Coming to Mercer Island . . . a modern luxury boutique hotel. Yes, it’s happening, but how soon it will open is up in the air and may depend on which way the local political wind blows.
Dollar Development, builder of The Mercer Luxury Apartments, has shared the latest designs for a hotel planned adjacent to the apartment complex at the former site of Travelodge on Sunset Highway. The sketches are promising, with a more modern and sophisticated flair from previous renderings.
Design sketch of the Dollar Development hotel project – View from Sunset Highway SE (February 2015)
Mercer Island hasn’t had a hotel since the Travelodge shuttered in 2008. Over a year ago, the Mercer Island Reporter published an article about the forthcoming hotel but the hotel location has remained construction free, and with the passing of time, some have wondered if perhaps this talk of a hotel on the island has just been wishful thinking.
However, recent stirrings confirm that plans are still underway.
Patience through the political process
On February 16th, the City of Mercer Island enacted a four-month moratorium on all new building permits for developments over two stories in the Town Center.
The moratorium was an initiative presented by the community activist group, Save Our Suburbs, to allow for more public input as the City is currently in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan and Town Center development code.
The moratorium exempted the Hines project, a 5-story mixed-use development, though the City Council may reconsider the exemption.
Now Dollar Development has also formally requested that its hotel development be exempted along with Hines.
Design sketch of the Dollar Development hotel project – aerial view (February 2015)
‘An important need supported by people on the island’
At last week’s City Council meeting, attorney John Houlihan, who represents Dollar Development, said the hotel project should be treated the same as Hines, based on their similar cooperation with the city for input as well as resources invested.
“We are moving forward with an application to build a hotel on Mercer Island,” he said. “This is something that hasn’t been done in decades and based on our research, serves an important need supported by people on the island.”
He elaborated that the hotel will offer a place for visiting family members of Islanders to stay and also as a place for residents to vacate home renovations and remodeling. Additionally, he said the hotel may help bring visitors, who might otherwise have stayed in Bellevue or Seattle, to Mercer Island to enjoy our own local offerings.
Many Island community members also recognize that need. Terry Moreman, Executive Director of the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, has had to refer visitors interested in overnight accommodations to hotels located in Seattle, Bellevue, Bremerton, and Issaquah.
“We desperately need something,” she said. “I think it would really help the Community Center, since they have visitors coming for conferences, meetings, and weddings. We could definitely use a place for people to stay here.”
The same as Hines but different
Houlihan argued that the hotel development’s moratorium exclusion should also be considered based on its differences from the Hines project.
“It is different because it is a hotel, and it’s for transient visitors to the Island,” he said. “So it doesn’t have the commensurate impact on transportation or schools.”
He also noted the hotel’s location on the edge of Town Center, close to existing public transit and the future site site of the Mercer Island light rail station.
The City Council will discuss any changes to the current moratorium at its council meeting on Monday, March 16th. A public hearing period regarding the moratorium is open until then, and the City’s Community Engagement Process for gathering input for the Town Center development is already underway.
Hotel features
The 5-story hotel will include more than 100 rooms with tall windows offering expansive lake and mountain views, a second-floor mezzanine and pool, and commercial space for a restaurant. The design, which may still change, features a light, modern facade that departs from previous renderings inspired by mid-century modern design (scroll down for design evolution sketches).
Design sketch of the Dollar Development hotel project – view from 77th Ave (February 2015)
On a personal note, I’d love to offer our visitors the option of a local hotel stay. While I enjoy hosting our friends and family members in our home, usually such visits are prefaced with a gentle finessing of expectations, as our household includes two active boys who rule the roost with their crazy antics and boisterous brotherly love.
Imagine – offering my guests a quiet getaway within a few minutes drive of the chaos. Yet sending our visitors to Bellevue or Seattle seems a world away.
What are your thoughts? Would you like to see a hotel built on Mercer Island? Feel free to share in the comments.
Dollar Development Hotel Design Evolution
Design sketch of the Dollar Development hotel project – February 2015
Design sketch of the Dollar Development hotel project – August 2014
Design sketch of the Dollar Development hotel project – February 2014
