DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A plan to bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars to the area has been in the works for years, but the land where a hotel is supposed to be is still empty.
Many Daytona Beach resident would love to see a 250-room Hard Rock Hotel on a piece of oceanfront land, but they are getting weary of seeing a vacant lot, and some said they are wondering if the project is still on track.
Heavy equipment demolished an old home on the announced site of the Hard Rock, but no construction has started on the $100 million hotel.
Photos: Renderings of Daytona Beach Hard Rock
"I think they're actually dragging their feet or something, I don't know," business owner Charlie Mitchell said.
Mitchell bought a home and a hotel hoping a Hard Rock property next door would boost his property value and help his business become a success.
"I think we need something here. This end of Daytona Beach has died," Mitchell said.
Henry Wolfond, CEO of the company in charge of building the hotel, told Channel 9's Blaine Tolison that his company has a groundbreaking date in mind, but would not say when.
He also said that having allowing cars to drive on the beach behind the hotel is still an issue and said not enough condos have been sold to finance the project.
Tolison contacted several city officials, but none seemed to know where the Hard Rock project stands.
The county has agreed to remove cars from behind the hard rock hotel when it is complete, but that decision is being challenged in court by residents with the group Sons of the Beach.