77 Vance Ave.
South Main hotel’s history comes back to life
Resting at the heart of the South Main Arts District is Ambassador Commons, a graceful residence in a former hotel that maintains its Southern charm from a bygone era.
The Ambassador Hotel once featured 140 rooms spread across multiple buildings on South Main Street and Vance Avenue. The hotel was built in 1915 as a modest and affordable lodging option in a neighborhood that included a dozen hotels centered on Central Station and the now-defunct Union Station. The South Main neighborhood changed as the railroads declined in use and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel resulted in the boarding up of many historic buildings.
The Ambassador Hotel closed in 1982 and later was considered for apartment use. A renaissance has since occurred in the neighborhood, bringing many of those former hotels and other businesses back to life for residential use. Included among them is one of the Ambassador’s former buildings at 77 Vance, today known as Ambassador Commons.
Ambassador Commons features one- and two-bedroom units with a variety of spacious floor plans, some of which include flex spaces. The Vance Avenue location places these condos at a quiet address just steps from the excitement of South Main. Multiple restaurants are nearby on Main and Front streets, and all the action of the Downtown Core is within walking distance, whether it’s a game at FedExForum, a show at The Orpheum or one of the many restaurants and bars just a few blocks away.
Amenities:
- Assigned gated parking
- Large bathrooms
- Walk-in closets
- Exposed brick walls
- Hardwood flooring