Buffalo’s Planning Board has given a developer the green light to build a $19 million upscale boutique hotel at Franklin and West Huron streets.

The 110,000-square-foot hotel will include a rehabilitation of the historic Curtiss Building, which has been vacant for about a decade. The project also calls for demolishing the old Continental nightclub.

Developer Mark Croce said that in light of Tuesday’s action by the Planning Board, the building will likely be torn down within a couple of weeks.

“That probably will be the thing that starts to raise eyebrows and bring attention to the project,” said Croce. “That’s kind of an old blighted building that served its purpose in its day. But it’s time for something new and adaptive.”

The 57-room hotel will include a deluxe presidential suite and three penthouse suites on a new seventh floor that will be added to the Curtiss Building. There will be banquet facilities in a new addition that will be built on adjacent land.

Croce said he’s convinced there’s a market for an upscale boutique hotel that offers larger rooms with some unique amenities.

“There’s going to be special bathroom and room features that aren’t found in any hotel downtown or in Western New York right now,” said Croce, who declined to elaborate.

The hotel also will house a full-service restaurant, “ultra unique” lounge and salon.

The exterior lighting will highlight the Curtiss Building’s terra cotta facade.

“It’s going to make it stand out like the very premier property that it is designed to be,” Croce said.

Planning Board member Susan Curran Hoyt called it a “terrific project.” Board Chairman James K. Morrell also expressed support after meeting with Croce, architect Jason R. Sobieraj of Young and Wright Architectural and attorney Richard Stanton.

“I think it fits very well with a lot of the new development,” said Morrell, referring to recent projects that have been completed in the downtown area.

Developers said they have been in contact with state historic preservation officials to make sure the project complies with regulations. The Curtiss Building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Planning Board approved Croce’s site plan and adopted a “negative declaration,” meaning that officials have determined that the project will not have a harmful impact on the immediate area.

Croce said he’s hopeful the project will be completed within 14 months.

Financing for the project includes a $1.35 million state grant. Restore New York grants aim to stabilize neighborhoods and revitalize urban areas.