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Council committee backs special use permit to convert 436 S. Front St. apartments into 28‑room boutique hotel
Summary
DPD and the Land Use Control Board recommended approval of a special use permit to convert a 28‑unit apartment building at 436 South Front Street into a full‑service boutique hotel with conditions for loading, trash screening and reserved parking spaces; the committee forwarded the request with a positive recommendation.
The council committee voted to forward with a positive recommendation a special use permit (SUP 25‑11) allowing conversion of an existing 28‑unit apartment building at 436 South Front Street into a full‑service boutique hotel. Trevian Smith, a planner with the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), told the committee DPD found the proposal consistent with the Memphis 3 comprehensive plan and that the Land Use Control Board recommended approval with conditions.
DPD recommended conditions to address neighborhood impacts: a "no parking" sign at the adjacent parking lot at 420 South Main Street; two public loading spaces reserved on Nettleton Avenue between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; screened, secured trash collection areas using opaque metal materials subject to administrative review; and a final site and landscape plan to be submitted for DPD approval.
Amit Agarwal, partner with Stallion Apartments LLC and the applicant, said the building contains 28 apartments with kitchens that the hotel would preserve to serve families. "28. With kitchens," Agarwal said, and described the concept as a boutique hotel in which "every room will be, individually, decorated" with Memphis‑themed rooms.
Council members asked about accessibility and services. Agarwal said the building was renovated in 2013 from a cold storage building and the property is wheelchair accessible; he stated the team was prepared to make bathroom modifications to meet accessibility guidelines. The applicant also described on‑site 24/7 management and security, a fitness center, business center and a kids' playroom.
DPD recommended the SUP because staff concluded the request met the special use permit criteria in the Unified Development Code. The committee recorded "ayes have it" on the motion to forward the application; the motion to sit the case down with a positive recommendation was moved by Councilman Ford and seconded by Councilman Spinoza. The item will return to the full council for final action.
