CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A developer who planned to build an apartment building at 218 West Market Street could now be looking to build a hotel instead.

It’s the building where the business Artful Lodger is currently located.

In 2020, the Charlottesville City Council approved the developer, Heirloom, for a special use permit for additional height for more apartment units. Now it could be considering building a hotel. 

City Councilor Michael Payne explained that regardless, the developer won’t need a new permit.

“They wouldn’t need a rezoning, they can just do that on their own. If they are considering doing that, I would guess for whatever they’re internally looking at in terms of their finances, they’re thinking maybe that’s a more profitable project,” said Payne.

Matthew Gillikin, the co-chair of Livable Cville, says that he would like to see more housing but overall, there’s a benefit to having people closer to the Downtown Mall and bringing in revenue to those businesses. 

“I think there’s a bit of a win-win for the city whether we get a hotel or we get an apartment building but an apartment building would certainly be a bigger win in my opinion,” said Gillikin.

At this time, the developer has not made an official announcement.