A hotel has occupied the site since at least 1870. In 1890, the current building was constructed. It was designed by F.H. Herbert and owned and operated as a hotel by George White. It was designed in the Romanesque Revival style, with rounded arch motif and stone detailing. A turret with a conical roof is located at the southwest corner. The red-brick masonry was painted several times and is currently painted pink. The Palace Tavern used to operate out of the building. In 1897, attached brick houses were built along Strachan Avenue (95-99 Strachan Avenue). In 1902, attached houses were also added along King Street (938-944 King Street West). In the 1970s, the building was converted to a low-cost, long-term hotel for men by a new owner. In 2014, it was put up for sale. It was purchased by Intentional Capital in 2017, with the intention of residential redevelopment. At the time of its sale, it was still used as a rooming house for men with over 90 rooms; tenants at the time were offered compensation to leave, although about 14 tenants remain. In May 2018, a Planning Application was submitted to the City of Toronto proposing to redevelop it into a 16-storey mixed-use residential property. The proposal includes ground floor retail space, a floor of rental studio apartments, and condos.

• Architect - Frederick H. Herbert  <-- More buildings by this architect.