Ora Hotel and Residences Nears Groundbreaking in Tampa; Crane and Foundation Permits Filed
Construction is nearing for Ora Hotel and Residences in Tampa, as the city’s first condo-hotel project without short-term rental restrictions begins to show clear signs of forward momentum. Led by a joint venture between Arc Development and Prosper Group, the development team has recently filed multiple applications with the FAA for tower cranes, adding to a growing list of indicators that groundbreaking is approaching. The project, planned for a three-parcel assemblage just north of Water Street Tampa, has been in the works for several years. Earlier this year, the developers secured full control of the block fronting East Jackson Street and North Brush Street in a $22.5 million acquisition, setting the stage for construction to progress. Since then, activity behind the scenes has accelerated, with strong presales, multiple permit filings, and now crane applications all pointing toward a near-term start. Three crane permits were submitted to the FAA. One application covers a 250-foot crawling mobile crane, expected to be used for deep foundation work. That permit outlines a work window from August 1 through July 2027, meaning foundation activity could stretch close to a full year. If the current schedule holds, demolition would likely begin ahead of that, with a summer groundbreaking target. Two additional filings call for tower cranes rising significantly higher, at 532 feet and 508 feet. Those are slated for installation beginning March 1, 2027, and remaining in place until late 2029: a clear timeline for vertical construction. While all three applications are still under FAA review, approval is expected. Beyond the crane permits, the development team has also submitted a range of construction-related applications in recent months. These include a foundation permit under general contractor Kast Construction, along with utility permits, and more. According to recent filings from just a few months ago, Ora Hotel and Residences is set to deliver 658 condo-hotel units, all of which will allow short-term rentals without restriction. The project will also include 12 traditional hotel rooms, 16,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space geared toward food and beverage uses, and 550 parking spaces. Designed by Adache Group Architects, the tower is planned to rise 40 stories, reaching a height of about 465 feet. Once complete, it is expected to become the tallest building east of Tampa’s urban core, standing out prominently along the skyline: at least until future phases of Water Street Tampa begin to fill in the surrounding area. Although a groundbreaking was initially targeted for March of this year, that timeline has since slipped, with the developer now aiming for a summer start. Given the steady stream of positive indicators, that revised schedule appears increasingly likely.
Mixed-Income Apartments Dubbed The Gem Proposed in Hallandale Beach
A new mixed-income development is working its way through the approval process in Hallandale Beach, where Dragonfly Investments has submitted plans for a 12-story apartment building in the city’s Harlem Village neighborhood. Dubbed “The Gem,” the project is proposed for 411 N. Dixie Highway and would bring 170 units to a nearly one-acre assemblage that the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency has been looking to activate for years. The CRA, which owns the entire assemblage spanning roughly 39,000 square feet, launched a formal request for proposals in 2024 with a clear vision in mind: a mixed-use development with retail, a meaningful residential component, and built-in affordability. Four developers threw their names in, with Dragonfly Investments coming out on top. What emerged from that process is a project where 60% (or 102 units) of units are designated as affordable or workforce housing. The CRA’s original RFP outlined specific income tiers targeting households at 30%, 50% and 60% of Area Median Income, with at least five units set aside for senior housing at 20% AMI. But, those targets may look different by the time the project breaks ground. The developer has since indicated that the income structure is still being worked out, hinting that the brackets laid out during the RFP process are likely to shift as the project moves through approvals. Given the changing nature of affordable developments, notably rising costs, this isn’t unexpected. The 170 units will span studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, averaging 706 square feet per residence. The smallest unit will measure 474 square feet, while the largest stretches to 1,116. Regardless of income level, all residents will have access to the same amenity package, which includes a pool, lounge space, and a rooftop terrace (the latter of which was specifically required by the CRA). At street level, The Gem is designed to engage with the surrounding neighborhood. A total of 12,390 square feet of retail space is planned for the ground floor, with 1,000 square feet specifically for a local business. The surrounding streetscape is set to receive wider sidewalks, added greenery, and a colonnade along the building’s perimeter: offering pedestrians some cover from the elements. The Gem itself will sit atop a three-story podium clad in decorative mesh screening, rising to 137 feet at its tallest point, or about 126 feet to the roofline. Corwil Architect, a locally based firm, is behind the design. The facade is characterized by floor-to-ceiling windows, nearly 10-foot ceilings, private balconies, and a gray color palette that has become something of a Corwil signature. The project will feature 256 parking spaces; while the project’s application did not specify the total parking count dedicated to the public, the CRA’s RFP required that at least 50 spaces be owned by the city and made available for public use. The land conveyance (or disposal/transfer) from the CRA to the developer has been approved, although current county documents still show the assemblage under city control. The project is still in the proposal stage, though approval is expected to follow. If things stay on track, Dragonfly Investments is targeting a groundbreaking in the first quarter of 2027.