Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

Forgotten But Not Gone: Does David Elder Still Have Skin in the Chelsea Hotel Game?

We thought it was rather odd that Joseph Chetrit’s Chelsea Dynasty Corp., who had said that they were going to start renovating the hotel immediately had not filed for any permits with the DOB.  Finally they got their act together and filed an application, and guess what we found:  surprise, surprise David Elder may still be involved in the Chelsea Hotel!   He is listed on the permit application as a vice president of the Chelsea Dynasty Corp.! 

Well, that explains the conversation I had with Elder last week.  I asked him if, now that the Chelsea was sold, he was going to take his millions and go back to California.   “No,” he said, “I think I’ll stay in New York for a while.  It’s really cool here.”  I guess so, when you can sale a company and still remain vice president.

Questions remain, such as: does this have any bearing on the curious fact that Marlene Krauss and David Elder allegedly turned down David Bard’s reputed offer of 80 million in favor of Joseph Chetrit’s 77 million? Could it be that Marlene Krauss and David Elder reserved shares in the new company for themselves?

And was David Elder the one who thought up the Chinese Restaurant inspired name of the Chelsea Dynasty? 

Or, is Elder’s listing as a vice-president simply a mistake on the part of DOB? (Click the image to view it full scale.)

  

 

Chelsea Hotel Lobby Desecrated for Fun & Profit

 
 

 

Chetrit's Chelsea Hotel Partner has over 8,000 Housing Violations on One Property

Once again, Tom Acitelli at the Observer puts the spotlight on Chetrit's Chelsea Hotel business partner, Clipper Equities.  "David Bistricer, one of Clipper’s principals, has a checkered past as a residential landlord, with several—and we mean several—housing violations to his name."  One of Bistricer's properties in Brooklyn has over 8,000 housing violations.   Here's some insight into how he get's away with those violations.  Oh, and he also doesn't like it when the olds decide to party in the halls.

The Whitewash of the Chelsea Hotel Begins

Tom Acitelli of the Observer, was here at the Chelsea Hotel on Thursday, too early to observe the Chelsea’s art collection being removed from the walls, stairwells and halls, being carted off to god knows where.  Of   course not all of the artworks that were removed belonged to the Hotel.  Some belonged to the individual tenants and they have been told to contact the Chelsea Dynasty Corp. and provide proof of ownership to negotiate the return of their belongings.  Chelsea Dynasty?  Sounds like a bad Chinese takeout joint. 

Hotel Chetrit

 

Union Reps Report that the Chelsea Hotel Has Not Yet Been Sold

Hotel staff have completed their meeting with the Union officials.  The union reps report that they are to be notified as soon as the deal has closed.  There are indications that Chetrit's inability to secure financing has put the deal in jeopardy.

The Guest Will have to Surrender His Room

The check-in form contained fine print which allowed the Chelsea Hotel to cut short his stay. 

UPDATE -- Industrial Sabotage at the Chelsea Hotel & A Guest Who Was a Hold Out

Union workers who were assembled in front of the hotel this morning confirmed that cement has been poured down the sewage pipes at the Chelsea Hotel in an attempt at sabotage.  Union workers were not allowed to go back to their jobs and are being kept out of the basement.  Fox news was interviewing people in front of the Hotel, including a guest who had been holed up in their room past the deadline for leaving yesterday.  We have no idea what the sabotage means for tenants.

Now union workers are being allowed into the building to meet with union officials.

Twilight of the Chelsea Hotel

It’s eerily quiet in the Hotel today.  They cleared the last of the tourists out of their rooms yesterday – though some of them did not go quite willingly.  One family called the cops because staff removed their bags while they were out.  And another guest flipped out and had to be taken to Bellevue.  Besides that a vandal kicked out a window in the fire door on the first floor – probably Sid’s ghost, upset over recent developments.  (Note the abandonded maid's cart in the photo. Our bathrooms were not cleaned yesterday. ) Finally, someone apparently sabotaged the pipes filling the basement with sewage.  And through it all, manager Arnold Tamasar, with nary a tequila shot in sight remained at his post like a trooper.  Here he is yesterday afternoon being served with papers in yet another law suit, this one involving allegations of wrongful termination.  And, no, as of this writing we don’t yet know if the sale went through or not.   Click the link to view the video.

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