Living with Legends: Hotel Chelsea Blog

Larry Rivers: The Polyamorous Painter of the Chelsea Hotel

Everyone remembers the Dutch Masters Cigar Box painting, which hung in the lobby for many years before the hotel took it down and tried to sell it, only to be sued by the artist Larry Rivers’ estate, who won the return of the painting by claiming it had only been on loan to Stanley Bard. Rivers lived in the hotel in the fifties and sixties, returning frequently thereafter to visit friends. One of these friends was the librettist Arnold Weinstein, who helped Rivers write his autobiography, What Did I Do? a rollicking romp through several decades of the New York art scene—and much else besides. River went everywhere, did everything, and knew everyone, and is as famous for his high-octane, polyamorous lifestyle as for his often wildly transgressive artworks.

Though it came out in 1992, Rivers’ book is well worth reading, and Rivers’ art, especially that from the sixties, is overdue for a reevaluation. Leave it to say, I’m as fascinated by the multiple layers of
meaning inherent in the Dutch Masters paintings (a series of works), as I am bemused by Rivers’ portrait of Napoleon, which he labeled, for no apparent reason, “The World’s Greatest Homosexual”, by turns mystifying and enraging most everyone in France.

            Anyway, if you’re interested, I review Rivers’ book in the Fall 2022 issue of a great little magazine, The Exacting Clam, which also features lots of odd, brilliant, and brilliantly odd prose and poetry. You can read much of The Clam online, or you can order a print copy on Amazon.

Ed Hamilton

Chelsea Hotel Scaffolding, April 24, 2012-July 18, 2022: Rest in Pieces

Chelsea Hotel Scaffolding, we hardly knew ye. Well, that’s not exactly true, now, is it? After all, you were up for over ten years. You provided shelter for the homeless—one of whom lived in the entryway to the El Quijote for two years or more—and a dry surface for all the pampered doggies from the hotel, so they didn’t have to get their little paws wet when they went out to use the potty. But you also provided cover for illicit late night vice activities. Fights were common, as were late night screaming matches, and probably muggings as well. Workers could slip out of the hotel to sneak a smoke under your sheltering boards, or, in foul weather, to sit in rows against the hotel, scarfing down sandwiches purchased from the now defunct Aristocrat Deli. Often, there were huge, filthy dumpsters, debris trucks, and oil-stained portable boilers arrayed before you to form a virtual wall, uniting with you to block the hotel from the street, and from the light of day—and of course presenting an even more hazardous obstacle to the wellbeing of any tenant venturing out after dark. Your vast array of support poles and cross bars at sidewalk level made it difficult at times to get to the entrance of the hotel, especially when the comedy club was in full swing, with unruly patrons milling around in the small walking lanes. At times you supported an even greater edifice of scaffolding, festooned in all its glory with tattered black netting, covering the entire façade of the Chelsea and stretching all the way to the gabled roof, but you went through most of your years sadly alone. Now you have gone on to greater things, darkening the doorways of who knows what unsuspecting building—perhaps even one much grander and more beautiful than the Chelsea—while we, the survivors, are left to mourn your passing. Perhaps one day you’ll be back, rising like a Phoenix from the sweltering garbage of the sidewalk, once the present owners grow bored with their dubious business model and sell the hotel to someone with another sort of “vision” that requires eleven more years of further construction. But please don’t hurry on our account.

David Bard: September 14, 1965 - September 14, 2021

David Bard, beloved former general manager of the Chelsea Hotel, passed away on Tuesday, September 14, on the day of his 56^th birthday. David, together with his father Stanley, from whom he was set to assume the mantle of leadership, will always be remembered as the heart and soul of the Chelsea.

As Stanley’s only son, it had always appeared to be David’s destiny to manage the Chelsea Hotel. After all, it was no mistake that he was named after his grandfather, also David Bard, who bought an ownership stake in the Chelsea in the mid-forties. So it must’ve been quite a blow when the Bard family, which had owned and operated the hotel for over 60 years, was forced to step back from their management role in 2007, and, under pressure from minority shareholders, to subsequently sell the hotel in 2011.

It’s safe to assume that Stanley, a larger-than-life figure, must’ve been a hard example to live up to. But while the elder Bard was well known for his generosity, David also had a big heart, and residents would sometimes appeal to him when they feared Stanley wouldn’t listen. David would usually do his best to meet them half-way.

But David was no clone of his father and had his own ideas about how the hotel should be run. As quoted in the New York Times on 6/28/90: “My idea was not to change that bohemian feeling that the people we’ve always had here feel very comfortable with,” said David Bard, “but to cater to the patrons of artists, as well as producers and directors, and make them feel comfortable, too.”

