A summer without tourists may sound ideal to locals, but certainly not for hotels and restaurants. The hospitality industry in particular has been hit hard by the forced closures and limited operating restrictions during COVID-19, and North Brooklyn hotels are getting creative with ways to attract and distract locals during the pandemic. Looking for a staycation within walking distance? Check out what the hotels in the neighborhood are up to:
The upscale ambiance of Le Crocodile‘s outdoor patio has lured in diners to feast since the Wythe Hotel’s restaurant reopened earlier this month, and the hotel cheekily lists a hotel room (market price) below the peach melba and flourless chocolate cake on the dessert menu. A ‘Come for Dinner, Stay the Night’ package allows Le Crocodile guests can book a room at the hotel at an exclusive rate. Those eager to extend their stay for three or more nights are also treated to a complimentary movie screening of their choice in the hotel’s screening room, popcorn included. Those who need to focus on projects or just work outside of the house for a while can also book private office space (a converted hotel room, re-furnished for productivity), which starts at $200 for 10 hours, and includes an outdoor terrace.
The garden at Le Crocodile, the French restaurant attached to The Wythe Hotel
The Box House Hotel’s expansive rooftop space usually reserved for weddings and private events has re-launched for the summer as Top of the Box, an outdoor bar with skyline views. The 10,000 square foot rooftop offer socially distant seating, plus a full cocktail menu and light bites. Reservations are available via Resy. A QR code menu offers completely contactless ordering. During the day, YO BK hosts yoga and pilates classes atop the roof, and the bar functions as a healthy juice bar. Continue reading →
Early this week, we got word that a four-story warehouse on Norman and Henry St is being converted into a hotel by architect, Robert Scarano. The Department of Buildings approved the most recent plan on 5/8, which is a less than a year since the owner began evicting tenants.
As Curbed points out, “the hotel’s teaser site has a photo of some dude named Henry Wylie Norman, who has absolutely nothing to do with hotels, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, or even the United States.” Hmmm.
This past year a public walk-thru of the Greenpoint Hotel, a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) at 1109 Manhattan Ave revealed mold, rats, and heat, hot water and electrical problems. The property has been purchased along with authority over ALL the tenant leases and there is talk that it may be demolished completely and transformed into a hostel. Continue reading →
With the proposed ten luxury high rises coming to Greenpoint, adding over 5000 new homes to the area, nearby residents of The Greenpoint Hotel currently live in deplorable conditions. With rents on the rise, are low income residents being victimized by landlords looking to cash in on valuable real estate?
It ain’t the Greenpoint depicted in Girls – that’s for sure.
In 2006, the NY Times described the The Greenpoint Hotel on Manhattan Ave, reporting that the “hallways stink of marijuana and urine; the bathrooms – one per floor – are caked in dirt, and hot water is rare. The front desk is barricaded shut with sheets of plywood. Theft and violence are a constant threat.” Since then, not much has changed.
Last week a public walk thru took place after 30 residents of this Single Room Occupancy (SRO) had their first court appearance to file a law suit to address violations, which were described in a Greenline article in December to include, mold, rats, sporadic heat and hot water and electrical issues. Since then, none of the issues have been addressed by the landlord.
Advocating for the residents, Greg Hanlon of St. Nicks Alliance provided us with photos from the walk thru and the following statement:
The situation at 1109 Manhattan is an egregious and unconscionable example of what has become a common trend in North Brooklyn: Unscrupulous landlords’ forcing out longtime tenants by any means possible, so that they can make more money from their buildings. In some cases, it’s harassment and intimidation; in some, neglect. In this case, it’s both.
These tenants pay around $250 to $350 a month. We’re talking about prime real estate in Greenpoint, a stone’s throw away from the proposed Greenpoint Landing Development, which will have ripple effects on property values throughout the neighborhood. Tenants have told us that the landlord, Jay Deutchman, is trying to sell the building. It’s not too hard to see what’s going on here, and what Mr. Deutchman’s motivations are.
Greenpoint Hotel Resident Bill (above) hangs his belongings to keep them out of reach of the rats.
Along with St. Nick’s Alliance, Council Member Stephen Levin was at the walk thru and had this to say:
For years, the Greenpoint Hotel has been a haven for miserable living conditions. Rats, broken toilets, and collapsing ceilings have become a part of everyday life at the Hotel so that the landlord can vacate the building and sell it.
We cannot allow this to happen in our city. No New Yorker should be taken advantage of like this. No New Yorker should be subjected to live in this type of environment. That’s why I have called HPD repeatedly to complain about the state of the building and commend the legal action taken on behalf of the residents to make sure these conditions do not persist.
It’s fortunate that the residents of The Greenpoint Hotel have spoken up and sought help. We hope we can count on our public leaders to help improve conditions there and be an advocate for other Greenpointers in similar situations.
With housing prices on the rise in Greenpoint, will more low-income residents be mistreated like by landlords who want to raise rent? Have you or your neighbors been the victim of such neglect?
Greenpoint gossip from people who are better bloggers than I.
Someone lost their friend on Devoe. The really strange thing is I was born on Devoe and my last name is Carroll. Though there is no relation, I sincerely hope this guy isn’t dead.
The Fashion Skool of Hard Knocks featured some Greenpointers (and I use that term loosely) dressed in true hipster attire on the corner of Greenpoint and Manhattan Aves. Though I gotta admit I am a little in love with that purse chick number three is carrying.
I cannot believe that someone owns this car in Greenpoint. Please, please tell me there were California plates on this whip. Malibu, even?
As someone who loves, collects and sells vintage for the last ten years it makes me really sad to hear about this. Just think of all those Etsians who could have made trinkets and things with all the potentially amazing vintage stuff in there.
Ever wonder what Winthrop (McGolrick) Park looked like in 1913? You can spy PS 110 in the right corner, too.
Bette Midler came to McCarren Park to plant trees for Arbor Day. Did The Divine Miss M come as C.C. Bloom? Or maybe she sang The Rose? Ok, I’m all out of planting puns.
The trials and tribulations of Studio B and their roof deck has been all over the blogosphere. They were hit with a stop work order last week which I imagine might put a cramp in their May 2nd debut. The locals are *really* pissed with this place. The last thing you want is a bunch of people organizing themselves for a good ol’ fashioned lynchin’. The hipsters and the locals alike are getting involved in this. Since the place never has anyone I want to see, I personally don’t give a rats ass what happens to ’em. Between them and Club Exit, the only people who would be missing them are the makers of glow sticks.
The Greenpoint chocolatiers aka the Mast Brothers have snagged themselves a Williamsburg factory to make their bars. I have yet to try them myself, but I am a big fan of expensive chocolates… It makes you eat less when you have to pay more.
And if you’re home and not doing anything right now – hangout along Franklin Street between Greenpoint and Kent to see some stars filming New York, I Love You. I have an unnatural affection for Shia LaBeouf so I’m heading out to stalk – er, I mean observe, him.
