Hotel, condo complex in works

Westin facility its first in state; is part of Bridge Street

Thursday, December 09, 2004

By MARIAN ACCARDI

Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com

The World Famous Bridge Street, a retail/office/residential center planned for Cummings Research Park, will include the state's first Westin Hotel with the top floors housing 40 private condominium residences.

The Westin Huntsville will have 200 rooms and an adjacent 8,000-square-foot conference center. The ground floor of the hotel will have a mix of uses - a lobby, day spa, health club, indoor/outdoor pool, a full-service restaurant and two retail shops.

The top six floors of the building, which will be built on the north shore of the manmade lakes at the Bridge Street project, will contain the condo units, ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet.

"We're real excited" about the hotel/condo development, said Gary Safady, managing partner of the Los Angeles-based O&S Holdings LLC, the Bridge Street developer. "It's a big shot in the arm for the project."

Safady is expected to join city officials in an official announcement of the hotel this morning.

Bridge Street is a $210 million, 100-acre development at the corner of Old Madison Pike and Research Park Boulevard that will also include office buildings, apartments and about 12 to 15 shops and restaurants. Regal Cinemas announced last year it plans to build a 16-screen theater there. Safady said about 60 percent of the retail space is in leasing negotiations.

Construction of the hotel building will probably start at the end of the first quarter of 2005, said Safady, and open at the end of September 2006. The project will cost "$45 million to $50 million or better," said Safady.

Scott Averbuch and Betsy Robinson of Averbuch Realty in Huntsville will handle the sale of the condominium units. The name of the private residences will be announced later.

The hotel is just one new lodging development planned for Huntsville. The 101-room Hilton Garden Inn near the U.S. Space & Rocket Center broke ground last month, and its developers recently said they would build a 104-room Homewood Suites extended-stay hotel in the Village of Providence in west Huntsville. The 10-story Embassy Suites in downtown Huntsville is expected to open in early 2006.

"It's not much of a concern for us," Safady said, referring to the boom in hotel room construction in Huntsville. The Westin is a "totally different product type," he said, and Bridge Street will offer "unparalleled amenities" for those staying at the hotel.

Westin is "really an elite name brand," said Alex Hardy of O&S Holdings, and "a name like that can only benefit everyone in town. We're not threatening or competing with" any other property in Huntsville.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, which is based in White Plains, N.Y., is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. Other Starwood properties are Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels. Westin Hotels & Resorts has more than 120 hotels in more than 20 countries.




Hotel, condo complex in works Westin facility its first in state; is part of Bridge Street Thursday, December 09, 2004 By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer accardi@htimes.com The World Famous Bridge Street, a retail/office/residential center planned for Cummings Research Park, will include the state's first Westin Hotel with the top floors housing 40 private condominium residences. The Westin Huntsville will have 200 rooms and an adjacent 8,000-square-foot conference center. The ground floor of the hotel will have a mix of uses - a lobby, day spa, health club, indoor/outdoor pool, a full-service restaurant and two retail shops. The top six floors of the building, which will be built on the north shore of the manmade lakes at the Bridge Street project, will contain the condo units, ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet. "We're real excited" about the hotel/condo development, said Gary Safady, managing partner of the Los Angeles-based O&S Holdings LLC, the Bridge Street developer. "It's a big shot in the arm for the project." Safady is expected to join city officials in an official announcement of the hotel this morning. Bridge Street is a $210 million, 100-acre development at the corner of Old Madison Pike and Research Park Boulevard that will also include office buildings, apartments and about 12 to 15 shops and restaurants. Regal Cinemas announced last year it plans to build a 16-screen theater there. Safady said about 60 percent of the retail space is in leasing negotiations. Construction of the hotel building will probably start at the end of the first quarter of 2005, said Safady, and open at the end of September 2006. The project will cost "$45 million to $50 million or better," said Safady. Scott Averbuch and Betsy Robinson of Averbuch Realty in Huntsville will handle the sale of the condominium units. The name of the private residences will be announced later. The hotel is just one new lodging development planned for Huntsville. The 101-room Hilton Garden Inn near the U.S. Space & Rocket Center broke ground last month, and its developers recently said they would build a 104-room Homewood Suites extended-stay hotel in the Village of Providence in west Huntsville. The 10-story Embassy Suites in downtown Huntsville is expected to open in early 2006. "It's not much of a concern for us," Safady said, referring to the boom in hotel room construction in Huntsville. The Westin is a "totally different product type," he said, and Bridge Street will offer "unparalleled amenities" for those staying at the hotel. Westin is "really an elite name brand," said Alex Hardy of O&S Holdings, and "a name like that can only benefit everyone in town. We're not threatening or competing with" any other property in Huntsville. Westin Hotels & Resorts, which is based in White Plains, N.Y., is part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. Other Starwood properties are Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels. Westin Hotels & Resorts has more than 120 hotels in more than 20 countries. Copyright 2004 al.com. All Rights Reserved.