Perhaps the following passage, provided to the blog by Sherill Tippins, author of Inside the Dream Palace: The Life and Times of New
York’s Legendary Chelsea Hotel, best captures the touching mix of respect and protectiveness in which David held his father:

The first time I approached Stanley to interview him, he took me to the room behind the front desk where several desks were set up at the time for employees. We sat down at one of the desks, and Stanley started giving me the standard spiel about the hotel’s history and his and his family’s role in it. But then, suddenly, he veered into a rant about how the board of directors had recently kicked him off the board, and how his only his son and daughter remained in a position to try to save the hotel from being destroyed by the other board members, who were interested only in profits and had no comprehension of what the hotel stood for or what it still meant to the city of New York. As he continued, his voice growing louder and his tone more distraught with every word, a young man behind us jumped up and put his arms on Stanley’s shoulders, trying to force him back into his chair, ordering him to be quiet, that I was “the press,” and that broadcasting their problems in front of me would only make matters worse. After some time, this young man—who, I learned, was David Bard—managed to settle Stanley down a little, at least to the point at which Stanley offered to show me the rooms they had renovated in an attempt to appease the board members. While we were upstairs, Stanley told me how proud he was of his son, whom he expected to take his place as manager of the hotel, and how perfect he would be for the role because David understood what made the Chelsea residents tick. I myself could see that Stanley’s children were playing crucial roles in getting him through that difficult time. Even if they were not successful in their attempt to keep the Chelsea, they stood by Stanley, giving him their full love and support all the way to the end—which is all that a father can wish for.

I hadn’t seen much of David in recent years, though while the hair salon was still in the building next door, he was in the habit of coming in once a month for a haircut and I often ran into him on the street. Inevitably, he would express a deep sadness over what was happening to the hotel in his absence, though also a boundless confidence that it would live on in some form or other. Most strikingly, he always made sure to inquire about the welfare of the residents of the hotel, for each one of whom he seemed to have a genuine affection. Usually, he couldn’t quite bring himself to venture inside, finding the prospect too heartbreaking to bear, but had to content himself with a furtive glance through the lobby doors.

David was torn from us too soon, but he’ll always live on, in the walls of the Chelsea as sure as he does in our hearts. We know David loved the Chelsea, and we can only hope his last memories of the hotel and its people were happy ones.

David is preceded in death by his father, Stanley Bard, and his mother, Alice Beer Bard. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Bard, their two children, Amanda and Myles, and his sister, Michele Bard Grabell, and her husband, Matthew Grabell.

[The funeral will be on Friday, September 17, at 11:30 at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 735 Forest Avenue, Mount Paramus, New Jersey.]

Photo of Stanley and David Bard by Rita Barros.

Mayor DeBlasio: Return Born and Drukier’s Money!

Dear Mayor DeBlasio,

We are calling on you to return Richard Born’s and Ira Drukier’s campaign contributions and the $90,000 that was raised at the March fundraiser. With the presidential primaries underway and your reputation for standing up for tenants on the line, you must make it crystal clear to them that they cannot buy a Certificate of No Harassment!

As you know, Born and Drukier are the principals of BD Hotels, and they are principals in an LLC that presently owns the famed Chelsea Hotel, where, since 2007, dozens of residents, most of them in the arts, have been evicted to make way for luxury accommodations. Since August 2011, the remaining residents have endured years of seemingly never-ending demolition and construction (often involving demolishing new construction and rebuilding over again).

The Certificate of No Harassment (COHN), issued by the city’s HPD, is intended to protect tenants from exactly this sort of abuse. Though Born and Drukier well knew of the requirement for a CONH, as they have applied for CONHs at other buildings they own.  Additionally, they were fired from the Chelsea Hotel once before, in 2008, for their refusal to apply for a CONH. They have been doing construction without one for 3 years while tenants continue to experience interruptions of basic services, leaks, exposure to toxic dust, and constant ear-splitting noise.

Mr. Mayor, we invite you to visit the Chelsea Hotel and experience for yourself the conditions of the building, such as Gothamist did in
October 2018. Currently, a portion of the tenants in the building have been without cooking gas for a month and the entire building has been without hot water for over 24 hours. 

In any event, you must not allow your reputation as a tenant’s advocate to be besmirched by this appearance of impropriety. That’s why we are asking you to return the $57,000 donated to your campaign by Richard Born, Ira Drukier, and their associates. Return the $90,000 raised at the March 4 fundraiser. Only then can the public be assured that the HPD’s ongoing investigation into the harassment of the tenants of the Chelsea Hotel will be allowed to continue without undue interference. We hope you will do the right thing.

Sincerely,

Chelsea Hotel Bloggers

 

 

Chelsea Hotel Renovation: Seven Year and Two Month Update

Seven years and two months later and this is what we've got! A concrete landing that blocks more than half of the beautiful skylight.

Chelsea Hotel Renovation: Seven Year Update

It’s been seven long years and here’s what we’ve got at the Chelsea Hotel! This, and a projected early 2019 opening. 




