Work is well underway on the conversion of the former Holiday Inn at 618 Delaware Avenue to the Residence Inn by Marriott. Benderson Development has cleared the interior of the building in preparation to reinvent the hotel concept.
As for the exterior, we can plainly see that the facade is getting a ‘softer’ look that will fit in better with the historic feel of the avenue. What we can’t see is the plan for the facade of the building, facing Delaware Avenue.
Ever since the hotel was built in 1966, Buffalo has been made to suffer from daily viewing of what could be considered the ugliest face of a building in the city. Now that we are seeing a ‘new day’ for the side of the building that faces the parking lot, there is a chance of a lifetime to do something exceptional for exterior on the Delaware Side.
I’m not talking about a couple of windows on the first floor. I’m talking about some serious glass addition. If that eastern facing side was to be skinned, can you imagine what that would do for the avenue?
Not only would a healthy amount of glass on the eastern side be appreciated by passersby, the hotel rooms would be the most desirable in the building. They would also command the highest prices per stay, by far due to the views.
Benderson Development will surely be doing something with this east-facing side of the new Residence Inn by Marriott – something that plays off the rendering seen above. Let’s hope that whatever it is pays homage to a street that deserves the best.