Revised plans for the proposed new Hyatt Centric hotel on the site of the former Treasure Island and Margaritaville resorts are being considered by members of the Central Planning Authority after hearing from developers and objectors to the project.
The modified proposal for the 10-storey four-star $120 million Hyatt Centric hotel on West Bay Road came before the Central Planning Authority on 17 Sept. with the discussion centering around the building height, the size of the development, objectors’ concerns and the location of the proposed pickleball court.
New four-star hotel
The current hotel, which is largely empty, is slated for demolition and the new hotel, if approved, will have 316 bedrooms, a rooftop restaurant and a ground floor bar/restaurant, two pickleball courts, three pools and a pool bar.
Samuel Jackson of JacksonLaw, speaking on behalf of the developers, said that the application had originally been for a “significantly larger” hotel but, following consultation with the neighbouring residents and statutory agencies, it had decided to reduce the size of the new hotel from 352 bedrooms to 316 and to reduce the building width by 28 feet to improve light and air access for adjoining parcels.
“The fact that it is a 10-storey building is not a valid objection,” Jackson told the meeting. “It fits squarely within, or exceeds the standard of the development plan.”
The proposed pickleball courts have been moved away from existing residential properties over concerns about noise, more parking spaces have been added and a dedicated bus stop has been incorporated into the designs in response to a request from the National Roads Authority. Construction will be limited to Monday-Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Several parties who had initially objected have since withdrawn their concerns, but some objectors still remain and made their views clear at the planning meeting, with authority chair Ian Pairaudeau making it clear that all objections will be treated equally, regardless of size or number.
Objectors’ concerns
Of particular concern was the overshadowing effect of the new building, which will be several storeys higher than the current hotel and the question of asbestos in the old building which, the meeting was told, was to be found in a ceiling membrane and would be removed before demolition.
The 5.43-acre site, which has been plagued with issues for several years, was sold in December2024 for $8.6 million.
A planning notice for the redevelopment of the site into a 10-storey hotel designed by Trio Architecture was first submitted to the Department of Planning in February 2025.
Trio Architecture previously worked on the transformation of the Treasure Island resort into the Margaritaville resort. Trio is also working with the Hyatt group on its 10-storey Grand Hyatt hotel, which is nearing completion at the former Pageant Beach Hotel site, next to The Wharf Restaurant & Bar.