Anniversary Lowlights:

June 20, 2007 - The Bard Family was ousted and BD Hotels steps in to manage the Hotel for the minority shareholders. " Ira Drukier of BD thinks that with a little work the Chelsea "can once again become a crown jewel of New York City." 
May 5, 2008 - It took less than a year for the minority shareholders to oust BD from their management role.

July 30, 2011 - Guests were told via email that the Hotel would be closed for one year for renovations.  Tenants were told nothing.
July 31, 2011 - The deal goes down to the wire. 

August 1, 2012 - Hotel Chetrit: A Brief Journal of the Plague Year

March 12, 2013 - Chetrit sues the original owners.
August 27, 2013 - Ed Scheetz's King & Groves buys out the Chetrit's interest in the Hotel.
December 9, 2013 - Troubled Times at the Hotel Chelsea: The Recent Past and Plans for the Future

March 12, 2016 - Ed Scheetz leaves and BD Hotels step in again. 

Stanley Bard, Former Owner and Manager of The Chelsea Hotel, Dies at 82

Famed hotelier Stanley Bard, the guiding spirit of the greatest experiment in bohemian living in the history of New York, if not the world, passed away this morning in Boca Raton, Florida, surrounded by his loved ones.  Bard, 82, who had been ill for the last few years, succumbed to a massive stroke.

Known affectionately to all by his first name, Stanley was the majority owner and managing director of New York’s famed Chelsea Hotel.  Built in 1883, the Chelsea was purchased by Stanley’s father, David, together with two other investors, in 1940.  Upon his father’s death in 1957, Stanley took over as manager of the hotel, continuing in that post for 50 years, up until his departure in 2007.  Though Stanley inherited a building that was already known as a haven for the arts, he presided over the greatest artistic flowering in the history of the hotel, playing host to the Beats of the 50s, the Warhol superstars of the 60s, and the punks of the seventies.

A list of Stanley’s guests, most of whom he came to know personally, reads like a Who’s Who of the New York art world: Dylan Thomas, Arthur Miller, Bob Dylan, Arthur C. Clarke, Stanley Kubrick, Virgil Thompson, Charles James, Leonard Cohen, Christo, Larry Rivers, Dee Dee Ramone, Nico, Dennis Hopper, Brendan Behan, Shirley Clark, Derek Walcott, Madonna, Robert Mapplethorpe, and the Warhol Superstars Edie Sedgwick, Viva, Nico, Holly Woodlawn, and Candy Darling, and on and on and on.  A stay at the Chelsea has long been regarded as a right of passage for almost everyone who was anyone in the world of art, music, literature and the theater during the fifty years of Stanley’s brilliant tenure.

Born in 1934 to David and Fanny Bard, Jewish immigrants from Hungary, Stanley was just a boy when his family took over management of the hotel.  He immediately fell in love with the old building, and soon knew it inside and out, crawling around in the crawl spaces and secret nooks and crannies as he worked as an assistant for Julius Krauss, the plumber and part owner of the Chelsea.  In college, Stanley studied psychology, which he always claimed, half-jokingly, helped him to understand and deal with the odd and unusual collection of bohemians who passed through the hotel. (Photo: Arthur Miller, Arnold Weinstein and Stanley Bard by Rita Barros.)

Stanley’s final years brought new challenges.  Despite the supercharged climate of gentrification and the pressure of investors to cash in on the hotel’s good name, he did his best to keep the rents affordable for the hundreds of artists, musicians, writers, and actors who called the hotel their home in the new millennium.  Over the years, Stanley was well known for helping artists in any way he could, financially, emotionally, and by providing a nurturing environment that fostered creativity, and he would continue to fight for their well being up until the very end of his tenure.  Stanley himself said it best: “Over the years people here have created some really beautiful, meaningful things, and they just needed that little bit of help to be able to do it.  This hotel has heart and soul and it’s not all about the bottom line!”

Stanley was a genuine New York character, one of the people who make the city the great place it is.  A tireless cheerleader for the Chelsea, Stanley’s love for the venerable hotel was such that he often said that the Chelsea was the most famous hotel in the world,
sometimes going even further to claim that it was the most famous building in the world.  And while he was understandably reluctant to discuss a certain notorious slaying in 1979, it was also quite difficult to get him to admit that anything bad had ever happened at the Chelsea.  Director Milos Forman, jokingly attempting to get him to admit that the hotel has suffered its share of misfortunes, asks him, in Abel Ferrara’s movie Chelsea on the Rocks, if anyone has ever died at the Chelsea.  Well yes, Stanley admits, in a building this old, certainly a few people have died.  He then goes on to cite exactly one, the painter Alphaeus Cole, who lived to be 112! (Photo: Stanley and Alphaeus Cole by Allan Tennanbaum)

Stanley is survived by his wife Phyllis, by his two children, David Bard and Michele Bard Grabell, by their spouses, Debbie Bard and Mathew Grabell, and by five grandchildren. Stanley’s first wife, Alice, the mother of David and Michele, predeceased him, as did his older brother, Milton.

