FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 A long-delayed development project in downtown Fort Pierce is getting more time.<\/p>\n
City commissioners voted 3-2 Monday night to give the developer of King’s Landing another six months to secure the additional $15 million it says it needs to build a planned $65 million Marriott hotel.<\/p>\n
The decision came after a lengthy discussion over whether the city should continue working with developer Live Oak or end the agreement.<\/p>\n
Pretty much everyone agrees Fort Pierce needs a downtown hotel. The planned project would sit along the city’s waterfront and is expected to bring millions of dollars in economic activity to the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’d be delighted to have a Marriott here,\u201d Fort Pierce resident Charlie Hagg said.<\/p>\n
But after years of delays, some community members told commissioners they believe the city has waited long enough.<\/p>\n
“It’s time to kick them to the curb,” said Howard Dunn Jr. of Fort Pierce. “It’s time to move on, cut the losses.”<\/p>\n
Others supported giving the developer another six months.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet’s listen to what they have to say. Six months is not that long,\u201d Jamie Hurst said.<\/p>\n
Live Oak is planning a $65 million Marriott hotel as part of the $200 million King’s Landing development.<\/p>\n
The developer told commissioners it still needs to raise another $15 million to move forward and asked for a six-month extension<\/a>.<\/p>\n Joe Collier, a hotel operating and hospitality partner, said the team will use a different approach to raising the money and needs additional time to put that plan into action.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’re going to get in the trenches with Bill and help him raise the money in a different way but need time to do it,\u201d Collier said.<\/p>\n