IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 30, 2007 — Hansji Hotels, Inc., an Irvine-based hotel development and management company, has broken ground on the 239-suite Residence Inn by Marriott in downtown San Diego. The hotel, located on the corner of 6th and J, is positioned in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter – Southern California's premier entertainment and shopping district – and a block from the Convention Center and PETCO Park, the home of the Padres.
The 12-story Residence Inn by Marriott will be an extended-stay hotel that includes over 8,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and three levels of subterranean parking. This new Generation 7 will feature a street-level bar and lounge, meeting facilities, and a roof top pool overlooking 5th Avenue. "Marriott is very excited to be a part of this unique project in the Gaslamp district. With all of the focus on urban living over the past few years, we have seen a real interest to develop Residence Inns in downtown markets," remarks Eric Jacobs, SVP Lodging Development of Marriot.
Hansji Hotels is building on a 22,000-sf parcel surrounding the historic Brunswig Drug Building. The construction of the Residence Inn furthers Hansji Hotels' relationship and continued growth with Marriott.
"We are pleased to break ground on a hotel that will be a major asset to the business and cultural landscape of downtown San Diego," states John Bissell, VP of Development, Hansji Hotels. "We particularly take pride in maintaining the integrity of the existing historic structure while adding valuable hospitality space to this dynamic part of the city."
The project is scheduled to open in 2009.
The Gaslamp Quarter is a National Historic District and in 1982 it became a major redevelopment project area for the city of San Diego. Today, new residential dwellings and businesses share the downtown location with Victorian-style buildings from 1880 to 1910. According to Dennis Rogers, Awbrey Cook McGill Architect's principal, "The 239-suite hotel will be one of the first 'urban-concept' Marriott Residence Inns and is destined to be a flagship property for the brand. The design met the clients' goals by optimizing the number of suites on a very tight site while still providing all of the guest amenities required by Marriott. The project captures the historic references to the old warehouses of the Gaslamp District with tumbled brick and metal trellises."
About Hansji Hotels, Inc.
With over 35 years in the hospitality industry, including hotel construction and renovations, Hansji Hotels has elevated itself into a first-class organization that develops premier hotel assets and operates over 1,700 rooms in the Southwestern U.S. Recently recognized among the Top 100 Developers in the U.S., Hansji Hotels currently has five projects under development with a total value of over $300 million.
For more information, visit http://www.hansjihotels.com.
Contact:
Jeff Wanders, VP of Operations
Email
http://www.hansjihotels.com
Hansji Hotels, Inc.
8105 Irvine Center Drive Suite 500
Irvine, California 92618
Telephone: 949-748-3620
Fax: 949-748-3622