Catalyst HRE, The Thrash Group, and The 1559 Collective in partnership with Tandem Hospitality, will celebrate the official groundbreaking ceremony for Pensacola’s newest destination, Hotel Tristan, Thursday, Nov. 14.
Three years ago, Chad Henderson shared a vision for the East Garden District (EGD) that included restaurants, retail, residences, breweries, a hotel, tree-lined sidewalks and an urban plaza.
For our article “East Garden’s Transformation” last year, Henderson said, “From the inception of the East Garden District, we have been committed to curating the EGD so that it will become an inspired collection of new businesses and existing businesses woven together into a district that will be a must-come for Pensacola locals and visitors.”
A collaboration between Catalyst HRE and the Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) funded the early stages of the transformation. The city committed $1.3 million, and Catalyst HRE chipped in $750,000 toward streetscaping, mixed-use developments and tax revenue.
“The East Garden District’s partnership with the CRA and city has been a great success that we are all very proud of,” Henderson said. “When the East Garden District is fully built out, the city and CRA will see significant returns on their investment in new tax revenues, which we hope can be reinvested in new downtown Pensacola growth and infrastructure projects.”
The first step in the transformation involved reworking North Jefferson Street between Chase and Garden streets and renovating space for The Well Floridian Lounge, located next to Perfect Plain Brewing Co.
“Jefferson Street between Garden Street and Chase Street is now one of the most beautiful streets in Pensacola and has set the stage for over $75 million of new private development,” Henderson said.
The plans for the hotel have changed some since our article, but this is the description on the website:
Hotel Tristan, set in the heart of the East Garden District, will be the “place to be” hotel destination that the City of Pensacola has been waiting for. With its exceptional accommodations, lobby restaurant and bar, meeting space, event venues, and rooftop bar and restaurant, Hotel Tristan will provide locals, business travelers, and leisure travelers alike with a unique and unmatched Pensacola hotel experience.
Hotel Tristan is named for Tristan de Luna y Arellano, the Spanish explorer and Conquistador that settled Pensacola in 1559.
