Condo-tels

Hotel-to-Condo Conversions Reach New Heights(January 17, 2006) -- Developers increasingly are converting hotels and other buildings into high-end condominiums. A hospital in Philadelphia's Franklin Park neighborhood has been transformed into 130 condos. The MetroClub Condominiums boasts sound-proof units. The developer retained the building's drive-in entrance, spacious lobby, marble walls, and elevator banks, among other features.In Miami Beach, meanwhile, Christa Development is converting the historic Caribbean hotel into 35 condos priced from about $1 million apiece. The company also is adding an adjacent tower with 68 units. Residents will enjoy an oceanfront pool, a fitness center, and a wine vault, among other amenities. Source: Unique Homes (01/01/06); Sapio, Erica