In many ways, it is a surprise that it took so long for a museum to become an integral part of a hotel and residential real estate development idea. More than that, it’s a surprise that Don and Mera Rubell are doing it in Washington, DC instead of Miami where their art and real estate roots are deeper. Nonetheless, Kate Taylor’s New York Times story makes sense and may presage another important role that art may play in coming years:

The Rubells’ Capitol Skyline hotel, once a Best Western, is now a popular three-star hotel where hipsters congregate on weekends around the pool. Ms. Rubell said the new hotel across the street would probably have 225 rooms and space for both commercial galleries and the museum, which would house exhibits from their collection.

At 20,000 square feet the planned museum would be roughly the size of the Museum of Modern Art’s sculpture garden. “It will definitely be a new paradigm for a kind of hotel-museum community,” Ms. Rubell said.

Members of the community express a mix of opinions about the plan.

Museum’s Deal Raises Hope and Eyebrows in Washington (New York Times)