Stanley is survived as well as by thousands of people in the arts who have called the Chelsea Hotel their home—for a night, a week, a month, a year, or for several decades—and who will continue to honor his memory in their lives and their art for many years to come.  And even beyond that, as long as the Chelsea Hotel stands, the spirit of Stanley and his undying dedication to the arts he so loved will live on.  

Services will be Thursday at 10:00 at Temple Emmanuel, 180 Piermont Rd., Closter, NJ. 07624.

-- Ed Hamilton

Happy Birthday to Chelsea Hotel Legend Stanley Bard

Stanley Bard and his wife Phyllis celebrated Stanley's 80th birthday in style earlier this month by dining at El Quijote. Stanley said that one of his all time favorite dishes was El Quijote's Chicken Villeroy, but he ordered something different just to change it up on this particular occasion, looked like the Fish in Green Sauce to me, another yummy dish. Phyllis also recommends the baked chicken.  "It's the best in town," she said.  Here's to Stanley celebrating many more birthday's to come in El Quijote.  The famous off-key pink guerrilla was no where in sight. 

(photo by Rita Barros) 

Troubled Times at the Hotel Chelsea: The Recent Past and Plans for the Future

Welcome both to old friends and to those new to the site.  Since we haven’t been posting much lately, we thought an update would be in order.

Musical Churls: Changing Ownership of the Chelsea Hotel

In June of 2007, the Bard family (headed by the inimitable Stanley Bard) who ran the hotel as an artistic mecca for 60 years, were ousted by minority shareholder Marlene Krauss, the former Hotel Chelsea plumber’s daughter who wanted to cash in on the super-heated real-estate market; in 2011, Krauss sold the hotel for $81 million to Joe Chetrit, a billionaire Moroccan real estate developer who proceeded to lay waste to the historic building; and then, just this past year, Big Joe in turn palmed off the place to King and Grove honcho Ed Scheetz, of Las Vegas tabloid infamy.

By the way, Chetrit also snatched dozens of paintings—donated or loaned by resident artists over the years—from the walls of the lobby and stairwell of the hotel.  Who knows what has become of these artworks, some worth big money, but most of them valuable only for their connection to the Hotel Chelsea.

Hard Rock Hell: Destruction and Renovation of the Hotel Chelsea

By 2007, Stanley had just completed a modest, historically sensitive, 10-year renovation project on the common areas of the hotel.  He was also in the process of slowly renovating some of the rooms.  When Krauss took over, she attempted to fast-track the destruction/renovation, but the Department of
Buildings quickly put an end to this ill-conceived effort.  Chetrit, however, didn’t mess around: he brought in a non-union demolition crew that tore down walls and ripped out original fixtures and woodwork, gutting historical rooms such as the ones where Thomas Wolfe and Arthur Miller lived and created. 
Besides that, Chetrit partially installed new electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning systems—none of which, however, is yet working.

Despite all the sound and fury, Chetrit completed renovation on only a couple of model units on one wing of the hotel, the 7^th floor east.  The offending architect, Gene Kaufman, is famous mainly for designing Holiday Inns, and the result, as you can see from the photo, is predictably chintzy.  Though Scheetz’s resume as manager of the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel may raise some eyebrows in chi-chi design circles, he reportedly realizes that the 7^th floor east is a disaster, and intends to redo it.  For this he has retained several new vendors including David Belt (DBI Construction Consultants) and Marvel Architects.


Goodbye Redbrick Road: Evictions

Since Krauss took over in 2007, approximately 66 residents in 55 rooms have been evicted.  Most of these tenants were artists, writers, actors, or others in the arts, and some of them were unable to find affordable housing in Manhattan, thus contributing to the ongoing cultural impoverishment of New York.  Though evictions have slowed down recently, Scheetz still has a number of tenants in housing court (most of them originally sued by Krauss or Chetrit). The good news is that approximately 87 of us in 57 rooms still remain, and we aren’t giving up easily.

Chelsea Hotel at the End of the Universe: The Future 

If there’s a Rock-n-Roll Heaven, it will have to put its stars up in some other hotel for the foreseeable future.  In other words, don’t look for this place to open back up anytime soon.  The last I heard was that Scheetz was telling people that the Hotel Chelsea will reopen in Summer 2015, but, even if he’s willing to commit tens of millions of dollars to buy rent stabilized tenants out of their apartments, that date seems unrealistic.  The hotel is an absolute wreck: bricks and masonry exposed, metal frames lining the halls, wires and pipes hanging from the ceiling, gutted rooms boarded up with plywood, sidewalk sheds clogging the hallways, plastic over everyone’s doors in an effort to keep out the dust.  And since Scheetz has taken over, “construction” (deliberately slow and disruptive under Chetrit, and often amounting to little more than harassment) has almost ceased entirely.

