Sanford hotel developer invests $2.3 million

Historic City News has learned that a Sanford, Florida hotel developer, Humphrey Realty Corp, will put the wheels in motion before the end of the month for their first hotel property in St Augustine; following their $2.3 million purchase of the San Marco Inn located at 116 San Marco Avenue.

The current hotel will close at the end of next week, and demolition will begin after Thanksgiving, according to published statements from hotelier, Abbas Abdulhussein, who has owned the hotel for the past fourteen months.

“Existing zoning of the property is CL-2,” Mark Knight, director of Planning and Zoning told Historic City News. “The developer has not applied for a Planned Unit Development.”

The five-story building, which for years flew the RAMADA brand, reportedly will be completely renovated, and return to St Augustine’s skyline as a brand new, Class A, DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. Sluggers sports bar will not be rebuilt.

The company says they are aiming for completion sometime in April 2014.