Although the proposed Bergamot Transit Village went belly-up this past summer, other Expo-adjacent TODs are having better luck in Downtown Santa Monica.  Case in point: excavation is in full swing at the intersection of 5th Street and Colorado Avenue, the future site of two "limited-service," hotels from OTO Development.  The six-story structures, both designed by Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio, are scheduled to open concurrently with the Expo Line in Spring 2016.

The first of the two hotels, a Coutyard by Marriott, will feature 136 guest rooms and approximately 3,500 square feet of street-level restaurant space.  The second, to be operated by Hampton Inn & Suites, will offer 143 guest rooms and roughly 1,900 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.  Both hotels will include a full array of guest amenities, including fitness centers, meeting rooms, and outdoor pool decks.

Due to their location across the street from the eventual Expo Line terminus, OTO's hotels will serve as anchors for the Colorado Esplanade, a major streetscape upgrade planned by the City of Santa Monica.  Designs for the two buildings embrace this prominent role, utilizing strong, "tower-like," elements to create a visual gateway to the city at 5th Street.

For real-time updates on the hotels, please check out Downtown Santa Monica Station's blurry construction camera.