The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that provides housing for American military veterans, received approval from the Jacksonville Planning Commission to convert a hotel into multifamily housing.
The property is the Ramada by Wyndham Jacksonville I-95 by Butler Blvd at 9150 Baymeadows Road. It is west of Interstate 95.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was granted approval on AD-26-05 and E-25-04, an administrative deviation and zoning exception for the property, on a 7-0 vote, with Commissioner Amy Fu absent from the meeting.
The commission’s decision constituted final action on the application, with City Council approval not needed.
The administrative deviation reduces parking and landscaping requirements around the property. The exception allows the 501(c)(3) nonprofit to create multifamily housing on the property.
The hotel, still shown on the Ramada website, appears closed. Online reservations are not being accepted. Calls to the front desk disconnect.
Property records show the hotel was built in 1974 and comprises two parcels totaling 5.18 acres. The Knights 18 Baymeadows LLC bought the hotel in 2021 for $8.22 million.
The Knights 18 Baymeadows LLC is managed by a company led by Shmuel Bonnardel. He is CEO of Rore Investing, a Jacksonville real estate investment firm.
The state of Florida issued a warrant Jan. 15 stating The Knights 18 Baymeadows LLC owes $643,626.15 in sales and use taxes, along with interest and penalties.
The foundation seeks to create 145 housing units for veterans in the 146-unit hotel, as well as 18 to 20 standalone homes on the property, said attorney Cyndy Trimmer, who represented Tunnels to Towers before the commission.
“This looks like a noble cause, but it’s a great use regardless. Just so happens that they have a great cause involving military members that may have trouble with housing,” commission Vice Chair Michael McGowan said.
Gavin Naples, the foundation’s senior vice president for its homeless veteran program, said before the commission’s meeting that Tunnel to Towers will perform an eight-figure renovation to the hotel with approval of the administrative deviation and zoning exception.
Each apartment unit will have its own kitchen and bathroom, Naples said. The first floor of the building will include libraries, lounges, dining areas, gyms, workforce redevelopment centers and more, according to the zoning exception application.
“This is not a shelter,” Naples said. “This is not a transitional site.”
The proposed Tunnel to Towers Jacksonville project would be one of 18 across the United States, Naples said. Other markets include Bradenton; Fort Lauderdale; Orlando; Los Angeles; Buffalo, New York; and more.
The foundation likely will close on purchase of the property in March, Naples said. Construction would begin during the summer and be completed by late 2027.
New York-based Tunnel to Towers was founded in honor of former New York City firefighter Stephen Siller, who was killed on 9/11. Since then, the foundation said it has raised $1 billion in funding for housing assistance for homeless former service members.
According to the nonprofit, Siller responded to the 9/11 attack while off-duty but was blocked at the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. He parked his truck, strapped on his gear and ran through the tunnel to the Twin Towers.