The next step has been taken for a new proposed development on the former Outrigger property that was purchased by London Bay last year. London Bay has submitted plans to town staff for review. It will be months of back-and-forth before the project gets anywhere near an LPA agenda.
London Bay purchased the Outrigger Resort property, and the Charlie’s Restaurant property across the street, in the Summer of 2023 for $32 million after both were demolished by Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022. No plans have been presented to the community as of yet for Charlie’s. The focus for London Bay right now is the former Outrigger property.
Before the storm, The Outrigger was 3-4 stories high, with a Tiki Bar on the beach, and 144 hotel rooms. The building was a total of about 35-40 feet high. It was approved in 1995 before the town incorporated.
London Bay has submitted the project to staff as it was presented to the community at two meetings at Bay Beach and one at DiamondHead Resort over the last month. London Bay CEO Mark Wilson said in one of the public meetings he does not have a plan B.
London Bay is proposing a hotel that is 10 floors over 2 floors of parking for a total of 12 floors. The hotel would have 100 hotel rooms and 50 condo units they would sell in that same building. London Bay is also proposing a 15 story condo building over 2 levels of parking, for a total of 17 stories. There would be 46 condo units for sale in the second building. The proposal also includes 24,000 square feet of commercial space.
The London Bay proposal has access to the site coming from Estero Blvd. with an extended driveway leading to a central courtyard to mitigate traffic and stacking on Estero. The proposal includes 300 parking spaces and up to 72 spaces for bicycles, golf carts, and e-charge stations for scooters.
The proposal filed with the town states that “the height is a maximum of 200 feet over FEMA Base Flood Elevation.”
The development company is also hoping to keep the Outrigger Tiki Bar alive by providing some of the same setup on the beach, if it can be done. Whether that’s a Tiki Bar with equipment that needs to be connected and disconnected every day, or a food truck. That still needs to be worked out.
London Bay’s is also pitching the following list as public benefits:
– Shaded Public Park
– Public Beach Access
– Bike Parking
– Golf Cart Parking
– Beach Bar & Food Truck
– Beach Games
– Beach Showers & Restrooms
– View Corridors
– Cross Walk at Estero Blvd.
– Access to Valet Parking
– Lobby Bar & Restaurant (300-350 Seats)
– Cafe & Market
– Rooftop Bar (150-200 Seats)
– Ballroom & Event Terrace.
Once the back-and-forth is complete with town staff, the proposal would go to the LPA and Town Council in the same way other developments have been doing since the storm.
London Bay CEO Mark Wilson told Beach Talk Radio that if everything went according to plan, with no hiccups, from this day forward, doors could open in late 2027 or early 2028.
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