The 103-year-old historic Cordova Inn hotel in downtown St. Petersburg has hit a significant construction milestone for an expansion that will more than triple the number of guest rooms. 

The owners of the historic boutique hotel, New Hotel Collection and TDZ Capital Partners, announced via LinkedIn that vertical completion is nearly complete for the five-story building rising at 253 2nd Avenue North.

The new building, which broke ground in April 2023 next to the existing hotel, will increase the number of available rooms from 32 to 97 with VIP luxury suites on the top floor offering panoramic views of downtown.

"The penthouse and low roof on the fifth floor had their hollow core panels installed last month. We're currently working on the perimeter forms for the fifth floor and preparing the hollow core slab for the topping slab pour,” Reno Boyd Building Co. Senior Project Manager Craig Fulmer shared in the construction update announcement.

The general contractor is also framing the second floor, preparing interior walls on the third floor, and installing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and other infrastructure for the first and second floors.

Reno Boyd has constructed a number of well-known commercial spaces in downtown St. Pete over the years, such as the Floridian Social Club, Grand Central Brewhouse, Allelo, Book + Bottle, and Baba.

The locally-based development team also includes PLACE Architecture's Tim Clemmons and Greg Glenn, who are leading the design of the Cordova Inn expansion.

The new hotel building will have Neoclassical Revival elements, paying homage to the history of the building that was built in 1921 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

"As we move closer to topping off the 5th floor, our focus will shift to completing the interior spaces and fine-tuning the luxurious details that will define the new VIP suites," the hotel owners wrote in a post, highlighting how the modern and classical elements will blend seamlessly.

In addition to the rooms, there will be a new restaurant on the first floor, a rooftop bar on the fifth floor, and a landscaped mid-block courtyard between the old and new wings.

The owners are also expanding the front porch of the Cordova Inn into a dramatic wraparound balcony with lush streetscaping.

Both the courtyard and porch will be open to anyone, whether they are staying in the hotel or not.

The entire expansion is expected to wrap up by the end of this year. A grand opening date will be announced soon.

"We anticipate that the expanded Cordova Inn will become a beacon of hospitality in downtown St. Pete, offering both historical significance and modern elegance," wrote the New Hotel Collection group.

New Hotel Collection, led by Tommy Del Zoppo and Alex Hodges, purchased The Cordova Inn in 2020 and has since updated the hotel and added The Scott, an upscale craft cocktail and coffee bar located in the lounge.

New Hotel Collection also owns the Beachside Resort in Indian Shores and the Central Hotel in Sevierville, Tennessee, along with a hotel inside Harbourside Resort in Indian Rocks Beach.