I was walking along Washington Street today when I noticed that 445 Washington (above) looks abandoned, and that yellow spray-paint X is an ominous sign. This is the plot where, combined with Chad-Erik EZ Park on the Greenwich side, Ponte Equities has been rumored to be planning a hotel. Sure enough, demolition permits were issued this week.

Gene Kaufman is the architect for the new 11-story building. Let’s hope he’s in upscale mode.

As for the Chad-Erik garage at 456 Greenwich, an application was filed on Aug. 11—by Kaufman—for a restoration of the building, with “work to include new storefront and pavers at front entrance and roof level.” (It’s landmarked, so there wasn’t much choice.) There’s a DOB note saying “This job is part of Hub Full-Service and is pending submittal to DOB on or before 10/09/2014,” and I don’t know what that means. But then another permit, from today, requests the use be changed from “trucking and distributing terminal to eat and drinking establishment.” The logical guess: The Chad-Erik part is the restaurant (on Greenwich) for the hotel (on Washington), with terrace seating atop the single-story building. Also: If Ponte’s (the restaurant) is coming back, it could be happening here.

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