Waterfront Watch
Boardwalk on the Inlet Fort Pierce: Hotels, Residences and What Is Really Proposed
By Bridgette A. Daley • October 30, 2026
Picture the Fort Pierce Inlet at sunset. The jetty. The boats gliding through. A gravel parking lot.
That last detail is the point. The site of the proposed Boardwalk on the Inlet is a privately owned lot of about 4.8 acres on Seaway Drive, between Manatee Island Bar and Grill and Square Grouper Tiki Bar, facing the Fort Pierce Jetty. Today it is gravel with patches of grass and a waterfront sidewalk. The owner has big plans for it.
Who Is Behind It
The project is led by Woods Family Limited Partnership II, headed by Sanford "Sandy" Woods, who owns Treasure Coast Lexus in Fort Pierce. Woods bought the land in 2020. The family also owns six parcels on Seaway Drive that are leased to the city for overflow parking serving beach access and local businesses.
What Is Proposed Now
The project has gone through a redesign. Woods first presented a larger version about three years ago and was asked to make it smaller. The 2023 concept included hotels, condominiums, restaurants, an event center of about 18,800 square feet, shopping and roughly 1,000 parking spaces.
According to a July 3, 2026 report, the scaled-down version includes:
- About 54 residential units
- 175 hotel rooms across two hotels: a 48-room boutique hotel called Aqua and a 127-room hotel with the brand not yet chosen
- A 20,000 square foot event center with a large ballroom
- Eight or nine restaurants, a cigar and wine bar, retail space and a rooftop bar
- A vertical parking structure of more than 900 spaces, which Woods says would be free
Woods said fourteen hotel brands have expressed interest. The project narrative projects more than 100 hospitality jobs and enhanced property and sales tax revenues for the city.
The Timeline, As Reported
The project went before the city's Technical Review Committee on June 25, 2026, and was expected to return to address open questions before moving to the Planning Board. A height variance will likely be needed. A traffic study was completed in March 2026, and the project has been discussed with the Florida Department of Transportation, which could result in an added eastbound turn lane.
Woods said it could go before the City Council in September 2026 and hoped to start construction in the first quarter of 2027. He estimated 18 to 24 months to build, in two phases. The first phase would be the resort tower with the 127-room hotel. The second would be the residential tower with the Aqua hotel.
Those were the developer's hopes as of July. I could not confirm a council vote in the sources I reviewed. Check the City of Fort Pierce agenda for the current status.
The Debate
This project has fans and critics. Supporters say the area lacks things to do and that the project would bring jobs, tax revenue and an upgraded image. Woods himself has said there is little for visitors to do in the area.
Critics argue it could erase the area's old-time Florida feel and bring a more commercial, South Florida character to the beach. Height is another flashpoint. An earlier report said the project would likely be the tallest structure in the area.
The Live Local Act has also entered the conversation. That state law can allow certain projects to bypass local restrictions if they include at least 40 percent affordable housing. Woods said at the time he was encouraging people to research it, not signaling that his project would use it.
Projects like this change slowly, then suddenly. The smart move is watching the approvals together and positioning before the market reprices.
What It Could Mean for Real Estate
Supporters argue new amenities lift surrounding values. Opponents worry about traffic, parking and character. Both views are opinions until sales data shows an effect. A hotel and event center would add visitor traffic, supporting nearby restaurants and short-term rental demand subject to local rules. Roughly 54 residences would be a small, premium inventory — ask the developer for approved plans, HOA structure and delivery timing before you rely on any brochure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Boardwalk on the Inlet?
On Seaway Drive on South Hutchinson Island, between Manatee Island Bar and Grill and Square Grouper Tiki Bar.
Is it approved?
I could not confirm final approval. As of July 2026 it was in city technical review.
How tall would it be?
The July 2026 report did not state a height. It noted a height variance would likely be needed.
Eyeing the Inlet?
Let's watch the approvals together and position you before the market reprices.
Reach Out to Bridgette