Quote:
Originally Posted by Triptychtwo
New Business: 40 & 46 Boulevard - RCC, LLC
The property is zoned C-2-C. The property is comprised of eight contiguous parcels (which also includes 25, 27, 33, & 39 Daniel Street, 492 & 496 Gartrell street) totaling 65,716 SF. The project consists of 129,655 SF of office, 3,540 SF of retail space, a 38,766 SF hotel, and 10 townhomes. The project also includes a two-story below ground parking deck with 275 off-street parking spaces
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CoStar News - Atlanta in Line for First 'Airbnb Hotel'
APRIL 20, 2018|TONY WILBERT
4-5 minutes
Airbnb's expansion into the hotel business has prompted plans for Atlanta's first boutique lodging geared solely toward travelers who book short stays online.
RCC, LLC of Atlanta has filed plans to develop a nine-story, boutique hotel with 98-110 rooms in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward. The hotel would be designed specifically to attract Airbnb users. RCC's representative John Schiavone heads Catholic Construction Services, and as such, is the director of real estate for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta. It is unclear exactly what role the Catholic Church would play in the planned development.
Airbnb, which has faced fierce opposition from some in the hospitality industry, is working toward a better relationship with hoteliers by offering more of their rooms on airbnb.com. Moreover, Airbnb is adding a "super guest" loyalty program; it already has a "super host" program. The planned Atlanta hotel would be the first in the Southeast and likely beyond where a developer purposely builds a hotel to leverage Airbnb’s desire to forge a closer relationship with the hospitality industry.
Schiavone, who submitted the special-exemption and special-use applications as an agent of property owners AoA Properties Holdings and Abe Podler Marital Trust, did not respond to an email and phone message seeking comment by press time.
But here's how the hotel would operate, based on information submitted by Schiavone and RCC attorney Ted Sandler. "The concept for the hotel is that of an 'Airbnb'." It is anticipated that patrons will make reservations online and be issued an access number to use when arriving at the hotel. No check-in or check-out or other 'front-desk' activities are anticipated," according to the application for a special-use permit. The hotel will offer housekeeping and laundry services and employ a skeleton crew of up to 10 people at any given time.
The restaurant portion of the mixed-use development would be operated by an independent entity.
Because the hotel would "operate primarily as an 'Airbnb' facility," the developer expects guests to arrive via Uber, Lyft or mass transit. The hotel will be open to all, but RCC expects most of its business to come from people 25-45.
The mixed-use development proposed by RCC also would be centered at the intersection of Boulevard SE and Gartrell St., which today houses a single-story convenience store. In addition to the hotel, the mixed-use development would comprise two office buildings totaling 119,763 square feet of space, 12 townhomes and 3,444 square feet of retail, according to an application for a special exemption to reduce the off-street parking requirements to 275 from the 595 required by city zoning laws.
The site of the proposed development sits in one of several intown hotspots. Development is blossoming along the southern portion of the Boulevard corridor. In 2012, City Councilman Kwanza Hall declared the Year of Boulevard to highlight opportunities along the major road, and developers have paid attention. Former college baseball player Stephen Ochs and former Atlanta Falcon Garrett Reynolds this year will open Fetch Park and Ice House, a new full-service dog park bar and restaurant, a block away from where the Airbnb hotel would rise.
The Zoning Review Board staff has recommended approval of RCC's plans. The ZRB did, however, vow to monitor the project to ensure it does not morph into an apartment community. "Should the applicant convert the boutique hotel into typical multifamily residences, RCC would need to secure an amendment to the city's Comprehensive Development Plan."
The rezoning request and other applications also must be approved by the Atlanta City Council for the project to move forward.
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