Design change pushes P.G.'s Hotel Durell over the City Council finish line.

Developers flipped their proposed Hotel Durell’s design, and on Aug. 15 a majority of the Pacific Grove City Council decided the project is not a flop.

Originally the 120-room hotel’s architecture was described as Victorian to fit in with many of the town’s homes built in the period more than 100 years ago. The location on Central Avenue in the heart of downtown is near a neighborhood chock full of Victorian cottages.

But after numerous residents complained about the design architects made major changes within the last month that now gives the hotel a Spanish colonial look. Even people who were still complaining about the hotel’s impact on downtown agreed the new design reflecting the aesthetic of nearby Pacific Grove Public Library and the Natural History History Museum was a big improvement.

Architects also shaved off four more rooms, changed the vehicle entrance so as not to disrupt the Monday afternoon Farmers Market, and made other enhancements along Fountain and Grand avenues to give people places to sit and enjoy landscaping and maybe even some public art in the future.

Another feature praised by people was the addition of an arched stained glass butterfly artwork previously featured for years at Holman Department Store on Lighthouse Avenue. The stained glass was preserved before the building was renovated and saved expressly to be featured in the future hotel. The Spanish-style arches of the new design now mean the glass can be prominently displayed at the hotel’s entrance.

The changes may have been enough to significantly decrease public disapproval of the project. It was public pressure that prompted City Council to call up the project after the Pacific Grove Planning Commission approved the it 4-1 in May. At a July 11 council meeting, people both for and against Hotel Durell packed the chambers and overflowed into the hallway.

But on Wednesday, only a few residents came out to protest, along with some business owners who told the council that their stores need the extra customers a hotel will bring.

The developers also added in mechanical car lifts in a parking lot across Fountain Avenue to bring in 20 more spaces to accommodate hotel guests as well as patrons to a first-floor restaurant and banquet room. That proposal was a complete nonstarter with the city.

Mark Brodeur, P.G.'s director of community and economic development, flatly told the council to remove the lifts from the project, and others agreed.

“I think the car lifts are a terrible idea,” Councilmember Robert Huitt said. “Lets have Lyft and Uber—Lyft with a ‘y.’ We can take advantage of those trends.”

Pointing out the hotel’s walkable location near just about everything visitors could want, Huitt recommended the owners encourage guests to use alternative transportation as much as possible. Councilmember Cynthia Garfield suggested bus passes for employees.

Even with all the changes it wasn't enough for Councilmember Bill Peake, who thought 116 rooms was still too much. He voted “no,” but five members ultimately approved the project. (Councilmember Nick Smith earlier recused himself.)

The vote brings to an end years of struggle to get the hotel approved. Landowner Nader Agha told the Weekly last year that he's been planning the hotel for two decades. It was originally proposed with 225 rooms, then 125 rooms, and in April it was cut down to 120. When it became apparent at the July council meeting that there was still significant opposition to the hotel, architects further reduced the number to 116.