April 06, 2013--Long-gestating plans to turn Key West's Triangle into a resort and conference center have been shelved as a new developer is pitching scaled back plans to Key West's Planning Department.

The Spottswood Cos., held by the prominent local family of the same name, wanted to replace the Days Inn, Waffle House, Lexington Hotel, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Conch Tour Train station at U.S. 1 and North Roosevelt Boulevard, colloquially known as the Triangle, with one cohesive development.

In 2009, the city granted what's called a major development plan for the project, essentially tying all the necessary applications, variances and other land development matters into one approval process, with a 10-year timer.

Since then the Spottswood Cos. have sold the properties to J.L. Woode Ltd., which has offices in Charleston, S.C. and Chicago, Ill. The new player, operating as the Key West Hotel Collection, has different ideas about what to do with the prime property at Key West's doorstep.

Plans call for keeping the four hotels as separate properties, according to documents filed with the city, while completely renovating each, adding new lobbies and myriad other upgrades.

The four sites, all in a row on North Roosevelt, are: Days Inn, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and the Lexington Hotel, encompassing some 534 rooms and around 155 employees.

City Planning Director Don Craig said Woode wants to take all the hotels offline simultaneously for construction following a planned May hearing -- and potential approval -- by the Key West City Commission.

"They're going to take them offline this year," Craig told the Keynoter. "If they get their approval in May, they're going to start significant work in June. They want to have all four hotels renovated by early next season. They're very ambitious."

Craig said the developer "couldn't have chosen a better time," given current favorable interest rates and the ongoing $40 million reconstruction of North Roosevelt Boulevard.

Construction estimates provided to the city call for a more than $30 million invested in renovations for the properties.

The plan was heard and filed by the city's staff Development Review Committee on March 6, and was set for a Planning Board hearing on April 3, but the meeting was cancelled to allow more time for staff review.

The proposal now goes to the Planning Board on April 18; that meeting begins at 6 p.m. in Old City Hall on Greene Street.

Woode's Director of Reporting John Gonzalez couldn't be reached for comment on Friday.

The company's website boasts holdings of more than 10 million square feet, valued at more than $1 billion and concentrated in the Southeast, Midwest and in Costa Rica.

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