April 18, 2024

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New owners will turn iconic Magic Beach Motel in Vilano into a boutique hotel

The Magic Beach Motel, located in Vilano Beach, was purchased May 9.

The Magic Seashore Motel, positioned in Vilano Seashore, was purchased May well 9.

Following the sale of the residence to another developer fell by way of following a pretty public fight with neighbors, the Magic Seashore Motel in Vilano Beach has been marketed.

But the new entrepreneurs — a boutique lodge management company — say they have no ideas at this time to improve the iconic classic motel, apart from some basic repairs and renovations.

“At the moment, we are just targeted on working the house,” mentioned Sonny Bhikha, a principal with Shivam Homes.

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Extra on the Magic Seashore: Magic Seashore Motel sale falls by way of after County Fee denies layout approval application

Crucial Worldwide, a Miami-based developer, experienced prepared to invest in the Magic Beach Motel and change it into the 194-place Vilano Beach Hotel. The organization backed out of the offer last December after the St. Johns County Fee voted 4- to deny its layout application. Vital Worldwide is the exact same firm at the rear of the Embassy Suites in St. Augustine Beach.

On May perhaps 9, Shivam Properties finalized the $3.8 million transaction to get the 24-place motor lodge at 50 Vilano Street from Earl and Remy Jensen who have owned it due to the fact 2010.

The agency also manages motels and accommodations in Jacksonville Seashore, in which it is based, as nicely as the Rodeway Inn on Ponce de Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine.

Commonly, Shivam Qualities purchases a franchise of a national chain and then refurbishes it with smooth, modern amenities.

“There is such a demand from customers for resorts that are not cookie-cutter,” Bhikha claimed. “We saw the possibility listed here and just variety of moved on from there.”

Shivam Homes has by now taken above management of the Magic Seashore Motel and is continuing functions as usual, which includes honoring prior reservations.

Magic Seashore Motel got its title from its use as a established locale for the 1999 Warner Brothers Tv set collection “Safe Harbor,” starring Emmy winner and Golden Globe nominee Rue McClanahan. Also featuring Gregory Harrison, the collection was about a sheriff and father of three boys dwelling in Magic Beach, Florida, a fictional city.

The motel, designed in 1951, functions Artwork Deco style and design and has become a community fixture in Vilano.

Neighbors founded the North Beach front Local community Alliance, a team of citizens and local modest firms, in 2021 to handle issues more than a improvement they thought could negatively influence the ecosystem and quality of everyday living.

Final August, the team place out a petition asking the county suspend permits for professional and blended-use developments in Vilano Beach front Town Center which garnered almost 700 signatures. Local inhabitants also spoke out at the initially setting up conferences exactly where Crucial International floated the concept of the 194-space hotel.

Michael Clare-Salzler, a 10-calendar year Vilano resident who does not belong to the North Beach front Community Alliance but is involved about overdevelopment, spoke to The File on Wednesday.

Clare-Salzler explained he not heard about the buy of the Magic Beach front Motel by new owners. When given a description of the new owner’s designs for the residence, Clare-Salzler said, “Effectively, that’s very good information to hear.”

In modern a long time, the Vilano area has grow to be a lot more commercially produced.

In addition to current inns and Airbnb rentals, the 50-room Holiday Inn Express has opened and a Hyatt Position 120-room hotel will open this fall.

To Bhikha’s head, competitiveness is good and he can have an understanding of why travelers find the location captivating.

“The entire Vilano Beach is walkable, protected and a place where by individuals want to arrive disconnect,” Bhikha reported.

This posting initially appeared on St. Augustine History: Magic Beach Motel in Vilano will be turned into a boutique resort