Sandalwood Beach Resort in North Redington Beach to be redeveloped into six-story condo-hotel
/A rendering of the proposed new resort with 42 rooms and a beach club | rendering provided by bill karns
The Sandalwood Beach Resort in North Redington Beach will be redeveloped into a six-story “condo-hotel” with larger waterfront rooms and amenities open to the public.
Earlier this year, Nored Beach Development, led by developer and hotelier Bill Karns with Century 21 broker Jeffery Beggins, bought the resort at 17100 Gulf Boulevard for $6 million. The seller, Sandalwood at Redington LLC, controlled by Yang Huijun, has joined the new project as a partner.
“The Sandalwood was built in 1959 and was rundown. The foundation sank seven inches during last year’s hurricanes. The previous owners spent a lot of time and money to raise the structure and redo the guest rooms,” said Karns, noting the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Milton on the property. “Because of damage from the storms, the cost of renovating the existing structure doesn’t make sense.”
The three-story resort, closed since the hurricanes, has 47 fully furnished units, a pool, and private beach access. Karns said the new plan calls for demolishing the building and replacing it with the same number units, although they will be larger units designed so each has a view of the beach.
The sandalwood beach resort that will be demolished | Sandalwood beach resort
“We are grandfathered in to build up to the 47-room count, but there’s a big demand from families to find larger units along the beach that can accommodate bigger parties without having to rent out multiple rooms,” he said.
The second through fifth floors will feature units ranging from one to four bedrooms, sized between 665 and 2,157 square feet, each with a covered balcony overlooking the Gulf.
The “condo-hotel” model blends condominium ownership with hotel operations, allowing units to be sold individually while also available for nightly rentals. Prices will range from $1 million to the mid $2 millions.
The building will have four elevators, each opening to a private foyer. Above the 140-space parking structure, the lobby level will feature three units and high-end amenities, including an elevated pool with a glass wall facing the beach, a spa, tiki bar, private clubroom, and covered lounge seating.
Additional features will include an upscale gym with men’s and women’s locker rooms and a children’s play area.
“This resort is going to be very family-oriented, and we want to make all these amenities available to the public through memberships. The idea is that parents can lounge at the pool, or get a workout in, while the kids play in the game room,” Karns said.
The building also includes a potential rooftop bar with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as several penthouses. Memberships to the beach club amenities will be capped at 100 for non-hotel guests and will require a one-time initiation fee plus a monthly fee.
A demolition permit has been filed, and the developers will seek a variance from the city for a 74-foot-tall building, which is the same size as the neighboring buildings.
The sandalwood beach resort, which has been closed since suffering damage from hurricane helene in september 2024 | facebook image
“The current setbacks on the current building are very small. We will be seeking a variance for a setback which will still be way larger than they are currently to be able to fit the new building,” Karns said.
The variance request must be approved by North Redington Beach’s special magistrate, which requires the development team to demonstrate a hardship.
In North Redington Beach, the special magistrate is responsible for reviewing applications for variances, special exceptions, and administrative appeals related to town ordinances. Once the variance is approved, the development team may proceed with construction.
Karns and Beggins are working with Tarpon Springs-based Pavalis Architekton on the design of the new resort, which may open under a different name.
This project is one of several Karns is pursuing. Along with Beggins and Marcus Winters, owner of Caddy’s Restaurant Group, Karns plans to build an 87-key Marriott Tribute hotel across from the John’s Pass boardwalk, with construction expected to start next summer and open in 2028.
Karns is also a partner in The Beachmaker, a Marriott Autograph “condo-hotel” planned for 15000 Madeira Way in Madeira Beach. The eight-story resort will feature 161 rooms, 10 penthouse residences, two pools, 30,000 square feet of retail, and a skybridge to the beach.
Construction is expected to commence in November and wrap up by 2027.
