Apartment Hotel Could Open On King Street In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — A 15-unit apartment hotel on King Street has been proposed in Alexandria.

Property owner Asana Partners submitted the application for 805 King Street. The building currently houses a Warby Parker store on the ground level with office space above. The office space is vacant, and the property owner has been unable to find tenants for the office space, the application noted.

The proposed hotel space totals 6,584 square feet on the first through fourth floors. Rooms would be between 225 and 527 square feet with small kitchens. A ground-level courtyard would be available to hotel guests and the Warby Parker store.

The apartment hotel would operate without a front desk. Guests would book rooms online and check in remotely. Staff would be available by phone for assistance.

Asana Partners anticipates guests would be business travelers or tourists. "The proposed apartment hotel would provide tourists and business travelers the opportunity to experience Alexandria and patronize the local restaurants and shops," states the application.

According to the application, the city previously approved an apartment hotel use. A special use permit for 15 rooms expired, but the newest special use permit approved in 2016 only allows 12 rooms. A 15-room space would require three parking spaces in this area of Old Town, but the applicant is asking for the city to allow no parking at the hotel.

The item is on the agenda for the Thursday, Oct. 3 Alexandria Planning Commission meeting.