Hotel could check in to the Slip in 2014

firstfreedom

 

A proposed Shockoe Slip hotel is getting closer to becoming a reality.

Richmond-based hotel owner Apple REIT plans to go before the city council by August to get certain provisions approved to build a 210-room hotel — called the First Freedom Center — on a parking lot on Cary Street, according to a person close to the deal who is not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Apple REIT intends to have the hotel open by early 2014.

According to a staff report from the Department of Planning and Development Review dated March 26, the final plans for the hotel were scheduled to be heard by the planning commission June 4. But the source said there had been a delay because of issues surrounding the closing and relocation of Virginia Street, which cuts the parcel in half.

The developers “fully expect to have the plans for the special use permit and the vacating and relocation of Virginia Street at public hearings before City Council’s August recess,” the source said.

The hotel, at the intersection of 14th and Cary across from Sine Irish Pub, has been talked about since 2008. The land is owned by the First Freedom Center, a locally based nonprofit that claims to promote religious freedom and Jeffersonian ideals.

Apple REIT declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement.

Plans call for a U-shaped, 210-room hotel with a courtyard in the center. Plans submitted to the city — prepared by the architecture firm Baskervill — show the building to be about 134,000 square feet.

The building will be two separate Marriott hotel products: A 135-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 75-room Residence Inn, according the city’s staff report.

The hotel will likely compete with the Berkeley Hotel, two blocks west on Cary Street, and the Omni Hotel, also on Cary Street. But at least one local business is excited about the future hotel: Sine Irish Pub.

“I think it’s going to have a great impact on the neighborhood,” said Bob McNulty, general manager at Sine. “With the front door opening on Cary Street, pretty much across the street from me, I’m very happy.”

firstfreedom

 

A proposed Shockoe Slip hotel is getting closer to becoming a reality.

Richmond-based hotel owner Apple REIT plans to go before the city council by August to get certain provisions approved to build a 210-room hotel — called the First Freedom Center — on a parking lot on Cary Street, according to a person close to the deal who is not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Apple REIT intends to have the hotel open by early 2014.

According to a staff report from the Department of Planning and Development Review dated March 26, the final plans for the hotel were scheduled to be heard by the planning commission June 4. But the source said there had been a delay because of issues surrounding the closing and relocation of Virginia Street, which cuts the parcel in half.

The developers “fully expect to have the plans for the special use permit and the vacating and relocation of Virginia Street at public hearings before City Council’s August recess,” the source said.

The hotel, at the intersection of 14th and Cary across from Sine Irish Pub, has been talked about since 2008. The land is owned by the First Freedom Center, a locally based nonprofit that claims to promote religious freedom and Jeffersonian ideals.

Apple REIT declined to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement.

Plans call for a U-shaped, 210-room hotel with a courtyard in the center. Plans submitted to the city — prepared by the architecture firm Baskervill — show the building to be about 134,000 square feet.

The building will be two separate Marriott hotel products: A 135-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 75-room Residence Inn, according the city’s staff report.

The hotel will likely compete with the Berkeley Hotel, two blocks west on Cary Street, and the Omni Hotel, also on Cary Street. But at least one local business is excited about the future hotel: Sine Irish Pub.

“I think it’s going to have a great impact on the neighborhood,” said Bob McNulty, general manager at Sine. “With the front door opening on Cary Street, pretty much across the street from me, I’m very happy.”

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Sheila Berry
Sheila Berry
11 years ago

And parking would be … where?

Runner
Runner
11 years ago
Reply to  Sheila Berry

The arch firm is PFVS out of Atlanta

joe
joe
11 years ago

The correct response is how great it is to see another UGLY surface parking lot removed, I dont think suburbanites will ever get it.
There are way to many surface parking lots downtown. This will be a great improvement.

DaveM
DaveM
11 years ago

So that’s the view guests will have??? LOL. Lovely.

Michael Dodson
Michael Dodson
11 years ago

Parking will probably be across the street in the almost always vacant deck. This deck is directly across 14th Street at Cary (and maybe some underground too) but there is plenty of parking near this site.

RobinsonSt
RobinsonSt
11 years ago

Shockoe Slip has waited a long time to lose its surface parking lots! How exciting!

As for the comments, “where will I park?” I’m sure the Marriott will have underground parking and Shockoe Slip visitors have 5 usable parking decks within a 2 block radius (14th & Cary, 12th and Canal, Virginia St and Cary, and Vistas on The James, and The James Center), which doesn’t begin to count the multiple surface lots (13th and Main, 2 lots at 15th and Cary, 14th and Main & 15th and Main, etc).

Zig Gurat
Zig Gurat
11 years ago

Oh great the “first freedom center” ? To bad they are for freedom only when it doesn’t directly conflict with their “message.”