Hotel micro chain Art Inn planning a 15-room hotel near Seattle U

Here’s an exception to the big new hotels and boutique hotel renovations underway in downtown Seattle: a land use permit has been issued for (the Art Inn) a 15-room hotel at 1225 E. Jefferson St., near Seattle University.

The Art Inn will replace an old house and garage on a 2,592-square-foot corner parcel. About 1,000 square feet of bakery and cafe space are planned on the ground level, with three levels of small hotel rooms above.

Hawaii artist and investor Sam Magnotto bought the property in 2013 for $355,000.

The Art Inn is a micro chain that was founded in Lisbon in 2013, and also has locations in Florence and Rotterdam. The chain is run by Giuseppe Pezzano, an Italian-born, Northwest-based entrepreneur who founded the AC Seattle and FC Tacoma soccer clubs. Pezzano also has business interests in other international soccer clubs as well as sports management, telecommunications and real estate.

Pezzano is related by marriage to the Magnotto family. A Pezzano LLC sold the property to Sam Magnotto.

DJC queries to Pezzano’s office were not returned before deadline.

The company website says, “The Art Inn aims to involve the guests in the culture, history and traditions of each location through the expression of art in all the decoration details. Every room is unique, with artistical details inspired by the city where the hotel is located.”

Rooms in Seattle’s Art Inn will run from about 197 to 400 square feet, arranged five per floor. A roof deck will measure about 1,000 square feet. Total project size is about 8,970 square feet, including the deck.

Hybrid Architecture designed the Art Inn and its sister company Hybrid Assembly will built it. The team also includes Swenson Say Faget, structural engineer; Davido Consultin Group, civil engineer; and Glenn Takagi, landscape architect.

This project was never built.