Getahn Ward

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Hotel Air BTB is the first hotel project for Bobby Bubis, owner of Colonial Liquors in the Melrose area.

Next month, Bubis plans to present concept plans to the Metro Development and Housing Agency's design review committee.

The 21 four-bedroom, two bathrooms suites will each be able to accommodate up 10 people for roughly $500 a night.

"We need someone onsite...(to) make sure their guests are not causing havoc on the neighborhood," Metro Councilman Brett Withers said.

A 21-room hotel that will be marketed solely through short-term vacation rental site Airbnb is on the drawing board for 1.3 acres two blocks from the Five Points business district in East Nashville.

Property owners Bobby and Kathryn Bubis expect the $8 million, three-story, 30,000 square foot Hotel Air BTB planned near the corner of Main and Mcferrin, to accommodate up to 210 guests on weekends.

Next month, the couple plans to present concept plans to the Metro Development and Housing Agency's design review committee. The Bubis, who separately own Colonial Liquors store in Nashville's Melrose area, are also seeking Metro Planning Commission approval to create one lot on properties located at 931, 941 and 943 Main St. in the East Bank Redevelopment District. .

Bobby Bubis hopes to start construction after getting required approvals. The couple plans to open the hotel in spring 2018 at 931 Main St., adjacent to the Koi Sushi and Thai restaurant site that they also own.

"I didn't want just another restaurant for East Nashville, I wanted something that's going to bring something else substantial to the area," Bubis said, adding he's giving back to that neighborhood. "With this project, I can bring 200 people a weekend to Nashville and help the economy of East Nashville. We're a $4 Uber ride from Lower Broadway."

Hotel Air BTB would join the $20 million, 100-room Holiday Jones hotel planned for six-tenths of an acre at the corner of Neill Avenue and Main Street among new lodging ventures coming to East Nashville.

Using the Airbnb website, Bubis said patrons of his Hotel Air BTB will be able to book any of the 21 four-bedroom, two bathrooms suites designed to accommodate up 10 people for roughly $500 a night.

Bubis is hoping to cash in on Nashville's being a destination for bachelorette and bachelor parties and family gatherings of at least eight-to-10 people. There won't be any onsite office as guests will be able to use a code to get into their rooms with early check-ins and late check-outs available.

Metro Councilman Brett Withers said while he would like to see boutique hotels in East Nashville and more businesses that would further activate Main Street, he's not a fan of the Airbnb hotel concept.

"We need someone onsite who's going to be a responsible business owner and make sure their guests are not causing havoc on the neighborhood," Withers said.

"I also want to be sure there's someone onsite to be able to provide security for the guests."

Hotel Air BTB will be the first hotel project for Bubis, who owns several Airbnb houses. He said he hopes to address this and other issues later.

Bubis is no stranger to the East Nashville area where his family has owned properties for the past 70 years, including operating a liquor store.

His brother, Martin Bubis, now owns that Main Street Liquor Store at 944 Main St.

Civil engineers DBS & Associates Engineering Inc. and TLP Architects LLC are part of the Hotel Air BTB project team.

Reach Getahn Ward at 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @getahn.