Hotel Online 
News for the Hospitality Executive



 

Bankrupt 5th Avenue Partners LLC, Owners of the Sè San Diego Hotel
Along with Adjacent Building Housing the House of Blues,
Could be Put up for Sale

Estimates Claim Could go for $50 million, Significantly Less than the $150 million Development Cost


By Lori Weisberg, The San Diego Union-Tribune
January 7, 2011

The financially troubled owner of the tony Sè San Diego hotel, dogged by controversy since before it opened two years ago, wants to put the downtown high rise up for sale.

The upscale boutique hotel, along with an adjacent building in which the House of Blues is located, could fetch up to $50 million, according to one Southern California broker, although that is significantly less than the $150 million cost to develop the high-profile project

The owner, 5th Avenue Partners LLC, which filed for bankruptcy protection last June, is awaiting court approval to hire the brokerage firm, CB Richard Ellis, to handle the sale. However, it must first overcome objections raised by creditors who argued in a court filing this week that they had not been properly consulted on the sale process, which they say should occur as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan.


The Sè San Diego hotel opened in December 2008 in the middle of a souring economy that ultimately forced the developer into bankruptcy.

In the meantime, 5th Avenue Partners remains hopeful that they can start marketing the Sè for sale this month.

“We feel (the creditors’ objection) is meritless on so many levels,” said attorney Marc Winthrop, who represents 5th Avenue Partners. “They’re feeling petulant they were left out of the decision. This property is worth far less than the amount of debt against it, so the proceeds from a sale could be paid to the lender, and there’d be no money left over, so what kind of reorganization plan could you do?”

Opposing attorney Ali M.M. Mojdehi pointed out that a suit aleady has been filed against the hotel lender on behalf of the creditors committee and many of the construction companies that worked on the Sè to establish priority over the bank once available funds are distributed.

“The debtor has sold out to the bank,” said Mojdehi, who represents the creditors committee. “We are not for sale and intend to push fror a sale process fair to all creditors, not just the bank.”

For the rest of the story including detailed property information please visit:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jan/05/bankrupt-downtown-hotel-may-be-put-up-for-sale/


Contact:

Lori Weisberg, Staff Writer
San Diego Union-Tribune
350 Camino de la Reina
San Diego, CA  92102
619-293-2251
[email protected]


Also See: San Diego County Hotels Looking to a Healthier New Year as RevPAR Rose by 4.2% and Occupancy 5.4% in 2010, Gains Expected to Continue / January 2011

Three San Diego Hotel Properties that Were Returned to Lender by Sunstone Hotel Investors Now Up for Sale / December 2010

San Diego Hotel Performance May Mirror the Rest of Nation Says Starwood Hotels and Resorts CEO Frits van Paasschen / October 2010

San Diego Leads California with Hotels in Distress; Numbers Surge 160% Over Same Period a Year Ago / October 2010

Questions Surround Why the City of San Diego Has Permitted the Swanky SE San Diego Hotel to Continue Operating Without a Valid Certificate of Occupancy / September 2010

San Diego's Manchester Grand Hyatt Deal with Sunstone Hotel Investors Goes Sour / September 2010

Skin Care Concierges Protect Hotel Sunbathers - The Newest in Amenities? / August 2010

Traveler Preferences are Changing: Upscale San Diego Hoteliers are Increasingly Becoming Pet Friendly Offering Pet Amenities From Surfing Lessons to Pet Psychic Sessions / August 2010

Former Owner of San Diego's W Hotel, Sunstone Hotel Investors, Wants to Acquire Manchester Grand Hyatt / August 2010

San Diego's Downtown W Hotel Now Owned by Lender / July 2010

During Downturn San Diego Hotel Owners Face a Delicate Balancing Act in Calculating When and How Much to Invest in Restorations / April 2010


To search Hotel Online data base of News and Trends Go to Hotel.OnlineSearch
Home | Welcome| Hospitality News | Classifieds| One-on-One |
Viewpoint Forum | Industry Resources | Press Releases
Please contact Hotel.Onlinewith your comments and suggestions.