There was a time when 201 Westlake Avenue N was going to be the site of a residential building. Dutch hotelier CitizenM bought the building and decided to turn it into a hotel instead. Tonight, they and architecture firm Gensler will present plans to the design review board.
This proposal calls for the design and construction of a seven-story, 257-key hotel. According to the design packet the ground floor will contain 82,900 square-feet of retail space and “beverage areas.” We assume that’s going to be a bit fancier than just a whole lot of soda machines.
Renderings show off the inclusion of a MENDO bookstore, described as “a candy store for book aficionados.”
CitizenM hotels have a reputation for including small rooms, stylish lobbies, and modern amenities. They also focus on 24-hour food and drink sales in the main area. They attempt to appeal to tech-savvy “mobile citizens” so a South Lake Union location seems just about perfect.
Speaking of appealing to modern sensibilities, there is no parking planned for the development. One thing guests can expect is to see large-scale art adorn the exterior of the building on multiple sides, including a two-story art piece fronting Denny Park along John Street.