By Derrick Perkins

Despite a “for lease” sign hanging outside the warehouse at 220 S. Union St., representatives with Washington-based Carr Hospitality say they have not abandoned plans to erect a waterfront hotel at the site.

The property — part of the Cummings and Turner block — was one of several targeted for redevelopment in the city’s controversial waterfront plan, a sweeping blueprint for a revitalized Potomac shoreline. Carr Hospitality, best known for renovating the Willard Hotel, revealed designs for a five-story, 121-room hotel in June, less than six months after city council approved the plan.

But residents, many still smarting from the contentious debate, immediately protested the project. Carr Hospitality withdrew the plan from City Hall, opting instead to hold an informal dialogue with residents and officials.

Their public outreach effort remains underway, said Austin Flajser of Carr Hospitality.

“We’re still pursing [the hotel project],” he said. ”We’re still meeting with folks, reviewing some of the comments and the feedback. Nothing really has changed on our end.”

Flajser said the property owners are looking for a tenant as the project moves along. He did not specify when residents might expect to see the project heading back to City Hall.

The site was the former home of The Art League.