The plan, of course, is to turn the Hotel Chelsea into a boutique hotel with a trendy club on the roof and a lounge in the lobby, but don’t call for reservations yet. The situation could change at any time, however, so stay tuned.  -- Ed Hamilton

Chelsea Hotel Rooftop Bar on the Horizon?

…. He takes me on a tour of the Hotel from the luggage storage area behind the front desk (“imagine the
potential for this as a hotel bar”) to the roof area dotted with random flower beds and mismatched patio furniture (“Look at that view—I’d love a rooftop bar here”)…

Hotel Manager Ed Scheetz from this week’s “Talk of the Town”? au contraire!

It’s from our old buddy, former Chelsea Hotel manager Andrew Tilley, from the April 2009 Australian Rolling Stone!

How’s that club coming, Andrew?




(Photos: Ed Scheetz, Barron's Online  ; Andrew Tilley)

Holiday Wreaths at the Chelsea Hotel: Courtesy of the Chetrits

Otherwise its been a white dust Christmas here at the Chelsea, as construction continues at a leisurely pace on into 2013.  Expect a grand reopening in about 15 years or so!

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: Cheap Construction Materials

How much sheetrock does it take to reconstruct solid brick walls that have been torn down and carted off to the landfill?  Quite a bit it would seem!

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: A Depression Era Dustbowl-Inspired Wasteland

The dust my friend is blowing in the wind.

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: No More Art Supplies

The Utrecht Art Supplies store across the street from the Chelsea Hotel is being gutted!  I guess with the artists being evicted from the Chelsea, there's no one left to buy art supplies.  Actually, not to worry, the sign on the art store's door says they'll be reopening on August 18.  Maybe they're going to start selling mold test kits and HEPA filters in their new incarnation, as that's what the artists need now more than paint brushes. 

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: Phantom Art

Phantom art left by the ghosts of artists past (perhaps in protest over the theft of their real art).

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: MOLD

We've got plenty of mold growing around the Chelsea Hotel, but what we're hoping for is some fresh locally grown mushrooms, surely it's dark and damp enough in these forlorn halls. 

Hotel Chetrit: A Brief Journal of the Plague Year

The Chetrit gang has been in charge of the Chelsea Hotel for a year now.  Despite dozens of law suits in Housing and Supreme court they have been less successful in evicting tenants than the previous Krauss/Elder regime. (Krauss & Elder picked off numerous tenants while preparing the building for sale.) They have, however, been much more successful in demolishing the interior of the historic hotel. (In part, this was because the Hotel was under a full Stop Work Order for two years under Krauss/Elder.  Currently the basement remains under a SWO because of illegal work done during the Krauss/Elder era.) Up until this point they haven't had much success in reconstructing the rooms.  (It's hard to tell whether they are really attempting to finish construction or if it is part of their plan to annoy us as long as possible so we will want to leave.)
In general, our day-to-day plagues include:  dust, mold, loss of electricity, leaks, floods, jackhammers, filty floors, lack of elevator service, lack of art and halls without walls.

 

1. The Guest Who Wouldn't Leave - NY Times, August 1, 2011

2.  The White Wash Begins - The Observer, August 9, 2011

3. A peek inside the Chelsea Hotel renovation - The Real Deal, October 6, 2011

4. Tenants' struggles heat up at the Chelsea Hotel - People's World, December 19, 2011

5. Patti Smith Cancels Concert after Chelsea Hotel Residents Protest, WNYC, December 13, 2011

6. Chelsea Hotel Tenants Head Back to Housing Court, WNYC, May 7, 2012

 

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: Bad Taste

After nearly a year of demolition and "construction" the Chetrit gang has yet to succeed in renovating one room.  This cheap light fixture is all they've got to show for their efforts. 

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: Construction Debris

Here at the Chelsea Hotel construction debris is hidden in the most unlikely places.  And sometimes it's not so well hidden.

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: Black Hole of Calcutta Coming Our Way

Looks like somebody took a wrong turn with the sledge hammer and ended up at the Black Hole of Calcutta.  Who knows how many bohemians have fallen into this bottomless pit.

Black Hole of Calcutta

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: A Sirocco of Saharan Proportions

A toxic hot wind swirls up the ornate staircase from the first floor, rivaling the siroccos of the Sahara Desert--only less healthy.


(Photo credit: Tunnel of Love)

Chelsea Hotel Plague of the Day: Floods

Yesterday, the floods arrived again at the Chelsea Hotel.  A pipe burst sending water throughout the 10th and 9th floors of the building.  Some tenant's apartments were damaged by the water. The picture below shows the water flowing from a light fixture on the 10th floor. Meanwhile, by our count, a quarter of the Chelsea Hotel's tenants continue to fight evictions in Housing and Supreme Court.

