Noted as Asheville’s tallest building for quite some time, the former BB&T building is getting a total makeover. Here what you can expect for the future Hotel Arras.

Hotel Arras is McKibbon Hospitality’s first boutique hotel. This 18-story hotel featuring 128 rooms (including 26 suites), two independent restaurants, residences, retail space + more has plans to open in late 2018.

Residence space will be reserved for the upper floors. 54 condominiums (with amazing views of downtown) will be available with onsite storage + parking. Condo owners will have access to amenities such as the restaurants, fitness facility (with a massage room + yoga studio), and wine cave. The 10th floor will consist of smaller short-term rentals (1100 sq. feet), 11-14th floors will have 7 units per floor (mostly 1 bedroom), 15-17th floors are larger condo units, and 18th floor will consist of 8 condo units with 6 being two stories.
The two independent restaurants will be similar to Posana – focusing on local sourcing + the use of seasonable and sustainable ingredients. As of now, the first restaurant will be Bargello which will serve breakfast, lunch + dinner in a fine-dining atmosphere. The second restaurant has not been announced, however it is expected to be a small plates + cocktail bar.
Other characteristics include a retail space for lease on College St. (not to be leased to national chains), office space on the second floor (reserved for Glenn Wilcox + John McKibbon), and 5,000 sq. feet of modern meeting space located on the second floor.

The development is being conducted by two Asheville locals; McKibbon Hospitality chairman, John McKibbon (who is an Asheville homeowner and has been involved in business within Asheville for over 20 years) and Asheville resident of 50 years, Glenn Wilcox, who is chairman + president of Tower Associates. Both McKibbon + Wilcox opened the AC Hotel Asheville Downtown in addition to a 350-space parking garage that includes public access.