We noticed an interesting transaction while digging through property records recently: A hotel developer had purchased an old warehouse on President Street between 3rd and 4th avenues for $4.8 million. Could it be? Another hotel in Gowanus? As it turns out, that’s not the case—SAI Hospitality, which has built a bunch of hotels around the city (like the La Quinta Inn near JFK), is planning to build not one, but two hotels on President Street. We’re building a 105-room hotel at 529 President and a 120-room hotel at 551 President, says Raj Bhagia, one of SAI’s principals. Bhagia says that SAI is going to develop higher-end properties than some of the others nearby (by this we assume he means Union Street’s Holiday Inn Express and Butler Street’s Comfort Inn) and hopes to lure an operator like Hilton. The firm intends to begin construction on the buildings within the next six months. SAI’s plans are independent of the rumored hotel planned for the same block, on the corner of 3rd Avenue. If all the hotels get built it’ll mean there are three on President Street alone and six all together in Greater Gowanus (counting Le Bleu). Gowanus: Brooklyn’s home away from home?
Another Gowanus Hotel Takes Shape [Brownstoner] GMAP GMAP