What’s to come of the Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel and adjoining Hurricane Charley’s Sushi, Raw Bar & Grill after demolition is yet to be determined.
“Honestly, I don’t know. The owner obviously never intended to be in the current situation, and I’m certain he’s up to consideration of all options, including rebuilding himself,” said Derek Rooney of the GrayRobinson law firm.
Rooney represents the site owner Amer Asmar and has appeared before the Punta Gorda Code Enforcement Board, and will do so monthly until the demolition is complete.
The next Code Enforcement Board meeting is May 22.
The hotel and restaurant were badly damaged by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022.
After code compliance officers inspected the property, it was found in violation of city codes.
While the restaurant was able to reopen after Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Idalia in August 2023 caused the roof to give way and flooded the restaurant, closing it permanently.
After hearing testimony from city officials and Rooney, Punta Gorda Code Enforcement Board voted unanimously Jan. 24 to order the building razed and for Asmar to get a demolition permit and put a fence around the entire site.
More problems emerged, however. Part of the fencing fell earlier in April, knocking sandbags into the harbor. As a result, part of the city’s Harborwalk was temporarily closed.
When contractors visited the buildings, they discovered asbestos that needed to be removed before demolition. Asmar had difficulty finding a contractor willing to do the removal, but now that one has agreed, another contractor is needed for demolition.
The board delayed fining Asmar for noncompliance, and on April 24 Rooney said he was working with Public Works to secure the fencing.
Rooney met with city officials for a pre-application meeting for the demolition permit, to make sure all the paperwork was in order, he said.
Code Compliance Officer Lavosia Price Jr. said April 30 that a demolition permit had not yet come through the Code Compliance office.
Once the permit is issued, demolition has to be completed within 120 days.
Asmar purchased the five-story with an attached two-story section in June 2004.
Formerly the Punta Gorda Waterfront Hotel was a Best Western and Holiday Inn. The five-story building has been at 300 W. Retta Esplanade in downtown Punta Gorda since 1968. The two-story attachment was added in 1989.
