Almost on a whim, Bob Venditti decided to be a guest at Coral Gables in 2004, and thankfully he did! The detail of his photograph above shows that the site was to be redeveloped into a mixed use retail and condominium project.

The nearly pristine Motor Lodge will be replaced by Santona Corner--described in Holly Real Estate propaganda as having been "stylishly designed by the award-winning firm of Mateau Architecture." Considered "a premier urban location," the site will offer 55,000 square feet of office suites and 43,000 square feet of street level retail space.

Bob said that when he visited Coral Gables in 2004 that it was a "nicely in-tact Lodge, not too much updating," and that his "room was reasonably clean and in good condition." He enjoyed seeing the stone-facing that he called "unique coral rock."

Note that his king-single room retained many original HoJo's features like the Pamper Panel and Privacy Screen with its closet.