The Next Chapter
The Plan
The Mirasol will be restored to its former glamour as a sophisticated Mediterranean Revival property, featuring bespoke hotel suites, a limited collection of hotel-serviced luxurious waterfront condominiums, and intimate gathering spaces for Davis Islands residents and guests.
Elegant and Thoughtful Design
Fortunately, many original items and interior design elements within the Mirasol have been preserved over the past 100 years. As we are with the renovation of the property back to a boutique hotel, luxury residence, and community anchor, we will also be preserving as many period-based elements as possible. Furniture and interior elements that must be acquired will be curated with intention and respect for the refined sophistication authentic to the structure.
Amenities
As called once before, and we will again, the “Crown Jewel of Davis Islands.” The Mirasol will offer:
Up to 118 bespoke hotel rooms and suites
Up to 16 private condominium residences
Community-focused amenities, potentially including: a restaurant, a rooftop sky garden, a coffee bar, a wellness spaces, a formal outdoor space with a small pool in its existing location, and garden
Smart Improvements
To ensure the long-term resilience of the building, and neighborhood, the project will include sustainable and storm-resiliency measures, including:
North & South Wings – Two new structures will replace the property’s current asphalt surface parking lots, incorporating new infrastructure to improve stormwater and resiliency at the site. To the north, a 2-story structure above flood elevation will house new residences over a full-screened level of ground-level parking for the residents and their guests. The south wing, connecting to the historic Mirasol tower, will include luxurious hotel rooms and spacious suites, in a 3-story structure over a level of dedicated hotel and visitor parking.
Parking and stormwater solutions - The Mirasol will increase the amount of on-site parking. The parking areas will incorporate enhanced stormwater protection, meeting today’s best practices and standards. The result will be an improvement in onsite stormwater retention and it will limit stormwater flowing onto surrounding streets.
Modern infrastructure upgrades - These improvements will meet the highest safety, wind, and flood standards and all local and state requirements.
Storm hardening infrastructure - Critical building infrastructure will be moved out of the existing basement to a higher elevation, and other flood-proofing measures will be taken, to reduce future storm damage risks.
Operations and noise planning - Hotel and event operations will respect the neighborhood’s residential needs and the hotel’s elegant environment. Outdoor events will be limited. Also, work-related trucks and loading will be accommodated in enclosed loading docks accessed off of Davis Blvd.
Myth vs. Fact
THE MYTH:
The Mirasol will create much more additional traffic. Its impacts require a traffic light.
THE FACTS:
Expert traffic engineers have studied the impact on street traffic based on The Mirasol’s plans. These engineers have found there will be no significant increase in vehicle trips on Davis Blvd and no impact to the surrounding intersection performance as a result of the proposed changes to the property. Based on the engineering assessment, at the peak hour of traffic, fewer than 70 cars will be added to the road over that hour.
This is not correct. The need for a new traffic signal to be installed on the Island is determined by analysis of existing traffic volumes.
THE MYTH:
The proposed project will create terrible congestion on Adalia Ave.
THE FACTS:
This is not correct. The Mirasol team listened to the concerns of the neighborhood and has committed to ensuring the impact on neighbors is minimal and supporting ease of access into and out of Adalia Ave., Baltic Cir., and the other residential streets nearby. Revised plans removed a parking access curb cut on Adalia Ave. Also, parking for the property on Adalia Ave. will be limited to the building’s full-time residents, and their guests, of that building located there.
THE MYTH:
The project will make cars go through the “A Streets” and adjacent residential roads.
THE FACTS:
This is not correct. The Mirasol team listened to the concerns of the neighborhood and revised the building plans to avoid this from happening. Specifically, the valet parking and hotel parking is now entirely provided in the south “wing” accessed from Davis Blvd.
THE FACTS:
This is not correct. Proposed valet operations have never included parking cars in the on-street spaces on Adalia Ave. In addition, The Mirasol team listened to the concerns of the neighborhood and revised its plans to remove valet operations from Adalia Ave altogether. The valet parking will be off Davis Blvd located in the new south “wing.”
THE MYTH:
The valet will park off of Adalia Ave.
THE MYTH:
Parking will overflow onto residential neighborhood streets.
THE FACTS:
The Mirasol has included adequate parking in its plan for its demand. Guests of the Mirasol will not be permitted to park along the surrounding neighborhood streets. Current parking is monitored and enforced for residents of The Mirasol (a practice that began with the new ownership in 2021), and ownership intends to continue this. In addition, The Mirasol’s contingency plan for any limited excessive parking need is to provide dedicated off-site parking at other existing parking lots in Tampa and transport guests to and from the property, as needed.
