End of the Line: Key Bridge Marriott
Feb 2, 2018, 4:33 am
#32
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I want to say that the Key Bridge Marriott was the second Marriott ever built (Twin Bridges was #1 ).
Feb 3, 2018, 11:25 am
#33
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I have mixed feelings about the KBM closing. Yes, it's a piece of history for the brand, but given its spotty maintenance and insufficient renovation it's a poor representative of the brand. Personally my memories there go back to almost my teenage years.... When I was working a college internship nearby my colleagues enjoyed going to the top-floor bar for happy hour on Fridays. I joined them a few times and felt like, "Wow, Marriotts are upscale yet comfortable places." Years later when I started traveling frequently I stayed once-- just once!-- at the hotel and was disappointed to see how run down it had/has become.
Feb 3, 2018, 4:17 pm
#34
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Correct. It's been reported in many news articles over the years that the Key Bridge Marriott was the company's second hotel. It was built following the success of Twin Bridges nearby, though the latter closed down many years ago.
I have mixed feelings about the KBM closing. Yes, it's a piece of history for the brand, but given its spotty maintenance and insufficient renovation it's a poor representative of the brand. Personally my memories there go back to almost my teenage years.... When I was working a college internship nearby my colleagues enjoyed going to the top-floor bar for happy hour on Fridays. I joined them a few times and felt like, "Wow, Marriotts are upscale yet comfortable places." Years later when I started traveling frequently I stayed once-- just once!-- at the hotel and was disappointed to see how run down it had/has become.
I have mixed feelings about the KBM closing. Yes, it's a piece of history for the brand, but given its spotty maintenance and insufficient renovation it's a poor representative of the brand. Personally my memories there go back to almost my teenage years.... When I was working a college internship nearby my colleagues enjoyed going to the top-floor bar for happy hour on Fridays. I joined them a few times and felt like, "Wow, Marriotts are upscale yet comfortable places." Years later when I started traveling frequently I stayed once-- just once!-- at the hotel and was disappointed to see how run down it had/has become.
It's too bad they don't use the top-floor as a nice restaurant and bar with the view.
It did, however, sound like from my conversation with management that the hotel will stay open and changes will be made. It didn't sound like it was closing down anytime soon.
Feb 3, 2018, 8:05 pm
#35
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They would likely have to gut to the studs and re-configure plumbing stacks to make a difference. The hotel was built in 1959 and (while I haven't been in the rooms myself) in that era, it wasn't uncommon to build a room size of maybe 180 sf. Today's full service hotel room is easily 325 sf. No amount of renovation in the existing floor plan will address this problem.
Edited to add: And given the way the exterior is built, it looks like the tall tower is stuck with small rooms until it's eventually imploded in the 2100s. Maybe they could tear down the associated midrise "wings" and start over; but $20M wouldn't be nearly enough to contemplate something like that.
Edited to add: And given the way the exterior is built, it looks like the tall tower is stuck with small rooms until it's eventually imploded in the 2100s. Maybe they could tear down the associated midrise "wings" and start over; but $20M wouldn't be nearly enough to contemplate something like that.
Last edited by DenverBrian; Feb 3, 2018 at 8:55 pm
Apr 9, 2019, 12:42 pm
#36
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Well this hotel is not going anywhere. Plans for renovation are in the books, 12-18 months away and thank goodness, per local management. M Lounge on the way.
Apr 9, 2019, 12:54 pm
#37
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Woodridge Capital Partners CEO Michael Rosenfeld likes old buildings — even the ugly ones. In Greater Washington, he’s preparing to overhaul a doozy: the Key Bridge Marriott in Rosslyn.
In 2018, Woodridge and Oaktree Capital Management LP, both based in Los Angeles, purchased the hotel and 5.5-acre property for $190 million from Host Hotels & Resorts Inc.
...
The deal includes a provision that the world’s oldest Marriott remain a Marriott for “decades,” Rosenfeld said.
...
While the hotel currently has 582 guest rooms, Rosenfeld expects that number to drop to the “mid-400s” once the renovation is complete.
...
Under current zoning, the site can support up to 630 residential units, 990 hotel rooms, 660,000 feet of office space — or some combination of both. The plans, which are expected to be submitted to Arlington County soon, will adhere to the existing zoning, Rosenfeld said.
https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...riott-the.html
In 2018, Woodridge and Oaktree Capital Management LP, both based in Los Angeles, purchased the hotel and 5.5-acre property for $190 million from Host Hotels & Resorts Inc.
...
The deal includes a provision that the world’s oldest Marriott remain a Marriott for “decades,” Rosenfeld said.
...
While the hotel currently has 582 guest rooms, Rosenfeld expects that number to drop to the “mid-400s” once the renovation is complete.
...
Under current zoning, the site can support up to 630 residential units, 990 hotel rooms, 660,000 feet of office space — or some combination of both. The plans, which are expected to be submitted to Arlington County soon, will adhere to the existing zoning, Rosenfeld said.
https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...riott-the.html
https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...tml#g/450584/8
Apr 9, 2019, 5:29 pm
#38
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Yep:
You can see what appears to be a M Club lounge adjoining the restaurant in this draft floor plan:
https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...tml#g/450584/8
You can see what appears to be a M Club lounge adjoining the restaurant in this draft floor plan:
https://www.bizjournals.com/washingt...tml#g/450584/8
David
Apr 10, 2019, 3:44 pm
#39
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The biggest benefit of the M Club being downstairs is not having to look at the bird crap accumulations outside the windows of the current CL. However having a view of Georgetown and the Potomac, especially after a snowfall is/was nice. Hopefully the M Club will be bigger than the current CL.
David
David