Winter Garden commissioners approve hotel

A few contracts are all that are left to sign before a new boutique hotel in downtown Winter Garden is officially on the way. 

At the June 27 City Commission meeting, Winter Garden officials voted to approve the sale of the downtown property at 8 N. Highland Ave. to WGH Property LLC for $1.2 million. 

“I think we’ve had six public meetings,” City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said. “We’ve gone over this quite a bit. We’ve had a lot of input on this, (and) we’ve made changes based on that input. We think, the staff thinks, it’s a great project and it’s great for the City of Winter Garden.”

The developer, JA Hospitality LLC, plans to build a three-story, 45,000-square-foot hotel on the parcel that sits across from City Hall and between the Masonic Lodge and the American Legion Post 63. 

The sale agreement included a parking license that reserves up to 60 spaces for hotel valet use within 1,100 feet of the property for a 10-year period. The spaces will be located in the least-used parking area downtown, which is expected to be the top floor of the parking garage. 

As the hotel is built, the city plans to also revitalize parking in the downtown area. The change will entail new signs, a designated valet lot for hotel guests and the potential for more than 200 new parking spots.

The commission also approved rezoning requests for the Tucker Oaks development at 15500 W. Colonial Drive and a project to revitalize the historic citrus packing plant on Tildenville School Road.

HISTORY MADE

The City Commission acknowledged the promotions of Shann Cliburn and Kristi Richardson, noting this is the first time in the history of the Winter Garden Fire Department that women are represented at every level, except for the position of fire chief. 

Cliburn was promoted to fire lieutenant, making her the first female fire lieutenant in department history. She will be overseeing a shift at Station 23. 

Richardson was promoted to fire engineer, a position which will put her behind the wheel of the department’s newest fire truck, Engine 21.

With the new promotions, Winter Garden Fire Chief Matt McGrew said, it’s important for a fire department to be a reflection of the community it serves. 

“Diversity is really the value in diversity and understanding that everybody brings value to the table,” McGrew said.