The Mirasol supports any community-driven effort to create DI-only resident parking restrictions on residential roads, as exists in other Tampa neighborhoods.
THE MYTH:
The hotel will operate 24/7. It will bring constant noise.
THE FACTS:
The Mirasol currently operates 24/7 as a residential property that is professionally managed and has never received any noise complaints under the current ownership. The Mirasol will continue to observe the City of Tampa’s noise ordinances. It will limit the hours that the outdoor spaces can be utilized and will have 24/7 on-site enforcement. The primary event space on the property, just as it was 100 years ago, will be indoors. This boutique hotel will operate a relatively low number of luxury hotel rooms and suites (118 rooms). As is common with other small luxury hotel properties, these guests will share an interest in a tranquil, serene environment.
In a further effort to reduce neighborhood noise, trash collection and the loading dock will be relocated from their current location off of Adalia Ave to a new, dedicated and enclosed space along Davis Blvd.
THE MYTH:
Commercial use will destroy the residential character of Davis Islands; the project is out scale with Davis Islands Urban Village.
THE FACTS:
The Mirasol has a distinct connection to Davis Islands, dating back a century. The existing historic property, which includes a seven-story tower, has been part of the fabric of Davis Islands community since its inception, built by the Island’s namesake himself, DP Davis. The Mirasol was an amenity and a luxury that drew residents to the Islands with a magnificent dining and social gathering space offered in the close-knit community.
This project is a beautiful nod to Davis Islands’ history, stewarded by DI residents as the managers of The Mirasol. Returning The Mirasol to its original use and authenticity will enhance and expand the quality of life of Davis Islands.
The Mirasol’s renovations fully restore the existing tower and wings in the same scale and density and add two new wings that step down from the existing structure to the neighborhoods.
THE MYTH:
The proposed project is out of scale with the underlying residential zoning and future land use code.
THE FACTS:
No, The Mirasol building itself is an existing structure causing no change to the character or scale of the neighborhood. The land currently is zoned RM-35 and future land use code R-50. In code this is defined as, “intended for high-density residential developments… expected to embrace an urban form and prioritize pedestrian accessibility.” The planned project is below the density and intensity allowed by existing zoning.
THE MYTH:
The project will make flooding worse.
THE FACTS:
No, the Mirasol will be renovated in a way that is more sustainable and physically hardened for a stronger building and a neighborhood. Specific to street flooding, there are two existing, impervious asphalt surface parking lots that will be replaced with structures designed to meet current, enhanced stormwater regulations. The result will be an improvement in onsite stormwater retention and a reduction in stormwater that flows onto surrounding neighborhood streets.
THE MYTH:
The Mirasol is operating as an illegal Airbnb and has created safety concerns due to rowdy behaviors of Airbnb guests.
THE FACTS:
No, the Mirasol currently offers 9 short-term rental units with a minimum 7-night stay, which is legal under City ordinance and State law. These units are registered and licensed by the City of Tampa. Property Managers have not received any complaints due to perceived safety concern or unruly behavior. Primarily, these units are utilized by local residents (e.g. DI residents whose homes are undergoing renovations) and Tampa General Hospital employees, patients, and their families. In 2024, the average length of stay in these units was 17-nights (the 2025 YTD average length of stay is 13.4 nights).
THE MYTH:
The marina is being illegally used for commercial purposes.
THE FACTS:
No, The Mirasol is not a commercial marina. It has had private slips as part of the property for at least 60 years. The marina includes 15 slips rented to Davis Islands residents on a monthly basis. There are no commercial boating slips, water taxis, or boat-sharing services.
There have been numerous frivolous lawsuits and code enforcement requests filed by one individual alleging an illegal commercial marina use. These have been repeatedly thrown out by the City of Tampa.
THE MYTH:
This renovation is not necessary to save it. The Mirasol does not need to be converted to a hotel to save it.
THE FACTS:
Unfortunately, this is incorrect. Across the country, we have seen many examples of beautiful, historic architecture from a time passed shuttered, because these buildings require an incredible amount of consistent maintenance, thus financial costs. We are fortunate to have a magnificent plan to base this project on - the 100-year-old, original plan. Creating an intimate, luxurious mix of glamorous hotel rooms and suites with high-end long-term housing and a common gathering space as a common amenity offers The Mirasol a sustainable mechanism to continue to maintain this important landmark in the City’s history. The high cost of damage restoration caused by the 2024 Hurricane Season only exacerbated this need for a sustainable model and the need to make these improvements swiftly.