Hyatt Regency Sarasota Demolition Begins Ahead of Major Bayfront Redevelopment

• Demolition underway using a controlled, floor-by-floor process

• Site to be redeveloped into a $250 million mixed-use destination

• New Hyatt Centric hotel and luxury condos planned on the waterfront

One of downtown Sarasota’s most familiar waterfront landmarks, the Hyatt Regency Sarasota, is officially coming down. Demolition of the hotel at 1000 Boulevard of the Arts is currently underway, marking the end of an era for a property that has stood on the Bayfront since 1975.

Rather than a dramatic implosion, contractors are dismantling the structure methodically, removing the building floor by floor. The careful approach reflects the hotel’s prominent location along Sarasota Bay and prepares the site for a large-scale redevelopment set to redefine the area.

The property was acquired in 2022 by Kolter Group, a Delray Beach–based developer, for around $30.7 million. The company has since unveiled plans for a $250 million mixed-use project, known as 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, aimed at modernising the Bayfront and attracting fresh investment.

Once demolition is completed, construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. The new development will feature a 174-room Hyatt Centric Harborside hotel, designed as a boutique-style property with updated amenities. In addition, the project includes 117 luxury waterfront condominiums, more than 7,000 square feet of event and meeting space, and ground-level restaurants and retail outlets intended to activate the Bayfront promenade.

While the new Hyatt Centric will be smaller than the former Regency, the project is designed to blend hospitality, residential living, and public-facing commercial spaces. However, the loss of the Regency’s expansive ballroom and meeting facilities—once exceeding 9,000 square feet—has sparked discussion among local businesses and event organisers about future conference capacity in the city’s core.

The redevelopment has also impacted hotel staff. State filings indicate that around 101 employees are expected to be laid off as hotel operations wind down, with permanent closure anticipated by May 2025. Management has said it will assist affected workers in exploring roles at other hospitality properties in the region.

City officials have already approved key planning elements for the project, including traffic circulation and a new two-tower layout. Although some neighbouring stakeholders raised concerns over congestion and site access, Sarasota’s city commissioners upheld the approvals earlier this year.

As Sarasota’s Bayfront continues to evolve—with projects like The Quay and other high-end developments gaining momentum—the transformation of the Hyatt Regency site is being viewed as another major step in reshaping downtown into a mixed-use, luxury-focused urban destination.