The Mirasol has watched Davis Islands change for 100 years.
Now the waterfront landmark is being prepared for a new life as a boutique hotel, luxury residence and gathering place for the neighborhood.
Plans call for the historic Mediterranean Revival building to be restored as “the crown jewel of Davis Islands” with up to 118 bespoke hotel rooms and suites and up to 12 private condominium residences.
The team behind the project says the goal is simple. Honor the past and upgrade the property so it can serve the island for the next century.
Restoring the glamour
Many of the original interior details at The Mirasol have survived the last 100 years. Those period elements will anchor the redesign.
Furniture, lighting and art that must be replaced will be chosen to match the building’s era and style. The plan calls for a refined, residential feel rather than a generic hotel look so that guests and residents feel like they are stepping into a restored classic, not a replica.
The vision includes hotel serviced waterfront condominiums and intimate spaces where Davis Islands residents and visitors can meet, celebrate and relax.
“We see ourselves as stewards of The Mirasol. When I was brokering the sale of the property for the previous owner, the buyer prospects wanted to tear it down and replace it with a modern multi-story residence, as the highest and best use for the property,” said Frank Carriera, the owner of The Mirasol. “As Davis Islands residents, that broke our hearts. This building has watched the island grow for 100 years, and its architecture and history deserve to be preserved and elevated. Our vision is to landmark the building, restore its original charm, enhance its resilience and make it a centerpiece of the neighborhood once again. We want people to walk in and feel the soul of the building.”
New amenities for the island
The reimagined Mirasol is planned to include:
- Up to 118 custom hotel rooms and suites
- Up to 12 private condominium residences
- A restaurant and coffee bar
- A rooftop sky garden
- Wellness spaces
- A formal outdoor area with a small pool in the existing location and garden-style landscaping
Project leaders say they want the property to function as both a high-end retreat and a true neighborhood anchor.
Built for storms and the future
A major focus of the plan is resilience. The team is using the project to rethink parking, stormwater and critical systems on the site.
Two new buildings are proposed on the current surface parking lots. A north wing would place new residences above a screened level of resident parking, raised above flood elevation.
A south wing would connect to the historic Mirasol tower, adding hotel rooms and suites above dedicated hotel and visitor parking.
On-site parking would increase, and new stormwater systems would be installed to hold more water on the property and reduce runoff onto Davis Boulevard and nearby streets.
Infrastructure upgrades are being designed to meet current wind and flood standards, as well as local and state rules.
Key building systems now located in the basement would be moved to higher levels and protected with additional floodproofing to reduce damage during future storms.
Operations are also part of the planning. Hotel and event activity will be managed with the residential neighborhood in mind.
Outdoor events will be limited and service trucks will use enclosed loading docks accessed from Davis Boulevard to cut noise and disruption.
A neighborhood icon, reintroduced
Supporters see the project as a way to save a historic structure while giving Davis Islands new hotel rooms, new homes and new public spaces.
If approved and completed as planned, The Mirasol would once again serve as a social and architectural centerpiece for the island.
The difference this time is that the building would be reinforced for modern storms, modern codes and modern neighborhood needs, while still telling the story of the Davis Islands landmark that has watched Tampa grow for a century.
