DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A long battle between residents, the developer, and Daytona Beach city leaders is over.
The city commission on Wednesday night approved a rezoning for a site where a developer wants to build a 25-story, modern condo-hotel on the corner of Silver Beach Avenue and A1A.
Residents who live nearby and have been against it told News 6 they don’t believe it will fit in.
“What should happen is development consistent with the neighborhood. We have 12-story properties along here,” said resident Sandy Murphy.
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Murphy was one of 27 residents voicing their thoughts on Wednesday night. There was a mix of residents speaking both for and against the project before the city commission voted to keep it going.
“Here, where you’re right adjacent to the neighborhood — it doesn’t make sense,” said Murphy the next day.
For the developer out of Miami, it’s been a long wait, having purchased the land in 2005. His team finally asked to rezone the property this year, starting the fight with these residents.
“We felt a couple of years ago... that it was time to bring our vision to reality,” said the developer, Eddie Avila, on Wednesday night.
The two commissioners who voted against it also heard concern from residents, who believed more construction could add to erosion issues.
On the other side, commissioners who voted for it believe it could bring in even more new development in this particular area. It would be the first hotel built south of International Speedway Boulevard in 35 years.
“Some parts of the city, we’re trying to revitalize it by pulling investment back in,” said Commissioner Quantia May.
It could be a while until residents see any action on the land, though.
The city gave the developer a timeline of five years to secure all permits and 10 years to finish building.
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