City condemns shuttered Daytona Beach hotel. Here's how the owner responded.

Clayton Park, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Updated ·3 min read
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DAYTONA BEACH ― City officials condemned the La Playa Resort & Suites property on A1A four years after a lottery winner bought the fenced-off oceanfront hotel with big plans to fix and modernize it.

Instead of making repairs, owner Richard Wahl hopes to sell the 10-story hurricane-damaged building.

A condemnation notice can be seen in front the old La Playa Resort & Suites at 2500 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach recently. The oceanfront hotel has been closed since 2016 after sustaining significant damage during Hurricane Matthew. Last year's Tropical Storm Nicole washed away most of the sea wall.
A condemnation notice can be seen in front the old La Playa Resort & Suites at 2500 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach recently. The oceanfront hotel has been closed since 2016 after sustaining significant damage during Hurricane Matthew. Last year's Tropical Storm Nicole washed away most of the sea wall.

The hotel opened in 1975

The 238-room La Playa Resort & Suites at 2500 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach opened in 1975, across from Bellair Plaza shopping center.

"It was a very nice hotel," said Bob Davis, CEO of the Lodging & Hospitality Association of Volusia County.

Davis said he fondly remembers the jazz quartet that played on the La Playa's rooftop.

The oceanside La Playa Resort & Suites at 2500 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach has been closed since 2016. It was condemned on Sept. 11.
The oceanside La Playa Resort & Suites at 2500 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach has been closed since 2016. It was condemned on Sept. 11.

It's been closed since Hurricane Matthew

The La Playa has been closed since October 2016 when it was badly damaged during Hurricane Matthew.

The property's sea wall was destroyed during last year's Tropical Storm Nicole, said Ahmed Kabani, senior vice president of investments with Marcus & Millichap in Miami. Kabani and Luis Garino, also with Marcus & Millichap, are the property's listing agents.

Owner made initial repairs, but then stopped

Wahl bought the two-acre property for $13.65 million in July 2019 a year after winning New Jersey's $533 million Mega Millions jackpot. He was a food service manager in the Garden State prior to winning the lottery.

He originally intended to convert the La Playa into a vacation timeshare resort.

"He put in all-new copper piping," said Davis.

Wahl also installed a new balcony for one of the rooms.

The project was halted after Daytona Beach officials asked Wahl to replace the property's aging sea wall before last year's storms, said Davis.

Wahl declined to speak with The News-Journal, saying, "I don't do media requests (for comment)."

This is what remains of the sea wall behind the old La Playa Resort & Suites at 2500 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. The oceanfront hotel has been closed since 2016. Last year's Tropical Storm Nicole washed away most of the sea wall.
This is what remains of the sea wall behind the old La Playa Resort & Suites at 2500 N. Atlantic Ave. in Daytona Beach on Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. The oceanfront hotel has been closed since 2016. Last year's Tropical Storm Nicole washed away most of the sea wall.

Lottery winner put the hotel up for sale before

The La Playa was almost sold twice last year, but both times the prospective buyers backed out

Then last year's back-to-back tropical storms hit.

"Before the sea wall broke down, he (Wahl) wanted $17 (million) to $18 million. He had interested buyers," Kabani confirmed.

The property was put back on the market on Sept. 6, 2023, this time with an asking price of $13.5 million. "We're selling it as-is," said Kabani.

"We have had a good number of interested buyers. We've narrowed it down to two to three serious buyers who are interested in the Daytona Beach market and that have made offers close to (Wahl's) asking price," Kabani said. "We feel we will be able to close on a sale sometime in the next 120 days."

Daytona Beach condemned the property last month

The city issued its condemnation notice Sept. 11.

"The property is under a condemnation notice because there has been a cessation of normal construction over a two-year period," said Susan Cerbone, a spokeswoman for the city. "Basically, their permit expired. They are going to remove all trailers and debris relating to the site to remove the demolition order so they can facilitate the sale."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona condemns shuttered La Playa hotel. Owner was a lottery winner.