The Windsor Boutique Hotel

Asheville, North Carolina

MERITS

National Historic Register

Historic Tax Credit project

HISTORIC PRESERVATION / COMMERCIAL

Located in the heart of downtown Asheville and built as the JD Nelson building in 1907, the original tenants were a grocery, hardware store and painting contractor. Featuring a corbeled brick cornice, windows in recessed panels, and traditional retail storefronts at the street level, the structure is a fine example of a traditional brick retail building of that era.

For several decades, the upper floors contained multiple single room occupant apartments and the buildings interiors were greatly altered. In 2010, Rowhouse Architects was hired for a complete renovation, reconfiguring the existing apartments into 14 modern boutique hotel rooms while keeping the historic integrity intact.

The renovations included modern HVAC systems, a new elevator, accessibility and building code upgrades. The original lobby and stair were refurbished, and new street level storefronts were installed.

Completed in 2014.