February 21, 2017

Westlake hotel plan gets bigger: now seven-stories and 81 rooms

Image by Heliotrope Architects [enlarge]

The proposed hotel would have a rooftop restaurant with views of Lake Union.

The American Meter & Appliance building at 1001 Westlake Ave. N. appears to be headed for demolition, and replaced by a new seven-story hotel.

The proposed hotel will have its first design-review presentation on Wednesday, March 1.

The triangular, 7,500-square-foot site is at the intersection of Eighth Avenue North and Westlake. Marriott Courtyard hotel is immediately south of the American Meter building, which was constructed in 1920.

A partnership led by Collin Madden bought the property last March through an LLC, paying $5 million.

When the DJC first reported the redevelopment plan last fall, the fate of the three-story American Meter building was unclear. New plans filed with the city now say it will be razed.

The developers are now proposing the hotel will have a higher room count: up from 43 to 81. There would be no parking.

Restaurants are planned on the ground floor and the roof, which would also have a significant outdoor space and a “gaming lawn.” The rooftop restaurant and deck would have unobstructed views of Lake Union.

Guest rooms would extend from the second floor to half of the seventh floor, which would have an additional deck facing west.

Plans also indicate the hotel will earn a bonus area under the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda program. Total project size is about 46,200 square feet.

Heliotrope Architects is designing the hotel. Site Workshop is the landscape architect.

The preferred design shows the building with a rounded point facing Westlake and a flat facade along Eighth.

The hotel lobby would be on Eighth, along with a small retail space for bike and board rentals.

Renderings have signage reading “Union,” but it's unclear if this is the brand of a possible hotel operator.

The design meeting is set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 1 at Queen Anne Community Center, 1901 First Ave. W.