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Protest the Destruction of the Chelsea Community

Now, local activists Miguel Acevedo and Gloria Sukenik are organizing a demonstration in support of the businesses located on 9th Avenue between 17th and 18th Streets. The demonstration will be on May 3 at 1:00 p.m. on 9th Ave.  As mentioned previously, the entire block of small businesses, including a barber shop and a liquor store, are in danger of being wiped out and replaced with upscale boutiques.
Curbed.com and Jeremiah's Vanishing New York have more details.

St. Vincent's Update

After listening to many hours of testimony, Robert Tierney, the chairman of the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission is asking the administrators of St. Vincent’s Hospital and executives from Rudin Company to rethink their billion-dollar plan for a new hospital and condominiums in the historic district of Greenwich Village.  The current plan calls for leveling buildings in the historic district.  (via curbed)

Last Chance to Testify!

According to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, Tuesday, April 15, may be the last chance for the public to testify before the Landmarks Preservation Commission about the proposed Rudin and St. Vincent’s demolitions and luxury condo & hospital development.  Anyone who did not speak or have their testimony read at the last public hearing is encouraged to attend this meeting! Watch the short video below put together by GVSHP to learn more about the dangerous plan.

Tuesday, April 15, 9:30 am at NYU's Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Square South, 10th floor.

The Party's Over for Hoteliers as Banks Pull Loans

Good news for the forces of sanity and sustainable development: Wall Street bankers are pulling the rug out from under hoteliers, taking away the loans that have been subsidizing all these hideous hotels they keep throwing up all around the city. That's what happened to Sam Chang, head of the McSam Hotel Group, New York City's largest hotel developer. "The city is being overbuilt," Chang says, citing a coming room glut that will drive down rates.

Though BD has just received the rubber stamp from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for an unnecessary hotel at 145 Perry Street, one that would totally alter the character of that quiet neighborhood, the changing real estate climate will hopefully lead the banks to reconsider and tell Born and Drukier to go take a flying leap from the top of the Pod Hotel.

BD also needs a loan in order to gut renovate the Chelsea, or whatever the hell it is they plan to do to us, and now it's not looking so good for them in that respect. As Stanley Bard said in his recent Video statement at the Museum of the City of New York , "We're not always going to be in this bubble. We're not always going to be in this economic boom, hotel wise." Well, it looks like his words are coming true already. BD needs to figure out who their clientele is (hint: adventurous artistic types who want a unique New  York experience) if they want to last for long at the Chelsea. -- Ed Hamilton

Though BD has just received the rubber stamp from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for an unnecessary hotel at 145 Perry Street, one that would totally alter the character of that quiet neighborhood, the changing real estate climate will hopefully lead the banks to reconsider and tell Born and Drukier to go take a flying leap from the top of the Pod Hotel.

BD also needs a loan in order to gut renovate the Chelsea, or whatever the hell it is they plan to do to us, and now it's not looking so good for them in that respect. As Stanley Bard said in his recent Video statement at the Museum of the City of New York , "We're not always going to be in this bubble. We're not always going to be in this economic boom, hotel wise." Well, it looks like his words are coming true already. BD needs to figure out who their clientele is (hint: adventurous artistic types who want a unique New  York experience) if they want to last for long at the Chelsea. -- Ed Hamilton

Chelsea Hotel Event

APRIL 3, 6:30 PM
The Museum of the City of New York will host a book signing and panel discussion.  Ed Hamilton will read from and sign copies of Legends of the Chelsea Hotel: Living with the Artists and Outlaws of New York's Rebel Mecca (Thunder's Mouth Press).  Panelists for the discussion to follow will include preservationist and housing activist Edward Kirkland and author/Chelsea Hotel historian Sherrill Tippins. Former Chelsea Now editor Lawrence Lerner will moderate the discussion.
                As an additional treat, a recent video interview of former hotel manager Stanley Bard, making one of his first public statements since his ouster in June of last year, will be shown.
The Museum is located at 1220 Fifth Avenue(@104^th St), NY NY.Seniors and students get in for $5.00.  Everybody else pays $9.00.

Cheyenne Diner to Close After 68 Years

According to Gothamist, the diner will close its doors for good on Sunday.  A nine-story apartment building is slated to go up on the site. The Cheyenne joins a growing list of shuttered diners.  (Photo: Wallyg)