Downtown Columbia building set for 4-star hotel, city to approve $3 million sale
The luxury hotel brand Kessler Enterprise, Inc. is planning to turn Columbia’s downtown Washington Square property into a 4-star hotel. The City Council is expected to vote on selling the property to the hotelier for $2.9 million at its Tuesday meeting.
Earlier this year, the city listed two properties for sale that it hoped could be turned into a hotel, new apartments, and restaurant and retail space.
Among the listed properties was Washington Square, a seven-story office building at 1136 Washington St.
Orlando-based hotelier Kessler has built luxury hotels across the country, with a particular focus on the Southeast. Their projects include a string of “Grand Bohemian” hotels in various cities, as well as the Beaver Creek Lodge in Colorado and the Casa Monica Resort and Spa in St. Augustine, Florida.
Features proposed for the Columbia hotel include art installations, a coffee shop and/or restaurant, a rooftop bar and more.
The Washington Street parking garage would also be included in the sale.
The city purchased the Washington Square property in 2003. Leaders decided to sell the property to put it back on the tax roll, as the city is consolidating city office space.
The city is giving Kessler two years to begin construction on the hotel after the sale is final, and will be able to buy back the property if that timeline isn’t met, according to city documents.
When the city listed the property for sale in October, it included renderings of what the property might look like if bought by the right developer. The renderings included a rooftop courtyard, and a ground-level retail hub.
The city also listed property at the corner of Bull and Taylor streets, which the city envisions as apartments or retail space, also with a rooftop courtyard and other features.
