Ruby Suites rises in place of former Burgan's Block
Construction is deep underway and should be nearing completion soon at the former Burgan's Block site on the North Bank in the Division/Ruby corridor. Originally, the Burgan's Furniture building and associated warehouses were set to be demolished and a five-story major hotel built in their place. That $10- to $20-million plan called for 90-100 suites and an adjacent events center complex with retail shops, restaurants, and even a rooftop garden.
Instead, developer Jerry Dicker has crafted a more conservative approach, gutting the former Burgan's Furniture buildings down to the walls and essentially starting over. The project, called Ruby Suites, will offer a 46 extended-stay hotel units, a fitness center, clubhouse, and three retail suites on the ground floor. It should make for an exciting project, although we can't help but lament the absurd 136 parking spaces planned for the Ruby side of the block. Hopefully in the future, the site can be built out with underground or structured parking and even more residential units.
One can dream.
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What do you think? Are you excited about the redevelopment of the Burgan's Block? Would you stay there if you needed an extended-stay residential option? Would you open a business there? And what of this continued revival of the North Bank/Division corridor as a major retail-residential node? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook, on Twitter, or in person. We love to hear from you.