Chelsea Hotel Endures Plagues of Biblical Proportions

Leaks, floods, swarms of mosquitoes, mold, windstorms of dust, dumspters full of uncovered waste, jackhammer demolition: when will the tribulations of our poor oppressed bohemian tribe be at an end?

The Scope of the Chetrits’ Proposed Chelsea Hotel Renovation: Herbert Huncke Finally Gets A Bathroom

Renovation has been ongoing on the east wing of the 7^th floor for several months now, without much apparent progress, and there have been scattered attempts at renovation in other places around the building (including in the room next to ours).  Notices have recently been placed by the elevators on all floors informing tenants that various work will commence this week, including: interior framing, steel bracing, electrical wiring, elevator shaft patching, and installation of concrete floors and plywood sub floors.

            There’s been a lot of confusing and conflicting information about the scope of the renovation, but I’ve been looking at various documents, including the floor plans posted on each floor, task force minutes, DOB permits, and letters from various local politicians.  Here’s what we know:

 

Demolition

 

Demolition work is mostly concluded, with almost all of the unoccupied apartments gutted, though they’ll have to do a bit more in spots—including in rooms recently vacated—as they go along.  Hopefully, they will take care not to spread asbestos dust around the hotel this time.  They are required to perform asbestos abatement and use HEPA filters for all significant work.

 

Hallways

 

Interior framing and steel bracing will be installed starting May 21, or as soon as the Chetrits get the necessary DOB permits.  This will hold up the sheetrock which will cover the existing walls, leaving a space for electrical wires and plumbing pipes.  They are also going to install heating and air conditioning (HVAC) shafts, and for this they will need to lower the ceilings in the hallways, presumably by installing a drop ceiling supported by the sheetrock walls.  The glass globes that Stanley installed in 1997 will be torn out, as the plan is to install “strip lighting” in the new ceilings (sounds dreadful, I know).  The “arch configuration” of the hallways will be maintained, if possible.  A sprinkler system will be installed.  The marble floor will be retained.

 

Stairwells and Elevators

 

The main staircase will not be altered.  (At some point they may open it to the lobby as it was originally.)  The two central elevators will also not be affected.  According to the floor plans, the back staircase will be torn out and a new (apparently larger) staircase will be built in approximately the same location.  It appears that the service elevator will also be replaced by a new one.  And a brand new elevator will be installed on the east wing of the building.   The Chetrits/Gene Kaufman had permits for this work with the DOB, but these appear to have been revoked for the time being.

 

Apartments

 

Radiators will be torn out.  Vents for HVAC will be installed leading from the pipes in the hallway into the vestibule of each apartment.  Sprinklers, the pipes painted red, will be affixed to the ceiling.  All apartments will get new double windows at some point.  Unoccupied apartments are having the interior framing, steel bracing, and sheetrock installed to hide the new electrical wires and pipes.  Occupied apartments will be assessed on a case by case basis to determine if they need new electrical wiring.

 

Bathrooms

 

All rooms will have their own bathrooms, so the days of SRO rooms at the Chelsea are over.  Most of the bathrooms in the unoccupied rooms were demolished, so they’ll need to construct new ones.  Even Herbert Huncke, in 828, will get the bathroom he longed for and always bugged Stanley Bard about, albeit posthumously.   As borne out by the floor plans, none of the new rooms will have kitchens.

 Roof

 

DOB has already denied the plans for the permits for the structure on the roof, due to the hotel being overbuilt, and due to incomplete and inaccurate information on the permit applications so for now the scaffolding which was put up for LPC viewing will come down.  However, according to Chetrit associate Michael Butler, all structures and gardens on the roof will be demolished anyway.

 

Permits

 

There seems to be a hold-up on some of the DOB permits.  For instance, as mentioned, the permit for the elevator and new back staircase, initially granted, has now apparently been revoked.  This could have something to do with the fact that Christine Quinn and several other local politicians sent DOB a letter requesting that they audit the permit applications.  Another permit, this one for renovation of the rooms, has seemingly suffered the same fate.  How this will affect the scope of the renovations remains to be seen.

 

            One thing immediately obvious from the current floor plans is that the new configuration of the hotel will consist of a variety of rooms, large and small, much like the old hotel.  Even some of the small corridors with their warrens of tiny rooms will remain, only now each one will have its own bathroom.  All of which makes you wonder why they bothered with the gutting.  Certainly the thin sheetrock walls will maximize floor space, but besides that, probably the Chetrits had a more extensive renovation planned originally, but have been unable to get the permits they needed.  (They couldn’t get a permit for change of egress, and that may be why they have to retain the small rooms and eccentric configuration.)  Well, the less architect Gene Kauffman is allowed to do, the better.

