SAVANNAH, GA—Columbus, OH-based private equity firm Rockbridge reports it plans to develop a 173-room boutique hotel in the historic district here.

The hotel property on River Street is projected to open in late 2016 and will feature a ground-floor restaurant and retail, 4,000 square feet of meeting space, a pool, rooftop bar and on-site parking. Rockbridge plans its all-king concept for this property, with 82 double king rooms, 66 kings and 25 suites.

"If people plan a trip to Savannah, they want an experience that is linked to Savannah and the local culture," says Rockbridge president and CEO Jim Merkel. "Our development focus is on creating that end user experience by providing distinctive food experiences, social interactivity and desirable design. The traveler experience combined with the charismatic function and décor will make this property unmatched in the market."

The hotel development is located on the site of the oldest bottleworks factory in America and will incorporate historic bricks and bottles from the site in the development, the company states.

In addition, Rockbridge has been working with city leaders to design and construct the first public, ADA-accessible pedestrian stairway and elevator to the river adjacent to the property. Plans include wide, safe stairs and elevator, complete with new street-scaping and lighting enhancements.

"Our goal is to make this Savannah hotel an attraction in itself within the historic district," Merkel added.

Over the past more than 20 years, Rockbridge has made more than 330 hotel investments in 44 states in transactions worth more than $5 billion.