AC Hotels by Marriott continues its path toward opening at St. Johns Town Center with a construction start expected by year-end and completion in spring 2023.
The city issued a concurrency reservation certificate May 28 for development of the 118-room, 72,000-square-foot hotel on 2.73 acres along Big Island Drive.
The hotel is planned near the RH Jacksonville furniture gallery, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, under construction east of Tesla, Apple and J. Alexander’s.
OTO Development LLC of Spartanburg, South Carolina, is the managing partner for the development of the Jacksonville AC Hotel.
The project is a joint venture of OTO and Simon Property Group, an owner of St. Johns Town Center.
“We are currently in the project’s design phase and anticipate starting construction in December of 2021. Construction is planned to be completed in March of 2023,” said Stephen Daley, vice president of construction of OTO Development LLC, in an email July 6.
The site is Parcel 3 of Phase 4 of St. Johns Town Center, at northwest Butler Boulevard and Interstate 295.
Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group is the landlord. England-Thims & Miller Inc. is the civil engineer and agent.
The project appears to have been on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
England-Thims & Miller submitted plans April 7, 2020, for city civil plan review.
Plans show the hotel with a pool and parking.
The fourth phase of St. Johns Town Center includes the AC Hotel, RH and an unidentified theater along with an addition to a building near Nordstrom.
Simon Property Group is the landlord for the 1.4 million-square-foot regional shopping center.
St. Johns Town Center opened in 2005 and completed its third phase, anchored by a Nordstrom store, in 2014.
The fourth phase is designed among four parcels on 41.02 acres at the southeast side of the property. The land primarily was undeveloped or used for parking.
AC Hotels by Marriott comprises more than 150 hotels worldwide. They feature the AC Kitchen and the AC Lounge.
AC Hotels says its approach to every space is “optimal comfort and utility through elegant design. Modern decor and open layouts offer functional beauty without distraction,” including open closets.
The hotels also sell “a well-curated collection of upscale products that share our passion for quality and attention to detail. You can shop local products including beverages, food items and a few guilt gifts to take home for yourself or loved ones.”
Marriott’s website shows 15 AC Hotels in Florida in Clearwater Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee and Tampa.
The rate for a room in Gainesville for July 11-12 starts at $126.
