The Lucerne Hotel, located at 201 West 79th Street, served as a temporary shelter for almost 300 homeless men for close to a year. Following the exit of its last remaining homeless residents in June, the owners announced they’d be reopening in the fall after making some “minor renovations and updates.” It is not clear what these updates consisted of.
On Friday, October 29, the Lucerne announced that the hotel was officially open to the public, writing (in part) “We are beyond excited to announce The Lucerne has reopened! We have truly missed all of our guests and we look forward to welcoming you.”
Nightly rates appear to range from the upper $100s to the lower $500s, depending on room sizes and amenities.
The Lucerne’s website outlines the health and safety precautions being taken … these include plexiglass dividers at the front desk in the lobby; masks, gloves, alcohol wipes and hand sanitizer available “in key locations” around the hotel; regular cleaning of guest rooms and common spaces; and an elevator limit of 4 people.
Hotel Belleclaire (2175 Broadway) and the Belnord Hotel (209 West 87th Street), which also served as temporary shelters, are open to the public as well.
I wouldn’t sleep there if my life depended on it. You’d have to burn it down and rebuild it first.
Not if my life depended on it. Raze it to the ground and start fresh.
Why?
If Susan is willing to sacrifice her life for the sake of avoiding cooties or poverty vapours, I’d say that’s her choice to make.
I can support that.
Please clarify. Is she saying that she would, in protest, remain inside the hotel as it is razed?
Happy to see these European-type hotels reopening. I do not think they are unsafe and I’m happy to see that the temporary occupants are gone for good.
“temporary guests” also means paying tourists, so separate from the long term residents of the SRO.
Irony.
For anyone who thinks your average $300 a night Marriott or Hilton hasn’t seen its share of debauchery and in-room carryings on, you’re being naïve. If it’s a flat surface, you can assume someone’s had sex on it. The best you can do in any hotel room is to do a cursory check to see if anything looks particularly disgusting and hope the housekeeper has done a thorough job.
I am thrilled to see these three hotels back welcoming tourists. They pay taxes and their guests patronize local restaurants and other businesses. Also create buzz and activity in the neighborhood that discourages crime. All good….
Everything worked out well, with the exception of the ugly reputation adhered to our neighborhood by the haters.
I wonder how much of it was schadenfreude because many of us locals can’t afford the place & never could?
“Minor renovations and updates,” more like a complete overhaul of new everything.