency pathways and exits, he said.
The county commission approved the variance unanimously at the time, with Commissioner Chris Dougherty remarking that anything that brings people to Bradford County to support business is a good idea.
