BOYSTOWN — A six-story gay hotel planned for Halsted will face neighbor review on Thursday.
The hotel by developer Parkview Developers LLC is proposed for the 3300 block of North Halsted Street, according to Triangle Neighbors. The developers previously built a "straight-friendly" luxury hotel in New York called THE OUT NYC, which opened last spring as New York's first gay hotel.
In addition to about 112 boutique hotel rooms, THE OUT CHICAGO plan includes 1,500 square feet for a gym and spa, 2,500 square feet for conference space, 3,000 square feet for a glass atrium and courtyard, and 1,500 square feet for a rooftop bar and lounge, according to developer Ian Reisner.
A restaurant called KTCHN Art is planned, with a potential collaboration with Art Smith, a chef who specializes in southern food and used to be Oprah's personal chef.
OUT CHICAGO will also expand Minibar and collaborate with Sidetrack, Reisner said. The plan is to open by 2015.
Currently, the block is also home to Wood restaurant, which opened last year and will stay on the premises.
The public is invited to join Triangle Neighbors on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall Police District community room, 850 W. Addison St., to review the proposal.
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) must sign off on plans for the hotel to go through. The alderman has been generally supportive of having more hotel space in the neighborhood but will take into consideration community feedback from Thursday's meeting, said chief of staff Bennett Lawson.
