The Waldorf Astoria is coming to Lake Tahoe
And you'll never guess where ...
If you've ever driven past the old (crumbling) Tahoe Biltmore on your way to Incline Village and wondered why such a prime location features such a dilapidated building, you're not alone. Plans to redevelop the property have been in the works for more than a decade.
Trex co-founder Roger Wittenberg bought the property in 2007 through Boulder Bay LLC (namesake of the luxury townhomes you can see from the road at the east end of the property), and shepherded an earlier version of the redevelopment through the Tahoe Regional Planning Committee's regulatory process.
Then, in the fall of last year, California developer Ebbie Khan Nakhjavani acquired the property with a more rarified idea of its potential. His Newport Beach firm, EKN Development Group, signed a brand and management agreement with the Waldorf Astoria that was announced this week.
I had the chance to meet with Nakhjavani at our Incline Village office earlier this Fall, and was super impressed with his vision for the property, which anchors the hotel on the upper slope of the property with a pedestrian-friendly promenade that could feature mixed-use retail and/or dining with a small amphitheater for outdoor events.
The development will also feature townhomes for sale with a luxury amenity package that will include a homeowner beach on the California side of Lake Tahoe. Stay tuned for details!
The arrival of the Waldorf brings an element of class to this beautiful stretch of the North Shore. Over the years, I've enjoyed many a night at the steak house or the live entertainment venues at the Crystal Bay Club, but the town itself has been little more than a stoplight on the way from Incline to the California side of the Lake. This development has the potential to change that. The prospect of public spaces with restaurants, bars, and a pedestrian environment will likely transform Crystal Bay into more of a destination, a spot worthy of the fame it once enjoyed as the Rat Pack hangout.
Incline Village Homes for Sale
Project Update
Asbestos abatement for the Tahoe Biltmore will be completed during the summer of 2023, followed by the demolition of the property’s cottages, scheduled to start in a few weeks. Demolishing of the Tahoe Biltmore Casino and Hotel building will begin upon abatement completion, with demolition expected to be completed by the end of 2023 in preparation for the 2024 construction season.
“As soon as we received a unanimous project approval from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on April 26, 2023, we moved full steam ahead,” said Ebbie Nakhjavani, Founder and CEO of EKN Development Group. “ We know the community is looking forward to the beginning of the revitalization of Crystal Bay, and we are very excited to be moving forward with the long-awaited demolition of the Biltmore.”
Want more news on the Waldorf Astoria Lake Tahoe? Email me at Jackie@TahoeisHome.com to subscribe to my Blog.
Posted by Jackie Ginley on
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