DISTRICT BRIEFING

-- Michael Birnbaum and Clarence Williams

DOWNTOWN

Hotel to Anchor Project

A 260-room luxury hotel. A jazz club whose roots are in London. An apartment complex. Stores and restaurants. All smack downtown in the middle of Mount Vernon Triangle.

That's the plan announced yesterday by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D), who said the city has selected the Donohoe Cos. to build the mixed-use development at Fifth and I streets NW.

The 475,000-square-foot project, called Arts at 5th & I, will be anchored by Melia, a high-end Spanish hotel, according to a news release. It will include a music venue--Boisdale Jazz Club__ a bike shop, a hardware store, book store, art gallery and cafe.

-- David Nakamura