A major change is in the pipeline for York’s royal street.
A restaurant, bar and garage could go and be replaced with a £35 million aparthotel.
Plans have been drawn up to replace the existing buildings which house the Jinnah Restaurant, Minster Car Hire Garage and The Micklegate at 127 close to Micklegate Bar.
Hotel operator Staycity wants to replace them with a purpose-built business based on its Wilde Aparthotels concept – themed around the famous Irish playwright Oscar Wilde.
It will offer “high quality, studio and one-bed apartments to business and leisure travellers”, each with kitchenettes and access to a 24-hour reception.
Lots of tech
Wilde Aparthotels is Staycity’s premium brand, the first of which launched in London’s West End in April 2018.
Each apartment would feature the technology including a 43” flat screen smart TV and touch control panels for lighting and air conditioning.
Luxury features include extra-large beds and rainfall showers.
It would be Staycity’s second development in York. It’s first 197-apartment premises opened on Paragon Street in 2016, and has proved popular with both tourists and business visitors.
The Micklegate site would be developed by North Star Investment Management. The current building would be replaced with the 152-apartment Wilde Aparthotel.
Regenerate key gateway
Staycity’s group development director Barry Hickey commented: “York has already been a fantastic location for our Staycity Aparthotel brand and we are excited about the prospect of bringing our design-led brand Wilde to this impressive and popular city.”
A spokesperson for North Star Investment Management commented: “Attracting the Wilde brand to York is a vote of confidence in the city.
“This development will regenerate a key gateway site continuing the great improvement the street and area has undergone in recent years and acting as an economic boost to other local businesses too.”
Historically the site was part of the Kennings Garage, but it had been converted into separate units in recent years and a large part of the site is seen as a detractor to the character of the conservation area.
Find out more
A public exhibition to explain the plans will be held on the 20th February from 3pm to 7pm at the York Baptist Church on Priory Street.
Members of the development team will be on hand to answer questions from local residents and businesses.
Looks great and improve Micklegate, could become pedestrian friendly if a one way system adopted or pedestrianised completely
Seems unlikely to improve the street scene. Perhaps imaginative use of materials in what appears to be a blank wall with window holes in it.