Community resistance may keep Broward hotel from crossing street to touch the beach

Resistance from town residents may lead developers to redesign a proposed 207-room hotel that would close part of an existing street along the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

Many in an audience of about 100 people criticized the proposal last week at a Town Hall workshop because the developers want to build the hotel on part of El Mar Drive, which is parallel to, and east of, State Road A1A.

The developers, Fort Lauderdale-based TLG Investment Partners LLC and Marietta, Georgia-based Concord Wilshire Capital LLC, proposed closing the southern end of El Mar Drive so their planned hotel could extend from A1A to the beach.

But Elliot Sokolow, the vice mayor of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, said many residents oppose the proposed closure of the southern end of El Mar Drive, which provides access to homes and lodging.

Sokolow also told the Sun-Sentinel that the planned hotel “would be a great addition to our southern border” and that Concord Wilshire is a “credible developer with a great track record.” Nate Sirang, president of Concord Wilshire, did not respond to phone messages.

A joint venture of Concord Wilshire and TLG signed a contract in February to acquire the hotel development site: A former Holiday Inn at 4116 Ocean Drive and 4108 and 4110 El Mar Drive, the former location of a now-demolished hotel known as Villa Caprice. The owner of the property is Florida Development Group South. [Sun-Sentinel] – Mike Seemuth