TAMPA, Fla. — The Mirasol is an apartment complex on Davis Island, but when it was first opened in 1925, it was a hotel.

What You Need To Know

The Mirasol apartment complex was originally a hotel when it opened in 1925

Owner Frank Carriera wants to convert it back into a hotel to preserve the historic property

Neighbors are concerned about increased traffic, noise, and transient visitors

A decision is expected from the Tampa City Council next year

Owner Frank Carriera wants The Mirasol to return to its hotel roots, but neighbors are concerned about what that may do to the area.

“There is a significant amount of history here,” he said. “I mean, we’ve had so many residents come in and talk to us about their mother-in-law that lived here, or they got married here, or they’ve met their first girlfriend here.”

Carriera said 2023 was when they held the first meeting to talk with the community about turning the property back into a hotel.

Neighbor Frank Silcox said he was at that meeting and has not been convinced on the plan since.

“This is a residential neighborhood,” he said. “It’s been that way for decades. We’d like to keep it residential.”

Carriera said that turning the building into a hotel is the best way to preserve the property, especially after the damage suffered from hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“In order to do the proper renovation to restore for 100 years, it made the most sense not to keep it as apartments,” Carriera said.

He said the roof needs to be replaced, the shell of the building has to be refortified, windows changed and more needs to be upgraded.

However, those needed repairs are one of the reasons neighbors like Sicox are worried.

“There’s going to be more people here,” Silcox said. “There’s going to be more transient people here, and it’s going to affect traffic. It’s going to affect street parking. It’s going to affect noise.”

The proposal will be brought up at a Tampa City Council meeting next year, where a decision is expected to be made about whether the project can move forward.

Neighbors will also get the chance to speak.

If the plan does get approved, Carriera said it will still be multiple years before it opens as a hotel.

The Mirasol is hosting an open house on Dec. 4 that allows the community to learn more about the proposal and ask questions.