Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Approval for hotel on Washington Street deferred

Staff Report //June 15, 2018//

Approval for hotel on Washington Street deferred

Staff Report //June 15, 2018//

Listen to this article

City approval of a proposal for a five-story, 104-room hotel at 911 Washington St. in the Vista has been deferred by Columbia’s Design/Development Review Commission.

The commission voted 6-0 to defer approval of the project after finding the proposal submitted by architect Craig Otto did not meet a number of city design guidelines, including street orientation, facade proportion and exterior wall construction.

Otto agreed to follow the commission’s recommendations and continue to seek its input as he further develops the plans.

Fred Delk, executive director of the Columbia Development Corp., spoke in favor of the project, saying it was a good thing for the Vista.

“The area around Gervais and Lincoln streets has become ground zero for hotels,” Delk said. “This is a great property that is about 800 feet away. It will be occupied.”

The Vista is home to several hotels, including an Aloft at 823 Lady St. Across Assembly Street in Columbia’s Main Street District, Hotel Trundle opened at 1224 Taylor St. in April, the same month developers announced plans to bring a 91-room Holiday Inn to a 10-story building at 1233 Washington St.

The 911 Washington St. property was added to the agenda of the next design commission meeting, to be held July 12.

o