“At first glance, I think it is a very good land use,” said Ald. Mike Verveer, whose 4th District includes the site. “Clearly, there’s a strong apartment market Downtown. The West Washington Avenue area is a very desirable place to live.”

The site abuts two landmark buildings — the Wiendenbeck Building, 619 W. Mifflin St., and the former Milwaukee Road Rail Station, 640 W. Washington Ave.

But the property is best known for the Hotel Washington, which included two bars frequented by members of Madison’s gay and lesbian community. Along with the 22-room hotel, including 10 rooms for low-income permanent residents, the building was home to the Club de Wash, the Barber’s Closet, the New Bar, Rod’s, Cafe Palms, Cafe Espresso, Micro Bar, Speed Print and the Barber’s Closet Salon.

Hopes to rebuild the hotel were dashed after numerous setbacks and increasing costs just shy of the one-year anniversary of the fire.

The gas station and convenience store, which replaced the hotel and a smaller gas station, opened in 1999. The land and building are now valued at $1.7 million, according to the city assessor’s office.