Chelsea Hotel Phone Booths to be Removed by Chetrits

The enclosed phone booths in the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel represent some of the last remaining booths in the city.  Not only are they historic, they are cool, and serve a useful purpose.  Chelsea Dynasty has announced that the two enclosed phone booths in the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel will be removed sometime in the next two months when the construction begins on the first floor.  Management indicated that the booths will be saved as historic artifacts and perhaps reinstalled at some future time.  We certainly hope that this is the case. No mention of what will happen to the mobile which hangs above the booths. 
The removal of the booths presents a problem for the tenants who use the phones on a regular basis.  One solution proposed by management is to provide low-cost outward bound calls from the in-room house phones for individuals who depend upon the phones located in the lobby. 

(Photo source: Flickr)

Chelsea Hotel Tenants’ Association Reaches Settlement with Chetrits

Legends has obtained a copy of the consent order in the tenants’ association’s lawsuit against the Chetrits (Judith Childs, et. al. vs. Chelsea Dynasty LLC, et. al. and NYC Department of Housing and Preservation).  The Tenants’ Association represents approximately 35 of the 98 tenants remaining in the building, and approximately 31 of the 69 remaining units.  The tenants association sued, basically, to force the Chetrits to remediate the mold and other hazardous conditions in their apartments (some of which resulted from the recent demolition) and to perform any further construction in accordance with the law (this later mainly focused on the spread of dust).  In the settlement, the hotel agreed to various conditions, including:

Housing Violations

 -the hotel must correct all listed housing violations (including mold, lead paint, fire code, and air shaft) in petitioners apartments and public areas, immediately hazardous violations by June 12, 2012, and hazardous and non-hazardous violations by June 30, 2012

 -if the hotel doesn’t correct the violations on time, they can be fined $50-$150 per violation for the immediately hazardous violations, plus $125 per day per violation.  (There are correspondingly lesser penalties for the lesser violations)

 -mold remediation in petitioners apartments and public areas must be done in accordance with Department of Health guidelines, and must be completed by June 30, 2012

 -the hotel must take all necessary steps to eliminate the sources of water leaks into the hotel

 -wood platforms and debris must be removed from air shafts by July 15, 2012.  Openings in the air shafts must be closed or have ventilation as per code

 -an asbestos inspection must be performed, and damaged asbestos insulation must be removed by an asbestos contractor

Demolition and Construction

 -plastic sheeting must be used to isolate and enclose demolition areas, and HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers must be used to keep the dust down.  Surfaces in work areas must be properly cleaned, the dust removed.  Debris must be taken out of the building in sealed containers

 -if dust enters the common areas or apartments, the hotel must clean it up immediately (though they don’t have to stop work).  HEPA air cleaners must be provided for children and people with respiratory problems

 -When work is being performed in the air shafts, the hotel must seal the vents and windows in the apartments affected

 -the windows on the top floor must be covered with plastic sheeting during asbestos removal on the roof

 -the hotel must obtain the proper permits for all work, and all work must be performed according to law

 -72 hours notice must be given before any demolition or construction may begin

 Fire Safety

 -plastic sheeting that blocks emergency exit paths must be removed, and stair doors must be unlocked.
(This correction should be addressed immediately.)

Rent Payment

 -the hotel must acknowledge receipt of all rent checks and cash them immediately (unless this conflicts with their current or prospective litigation strategy or a Jewish holiday)

 Liability

 -Joseph Chetrit and the Chetrit Group LLC are removed as parties to this proceeding (!?!)

A couple of points are important to note here.  For one thing, this settlement only directly affects tenants association members and the few other tenants who joined the lawsuit.  For the rest of us, if we have mold or other problems in our apartments, we will presumably still have to dial 311 and deal with the various agencies if management doesn’t take action immediately.  The good news is, many tenants have had their mold and other problems corrected in this way (it requires persistence, and sometimes the withholding of rent).  The recent asbestos cleanup (made necessary both by Krauss/Elder’s botched removal attempt and the Chetrits’ mishandling of demolition debris) was brought about by tenant activist Arthur Nash calling the DEP, and had nothing to do with this court case at all.

            For another thing, as far as we can tell, the Chetrits only agreed to do things that they were required to do by law anyway.  So the main effect of this agreement is to take enforcement out of the hands of the various city agencies and put it in the hands of the court.  I seriously don’t know if this is better or worse—better, I’m hoping—though enforcing compliance will no doubt involve the further use of lawyers and consequent further expense.

            Furthermore, the settlement doesn’t seem to apply to any future problems, so even tenants’ association members will have to call 311 for these when they arise—or else go to court again.

