New boutique hotel in the Fan gets council go-ahead

shenandoah2

Developers plan to convert The Shenandoah building into a hotel. (Mike Platania photos)

With a recently approved special-use permit in hand, the developers of a new boutique hotel in the Fan are continuing to push forward with the project.

Manhattan-based hotelier ASH NYC will soon be fielding calls from general contractors for its planned conversion of The Shenandoah building at 501 N. Allen Ave. into a 70-room hotel.

Once a senior living facility, the six-story building near the intersection with Monument Avenue was bought by ASH last year for $3.5 million.

The property’s residential zoning precludes a hotel use. So ASH sought the SUP for the project, which the City Council approved at its Sept. 26 meeting.

ASH CEO Ari Heckman said they’re glad to have the support of the city as well as many of their neighbors.

shenandoah1 scaled

The six-story building was once a senior living facility.

“We’ve done a lot of sensitive, historic projects in urban neighborhoods. Generally, what we want to do is, we believe, enhance the surrounding areas. Otherwise, we wouldn’t take it on,” Heckman said. “We’re happy with where we are.”

ASH counts four other hotels in its portfolio: Hotel Peter Paul in New Orleans; The Dean Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island; The Siren Hotel in Detroit; and the recently opened Ulysses hotel in Baltimore. It also is working on another new hotel in Philadelphia.

Heckman said the name and brand for the Richmond hotel haven’t been determined yet. They’re working with Commonwealth Architects on the design and Heckman said they plan to put the project out to bid for a general contractor in the next few weeks.

In addition to the 70 rooms, ASH’s Richmond hotel will also include a restaurant that Heckman said will be operated in-house.

“We have all sorts of structures and arrangements in our different hotels. Here, we plan to operate the food and beverage venue ourselves as part of the hotel,” he said. “We’ll bring in talented local chefs to be part of the restaurant team, but it’ll be our own concept.”

The Shenandoah building has been vacant since the senior living operation wound down operations in 2020. Heckman said they’re looking to begin construction in early 2023.

shenandoah2

Developers plan to convert The Shenandoah building into a hotel. (Mike Platania photos)

With a recently approved special-use permit in hand, the developers of a new boutique hotel in the Fan are continuing to push forward with the project.

Manhattan-based hotelier ASH NYC will soon be fielding calls from general contractors for its planned conversion of The Shenandoah building at 501 N. Allen Ave. into a 70-room hotel.

Once a senior living facility, the six-story building near the intersection with Monument Avenue was bought by ASH last year for $3.5 million.

The property’s residential zoning precludes a hotel use. So ASH sought the SUP for the project, which the City Council approved at its Sept. 26 meeting.

ASH CEO Ari Heckman said they’re glad to have the support of the city as well as many of their neighbors.

shenandoah1 scaled

The six-story building was once a senior living facility.

“We’ve done a lot of sensitive, historic projects in urban neighborhoods. Generally, what we want to do is, we believe, enhance the surrounding areas. Otherwise, we wouldn’t take it on,” Heckman said. “We’re happy with where we are.”

ASH counts four other hotels in its portfolio: Hotel Peter Paul in New Orleans; The Dean Hotel in Providence, Rhode Island; The Siren Hotel in Detroit; and the recently opened Ulysses hotel in Baltimore. It also is working on another new hotel in Philadelphia.

Heckman said the name and brand for the Richmond hotel haven’t been determined yet. They’re working with Commonwealth Architects on the design and Heckman said they plan to put the project out to bid for a general contractor in the next few weeks.

In addition to the 70 rooms, ASH’s Richmond hotel will also include a restaurant that Heckman said will be operated in-house.

“We have all sorts of structures and arrangements in our different hotels. Here, we plan to operate the food and beverage venue ourselves as part of the hotel,” he said. “We’ll bring in talented local chefs to be part of the restaurant team, but it’ll be our own concept.”

The Shenandoah building has been vacant since the senior living operation wound down operations in 2020. Heckman said they’re looking to begin construction in early 2023.

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Bruce Milam
Bruce Milam
1 year ago

This is a beautiful building. The architect’s name escapes me but he was responsible for severalniconic buildings in Richmond including the former hotel at 6th and East Main Street.

Sean. Stilwell
Sean. Stilwell
1 year ago
Reply to  Bruce Milam

Carl Ruehmund… he had some great details in his work!

St George Pinckney
St George Pinckney
1 year ago
Reply to  Bruce Milam

Parking for how many cars per room?

Ed Christina
Ed Christina
1 year ago

Can’t imagine any parking in that area.

Ed Christina
Ed Christina
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed Christina

Hotels have people from out of town.

Even if they fly in to town, they will rent cars.

The cars have to be put someplace and that part of the Fan is already overcrowded.

Jackson Joyner
Jackson Joyner
1 year ago
Reply to  Ed Christina

I’m sure they will just take the Pulse.

Justin W Ranson
Justin W Ranson
1 year ago

looks like there are maybe 22 cars in the lot. Not sure if they’ll keep it that way or do something else.

Justin W Ranson
Justin W Ranson
1 year ago

There’s also a large side lot that could be used if it comes with the property.

Justin Reynolds
Justin Reynolds
1 year ago

With valet parking they can fit a good number more vehicles as well.

John Lindner
John Lindner
1 year ago

Wonderful. Best of luck to the team working on this.