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, the Windsor was built as the JD Nelson building in 1907. The original tenants were a grocery store, 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, a complete renovation reconfigured the existing apartments into 14 modern boutique hotel rooms, while keeping the historic integrity intact.

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