By Derrick Perkins (File Photo)

As expected, Carr City Centers’ waterfront lodging house will be a Hotel Indigo.

Representatives of the firm, better known as the Washington-based Carr Hospitality, let the cat out of the bag during a board of architectural review hearing earlier this week, referring to the future structure as a Hotel Indigo during testimony at a routine hearing. But Carr’s officials floated the concept several years ago, when the project – and the controversial waterfront redevelopment plan – remained in the early planning stages.

That much-contested redevelopment plan, which underwent heated debate as it worked its way through City Hall, called for at least two small hotels along the Potomac’s edge. Carr’s five-story, 121-room project – in the works for several years – is the first such since the plan earned city council’s approval. Despite stringent resident opposition, the hotel will go up along the 200 block of S. Union St. as planned.

Another hotel is expected at Robinson Terminal North, which is one of  two other sites – both previously owned by the Graham Holdings Co. – slated for redevelopment. The southern terminal likely will become a mix of residential and retail development. That project has been spearheaded by EYA, a local real estate giant.

Hotel Indigo is an InterContinental Hotels Group brand and part of the same family as Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn.