Unveiling the plans for new Marriott Marquis Hotel in Mt Vernon Triangle

I went to the meeting a briefing on the Marriott Marquis Convention Center Headquarters Hotel tonight that took place at the Walter E Washington Convention Center.  Carmencita R Kinsey, Chairperson of of the WCCA Advisory Committee, Norman Jenkins of Marriott International, Inc, Bob Neal of Cooper Carry and Claude E Bailey of Venable LLP offered words. We saw some exciting detailed architectural drawings projected large for all to see (attendence was around 45 people–I came with former clients of mine from the Whitman Condos next door)  There were quite a few people from the Whitman Condominiums who are generally happy to see the hotel provide value anchor, and stability to the neighborhood. But also are concerned how the height of the property slated to be constructed on the corner of 9th and Mass. Ave NW.

A few hightlights:

This is to be Marriott’s top-of-the-line 4-star hotel. (One of only three in the world) The goal is a building that will “activate” the street life there.  By this the architect explained they want it to have an accessible appearance from the sidewalk. They wanted to avoid a fortress-style place. The construction of lots of glass mixed with stone and steel will give it a very open appearance. And on the sidwalk level you will have 6 restaurants: a Starbucks-style coffee shop, a specialty restaurant, and upscale sports bar, a 3-meal restaurant (all with outside access and sidewalk dining and couple of others, one of which will be indoors.

Groundbreaking on this 13-story above ground (4 story below) will be between April and June 2009.  It will have 1,167 rooms, wil be connected underground to the Washington Convention Center, will have 400 valet-access parking spots. All ugly loading docks will be underground.  They will add a significant amount of green to the wide sidewalk areas around the building–exceeding the city’s requirements. They will be LEAD silver certified.

They also announce that by the the beginning of 2009 they will begin to study and seek approval for their plans to build 2 more hotels of a category they refer to as “urban select” on the land at 9th and L st—preserving all the historical that is there and integrating that into something like Marriott Courtyard or Residence Inn. They no nothing more yet about those.

I am excited about how this hotel will be such a great addition to the neighborhood.  It will increase activity in “the Triangle” and offer more venues for fun.  It will present progress toward connecting better what, up til now have been, “islands” of development (small groups of new stuff that is not connected to other new stuff).  Great things happen when a critical mass of development happens:  stores like Safeway want to open. I see the hotel(s) as a huge contribution to the critical mass needed to secure good growth. I think they are an especially good contribution to the Whitman Condos, Convention Center, M st, Quincy Court on 10th st and Mass Ave etc.  Its presence really fills in what has been becoming trashy—and it seems to sort of “reach out” accross the street to the Cato Institute, 1010 Mass and say “lets warm up this cute area of Mt Vernon Triangle on both sides!