SANFORD, Fla. – Plans are moving forward to redevelop what is arguably the most significant historic structure in downtown Sanford.
This week, the city commission approved a planned development rezone, which will pave the way for what is commonly known as “The Mayfair” to become a Christian missionary training center.
The 5.84-acre property on East 1st Street was built a century ago and was first known as Hotel Forrest Lake in 1926. Historically, the property has had many different land uses. The New York Giant baseball team lived at the Mayfair Inn during spring training before the team moved to San Francisco in the early 60’s. After that, it was used as a Naval academy until 1975.
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It was purchased by the New Tribes Mission in 1976, which used the property for its headquarters until the non-profit rebranded as Ethos 360 and moved in 2016.
The following year, the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission approved a conditional use to re-establish a hotel on the property, but the plans fell through during the pandemic, and the former hotel site was sold again in 2022.
The current owners plan to use the property as a center for training Christian missionaries for service around the world. The rezone plan that was formally approved by the Commission this week allows for 28,000 square feet of office space and 46 apartments.
Documents included in the agenda packet state the center will serve as an administrative hub for fellowship organizations affiliated with the World Olivet Assembly. Staff and trainees will stay in the housing units.
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The property owners also plan to invest somewhere between $15 million and $30 million to restore and upgrade the structures at the site, which include the main historic building, an annex building and utility building. The applicants plan to maintain the building’s historic look while making necessary upgrades.
Before the commission gave its approval, the city asked for certain conditions to be met, including allowing the public to visit a museum, bookstore, or gift shop in the lobby during business hours. Also, when construction is complete and the building receives its certificate of occupancy for the renovations, the owners will be required to have the property designated as a historic landmark.
Our News 6 team spoke to people in the area on Tuesday who said they would like to see the building in use again.
“The outside they’ve maintained somewhat, but buildings and houses need to be lived in,” said Linda Kislewski. “It would be great to see it come to life again.”
According to documents obtained by News 6, the applicants estimate construction to begin in January 2027 and be completed by the end of that year.