            Finally, head honcho Joseph Chetrit and his main corporation, The Chetrit Group, are let completely off the hook!  For us, this provision would have been a deal-breaker, both for the reason that Big Joe is the man ultimately responsible for the health-endangering demolition of the hotel, and for the fact that he and The Chetrit Group have the deep pockets.  It’s a question for the lawyers as to whether or not this settlement limits individual tenants’ association members’ ability to sue Joseph and his Corp. for damages (such as those related to health problems). -- Ed Hamilton

No Room on The Inn: DOB Denies Permit for Proposed Chelsea Hotel Rooftop Addition

Good news from DOB: according to Matthew Katz of dnainfo.com they have denied the Chetrit's a permit for the rooftop addition due to inconsistent and inadequate information about the plan provided by the Hotel's current owners. The problem, it seems, is that the building is overbuilt. Basically, it has too many square feet
and is too tall for the space, according to current zoning regulations. (The current building was grandfathered in.) So any proposed additions would only add to the problem. Look for the Chetrits to attempt to get around this problem in one way or another. We spoke with CB4 Chair Corey Johnson about this issue over the week-end and he promised to monitor the situation. We look forward to working with him on this and other issues. In other issues, a judge ruled today that the Chetrit's must clean up the hazardous conditions (including lead, mold, and asbestos) plaguing the Hotel by the end of July. The Chetrit's had ignored previous court to clean up the mess. Hopefully we won't all be evicted by then. http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120507/chelsea/hotel-chelsea-too-big-for-rooftop-extension-buildings-department-rules

Worthless, Uncool, Quasi-Mystico-Artistico “Cultural” Event to be Held at Chelsea Hotel

As if we needed reminding that the Chelsea is over!  After Patti Smith retained her integrity by cancelling her management-sponsored concert for the Chelsea Hotel tenants, King and Grove (the management company run by Ed Sheetz and Ben Pundole) vowed that they would continue to hold “cultural” events at the hotel.  We are pleased to announce that they have kept their word.

            Oddly, Chelsea residents, who had planned to protest Smith’s concert with a die-in and book burning, were not invited to this Thursday’s planned event.  However, a number of residents have spoken and/or corresponded via e-mail with organizers Glenn O’Brien and Bill Powers, explaining the problem to them and politely asking that they reconsider holding their event at the Hotel.



Based on the available evidence, we are forced to conclude that this event will be some kind of quasi-religious ceremony for people seeking absolution from the sin of collaborating with the despoilers of the Chelsea Hotel.  Expect a big turnout!

[Note: in case you don’t recognize the picture, that’s Pope Ondine from Chelsea Girls.  He is looking down from that great confessional in the sky.]

Zaldy and Dmitry Throw "End of Chelsea Hotel" Art Bash

Every month we lose more of our neighbors.  Zaldy and Dmitry turned their apartment into an art gallery for their final week at the Chelsea.

Chelsea Hotel Rooftop Club Approved by Landmarks in Secret Conclave

Yesterday, without informing the residents of the Chelsea Hotel or the Chelsea neighborhood, the Landmarks Preservation Committee rammed through their approval of a massive rooftop addition to the Historic Hotel.  This came as quite a shock to concerned residents, many of whom had attended a prior meeting of the LPC on April 10, in which the committee rejected Architect Gene Kaufman’s plan for the proposed addition, ordering him to resubmit a more realistic proposal.  Obviously, Kaufman has not had time to competently redesign the addition, and in any event the Chelsea community has a legitimate right to review any proposed changes. 

It’s hard to know where to start in enumerating the problems that this ill-conceived structure (with it’s obvious use as a nightclub) would create.  The 1883 Chelsea Hotel has long defined the Chelsea neighborhood and the proposed addition pays no attention whatsoever to historic context.  What appears in “Holiday Inn” Kaufman’s renderings as a two-story corrugated  tin building resembling an airport hanger, will be visible from the street, and it will destroy the historic gardens and community garden designed as an integrate part of the hotel by architect Philip Hubert.  Light and air to artists’ studios on the top floor – part of the original design – will be severely compromised, if not eliminated entirely.  Noise and vibrations from the club will plague both Hotel residents and residents of surrounding buildings. 

Worst of all, what we found with the club in the basement – especially in its worse incarnation as Star Lounge – was that it was a magnet for vice.  Club goers congregated in the lobby and the front of the hotel, and violence poured out of the club into the streets.

The LPC is a public agency charged with acting in the public interest.  So why all the secrecy?  Well, because Kaufman, the Chetrits, and the LPC all know that absolutely no one in the Chelsea Hotel or the Chelsea Community wants this club on the roof.  The bottom line is, this is a community issue and the Chelsea community deserves better than to have this unprecedented nuisance shoved down its throat.  We call on the LPC to revisit its improvident decision, and to schedule a proper, public meeting in which the final plans can be presented and subjected to legitimate community debate. -- Ed Hamilton