Plans for Tarpon hotel to be announced today

City officials and others have scheduled a news conference about a proposed project at the Sponge Docks.

By JULIE CHURCH

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 24, 2001

TARPON SPRINGS -- Restaurateur Louis Pappas, Clearwater Beach hotelier Tony Markopoulos and city officials have scheduled a news conference for today. Mayor Frank DiDonato confirmed that it concerns a proposed hotel project at the Sponge Docks.

"It sounds like it will be a good thing for the city," DiDonato said. "It (a hotel) will fit right into our development plan."

City officials and others declined to disclose details of the project Tuesday, including its location and whether it would include things other than a hotel. The city's 20-year plan for redeveloping downtown envisions the construction of a hotel near the Anclote River. It also includes plans for parks, an art walk, a parking garage and beautification projects.

Neither Pappas nor Markopoulos could be reached for comment Tuesday evening.

Pappas owns Louis Pappas Riverside Restaurant, where the news conference will take place. The restaurant, on the northwest corner of Alt. U.S. 19 and Dodecanese Boulevard, opened in 1975 and is a popular place for business lunches and anniversary dinners.

Markopoulos owns several hotels on 3.2 acres in Clearwater Beach, including the Spyglass and the Clearwater Beach Days Inn. He recently agreed to drop four lawsuits he had against the city of Clearwater and the developers of the proposed Marriott Seashell Beach Resort in Clearwater Beach.

Markopoulos also announced last week that he will sell his 3.2 acres, just south of the Clearwater Beach roundabout, to a Miami businessman.

- Julie Church can be reached at (727) 445-4229 or church@sptimes.com.

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