Design Review Board approves 14‑room apartment hotel at 7710 Collins with material condition

The Design Review Board approved a proposed 14‑room apartment hotel at 7710 Collins Avenue on Dec. 11, subject to a condition asking the applicant to revisit heavy dark wood cladding on side elevations and submit alternatives (for example stone accents) for staff review.

The applicant presented a five‑story, narrow‑lot building with one residential manager unit, rooftop amenity and nine on‑site spaces using mechanical lifts. Transportation staff and the applicant described multiple mitigation measures: all parking will be valet, loading and trash collection will occur on‑site and be limited to specified daytime hours, a transportation demand management plan will be coordinated with the city and a valet attendant will be provided during peak periods.

Neighbors raised concerns about alley safety, increased traffic, the character of a mid‑block hotel among low‑density residential buildings and a perceived risk of short‑term rental conversion. Board members noted the use is permitted in this portion of the RM‑1 district and required no additional conditional‑use approval; their questions focused on circulation, alley egress, and materials. To address community concerns and design heaviness, the board appended a condition that the applicant work with staff to explore replacing some dark wood cladding on side elevations with stone or other lighter materials and to finalize material samples and colors for staff approval.

Practical next steps: The applicant will submit revised material samples and final color selections for staff review; the project’s other conditions (valet staffing, TDM measures and rooftop hours) are recorded in the draft order.