A Florida-based investment firm has submitted sketch plans to build a hotel at the current Greater Burlington YMCA location on College Street.
Hospitality Funding, under the business name Hotel Y Burlington, is planning a six-story, 142-room Cambria hotel, one of 10 brands owned by Choice Hotels. The company also operates Comfort Inn, Clarion, Econo Lodge and others, according to its website.
But Hospitality Funding’s chairman and CEO has Queen City ties, according to Nicole Ravlin, a spokesperson for the hotel. Scott Silver attended the University of Vermont as an undergrad, and his son lives in BTV, she said. Silver will serve as the Burlington project’s managing partner.
“Vermont is kind of his home away from home, and this is why he was interested in doing something with the community here,” Ravlin said.
More detailed plans will be unveiled at Wednesday’s Wards 1 and 8 Neighborhood Planning Assembly meeting, said Scott Gustin, a principal planner with the city of Burlington. Silver and Cleary Buckley of Smith Buckley Architects are scheduled to attend and answer questions.
Silver said his firm “assumed the contract” for the property at 266 College Street last October from Montpelier lawyer Frank von Turkovich, who signed a contract to buy the historic building in 2016. City records show the property sold for $3 million; it was originally on the market for $3.75 million.
Smith Buckley Architects filed a memo with the NPA that says the hotel will retain the Y’s gabled roof structure at the corner of College and South Union streets but will demolish the building’s back portion. Designs also call for 77 underground parking spaces, a rooftop bar and restaurant and a “green/vegetated roof with kinetic art.”
“We anticipate that this feature will provide an inviting destination for the community, offering an experience that does not currently exist in the city,” the architect’s memo says of the rooftop features.
The hotel will be built to sustainable design standards and will include its own stormwater retention system, the architects’ memo says.
The firm predicts the hotel will reduce traffic congestion at the intersection since guest turnover happens throughout the day “versus the highly concentrated pickup and drop off” times for the Y’s childcare program.
Meanwhile, the Burlington Y is continuing construction on its new home a block away at 298 College Street, site of the former Ethan Allen Club. The Y will continue operating at its current location until the new building is complete, likely by early 2020. Hotel construction is slated to commence that spring, the architects’ memo says.
The hotel must first pass design and development reviews, however. Those hearings are tentatively planned for later this month, Gustin said.
Jonathan Chapple-Sokol, a Wards 1 and 8 NPA steering committee member, said he hasn’t reviewed the hotel’s specific plans but anticipates the NPA meeting will host a robust discussion.
“I have an open mind about these things,” he said. “There’s a lot of interested people in the ward who come to the NPA. It may not be as exciting as others, but I think there will definitely be some good Q&A.”
The NPA will meet at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday in the UVM Medical Center’s McClure Lobby Conference Room.
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…we need housing, not hotels.
It was hopeful at one point to see affordable housing for the already bankrupt locals that want to reside here. Its not a surprise that they want to support tourism and colleges over the locals being here. Its not about people living here anymore its all about the people who dont and travel here. At one point burlington was a great place to be, now its completely unaffordable and we have enough hotels that people can waste all there money at. Maybe an entertainment spot and affordable housing would be more ideal. Moving south like everyone else.. this place is an absolute joke. Nobody even cares about the people who live here all year round.
ORACLE, I agree with you. Miro much rather make more money than fix the roads or help the homeless like he promised to deal with when he made his phony election speech to get elected! He only cares about himself and his rich friends.
Nice picture. Where did the potholes go?
Finally. Just what we’ve always needed. A huge hotel. Why fix the roads or help the homeless when you can just make more money?
Is is just me or does all the recent construction last few years – from the new hotels, to Pine St, to off Pine. to St. Paul st, etc all look like it was drawn from the same generic cookie cutter ‘building in a box’ set? Can’t the city try to nudge raise the bar a little architecturally?
Im not asking for ‘design police’ but….generic begets generic.
Well, it didn’t take long at all for the antis and Debbie Downers to arrive.
“Another plus to this project is all of the transient service jobs it will create.”
Good point. Better that there never be any more jobs at all if they don’t start at $60,000/year. No jobs is better than temporary jobs! No jobs is better than part time jobs! No new jobs is better than any “low paying” jobs! Too bad if you’re a person who actually WANTS a temporary or part time job — the resentful armchair economic savants of Burlington have declared that such jobs are bad and will not be allowed! Unemployment is better! Block this project and VOTE FOR NO MORE JOBS!
“traffic will suck all day”
Yeah. Traffic sucks. Better to leave a rotting old building be than do an economic development project with it.
Great.
Another hotel to eat up more vital space and to take more money out of the community, and provide more low wage service jobs for people who won’t be able to afford to live where they work. (I guess I missed the announcement that the affordable housing crisis was solved)
I suppose Kind Miro the Builder, First of His Name and Protector of The Developers will enjoy the rooftop bar as he looks out upon his realm as he and his clients continue to turn Burlington into Sim City By The Lake.
Wow, what a great project! I love the bullishness of these investors. A welcome respite from the indications a softening real estate/investment climate illustrated by Brookfield’s (lack of) action.
These plans provide great compromise for all parties. The architect skillfully incorporates the older building into the new design, which will excite the preservationists. The 142 rooms should compete well in the marketplace and help Burlington claw back some of the business (and rooms tax revenue) we’ve lost to South Burlington.
No need for anyone drag out the permitting process; quick approval is a no-brainer.
Ah Yes, OldNorthEnder attack Miro as a problem bringing this to Burlington with low tier wages. Why don’t you put pressure on your progressive legislators to actually do something to bring businesses that can pay higher wages in the state, and maybe keep our young people here. Keeping the “idyllic” character of Burlington does nothing to attract young people or make them want to stay here. You can only keep raising taxes so long before there is no more to tax