Local

Groundbreaking for new Daytona Beach Hard Rock Hotel could be delayed

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — You may have to wait a little longer to visit Daytona Beach's Hard Rock Hotel and Cafe.

Channel 9's Blaine Tolison is hearing the project may have been delayed by a year, which could mean Phase 1 won't open on South Atlantic Avenue until 2016.

The concept of the 29-story Hard Rock Hotel is impressive. Renderings show new rooms with ocean views and clear skies, but tourist Gary Duncan of Indiana wants to see actions, not photos.

"I can see pictures anywhere," said Duncan. "I want to see the real place."

Representatives with Bayshore Capital, the Canadian company behind the 250-room tower, said they had planned to break ground on the Hard Rock this summer, but it's not looking like that will happen, according to comments made by the company's CEO on a local radio show.

Channel 9's Blaine Tolison reached out to the company about the delay to find out why, but had not recieved a response to his questions by Monday evening.

"I just pray and hope that it goes through, because the economy needs it here," said Daytona Beach resident Al Burchardt. "You look down A1A, it's like a ghost town here outside of Bike Week or Speedweeks."

Representatives said more than half of the more than 100 condos have already been sold.

Tourists told Channel 9 they're hoping the project is completed in the next two to three years.