AKA White House is a luxury extended stayhotel owned by Korman Communities located at 1710 H Street NW in Washington, D.C., in the United States. The operator is AKA, the extended-stay hotel brand owned by Korman Communities. AKA White House opened in 2005.
About the hotel
The Metropolitan Building
1710 H Street NW was constructed in 1958. Originally known as the Metropolitan Building, it was considered one of the finest Modern architecture structures in the city.[2] It was occupied for many years by the Bell Atlantic subsidiary of AT&T, which purchased the building in 1967.[3][4] The building was shuttered in 1990,[5] and some time after 1997 to H Street Associates, a consortium of developers.
Conversion to AKA White House
In May 2004, H Street Associates proposed converting the building into condominiums.[6] Later that year,[7] however, the property was purchased by Korman Communities, a fourth-generation family-owned real estate development company.[8]
Korman Communities intended to create a mix of standard long-term-contract apartments and short-term extended-stay hotel units. But the leasing of extended-stay units was so popular that the company decided to convert all units to extended-stay hotel rooms.[7] Korman Communities gave control over the property to AKA, its extend-stay hotel brand.[9] AKA invested $50 million to transform the office building into luxury extended-stay hotel rooms.[4]
Hotel rooms and amenities
As constructed in 2005, the AKA White House had 141 rooms.[7] Units featured brushed stainless steel fixtures,[4] dark wood parquet floors, and marble countertops in the kitchen.[7] Kitchens were fully outfitted with refrigerator, oven, stove, microwave oven, dishwasher, toaster, coffee maker, and a complete set of cookware. Each unit was outfitted with a large, flat-screen television and DVD player in the living room and each bedroom; a stereo system in the living room; high-speed Internet access in the living room, dining room, and each bedroom; and a front-loading washer and dryer. All units featured an open floor plan and high ceilings.[7] Most of the units were one- and two-bedroom apartments. The top four units, however, were penthouse suites, which featured higher ceilings, a balcony complete with table and chairs, and a private elevator.[4][7]
AKA White House also featured a business center (with conference room), fitness center, day spa, and rooftop deck with a retractable canopy.[4][7] A cafe,[4] Heidi's Brooklyn Deli,[1] originally existed on the first (street) floor. Hotel amenities included a concierge and daily or weekly maid service, but no room service (although a continental breakfast was offered on weekdays).[7]
Prices for AKA White House in 2005 were $165 ($257 in 2023 dollars) a day for a one-bedroom unit to $595 ($928 in 2023 dollars) to $895 ($1,396 in 2023 dollars) a day for penthouse suites.[4]
AKA White House no longer requires a minimum stay of 30 days.[7] Guests may stay just a few days, or a few months, although some stay as long as a year.[4] Many companies rent units on long-term contracts.[7] Longer-term stays require 15 days' notice before a guest moves out.
2011 renovation
AKA White House spent about $2.5 million to renovate its ground floor in 2011. The floor underwent a build-out that created a 4,000 square feet (370 m2) lobby. Heidi's Brooklyn Deli vacated as a tenant, and the space converted into a new lounge area. In early December 2011, a cocktail bar was added to the lounge, providing crafted cocktails and soft drinks.
References
^ abFrederick, Missy (December 7, 2011). "Hotel Renovations". Washington Business Journal. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
^Duscha, Julius (August 23, 1959). "Washington's Biggest Office Building Boom Is Altering the Skyline". The Washington Post. p. A22.
^Goodman, S. Oliver (January 6, 1967). "Capital Commerce: C&P Buys H Street Building For New Administrative Base". The Washington Post. p. E5.
^ abcdefghHedgpeth, Dana (September 19, 2005). "Commuter Fatigue Inspires Development". The Washington Post. p. D3.
^McCartney, Robert J. (February 4, 1990). "A Rough Ride for Profits: After 2-Year Climb, Downturn Forcing Firms to Cut Costs, Jobs". The Washington Post. p. H1.
^"What's Going Where". The Washington Post. May 27, 2004. p. T05.
^ abcdefghijAbruzzese, Sarah (April 22, 2006). "A Short-Term-Housing Haven in Downtown D.C.". The Washington Post. p. APT5.
^Hawryluk, Maggie (September 12, 2007). "Home Comforts Lead Korman to Success". Real Estate Weekly.
^Hudson, Kris (January 11, 2012). "Korman Expands Extended-Stay Hotel Brand". The Wall Street Journal.
