New hotel OK’d for Meeting and Wentworth streets

A Charleston zoning board has approved a new hotel with a rooftop terrace and bar downtown — but only if the developers agree to honor earlier closing hours.

The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals-Zoning panel this week gave its okay for a new 50-room hotel at the corner of Meeting and Wentworth streets.

The property is anchored on the site of a former book store but has been vacant and unused for years.

Developers from the Kessler Collection, who want to build what is being called the Bohemian Hotel Charleston, want to erect a three-story boutique hotel that will feature an added roof-top terrace connected to a bar and dining area.

While several area residents said this week they are not opposed to a hotel at the site, some from the nearby Ansonborough neighborhood fear the roof might create too much noise from music or patrons drinking high above the street.

“A hotel is fine, but a night club is not fine,” added Everett Smith, owner of the King Charles Inn located next door. He said he feared that an active roof-top would keep his guests up late.

As part of the approval process, the board set an 11 p.m. shutdown for the terrace area on Sunday through Thursday, and 12 midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, for the project to go forward.

The developers had wanted the garden terrace to stay open until 1 p.m. on weekends; and midnight during the week.

The project does have it supporters, including one man who told the board “I think it will activate that street” during a city meeting this week where the project was reviewed.

Parking for the hotel would be done off-site by valet service to a lot on Hassell Street.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551.