Another Gowanus Hotel Takes Shape

Ten years ago, would anyone have predicted that neglected, industrial Gowanus would someday be a haven for out-of-towners? And yet that’s what it’s turning into, as plans for a yet another hotel in the area—this one on 3rd Avenue and President Street—gain steam. The new lodging house means Union Street’s Holiday Inn Express, Butler Street’s Comfort Inn, and 4th Avenue’s (soon-to-open) Hotel Le Bleu will eventually have even more competition. Although the DOB initially rejected the President Street plans, a revamped filing for a 4-story, 18,130-square-foot building passed muster a few weeks ago, and we saw workers scoping out the site earlier this week. A couple people we’ve chatted with said the hotel’s going to be an economy chain, like the Holiday and Comfort Inns. Truth to the talk?
Development Watch: New Hotel for 3rd Avenue? [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
Call it the Gowanus Hotel District: New One Rising on Third Ave. [Gowanus Lounge]

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Comments

Isn't the whole "hotel" thing just a back-door way out of the zoning code, because tall hotels can be built as of right in manufacturing areas but apartment buildings can't be? The same thing is happening in LIC. Seems inevitable that in a few years these hotels will become rentals, condos, whatever...they can plead hardship when droves of tourists don't show up to stay in an inn on the Gowanus.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 10:50 AM

um.....4 stories isn't tall, 10:50.

and have you seen the holiday inn?

you really think that's going condo someday?

i believe the holiday inn and comfort inn are almost always sold out, btw.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 11:07 AM

I was thinking of LeBleu or whatever that pile of crap is called, towering over the Pep Boys parking lot.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 11:35 AM

Towering???

I think it's like 7 stories.

Are you a small person?

I have a feeling if they can't fill hotel le bleu, they will lower the room prices, not turn them into condos.

I don't really think you know what you're talking about. This is a hot area and people are developing it because there is a demand for it.

Do you think people build things to have them sit empty?

Kindof a false economy, don't ya think?

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 11:51 AM

No, they build buildings to make money, and 7 stories is 7 stories bigger than any other residential uses permitted there, yes?

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 12:30 PM

I believe the Crest and Novo are both taller than 7 stories.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 12:44 PM

Novo and Crest are 12 stories, which is the upzoned limit on 4th Ave.

Le Blow will fail as a boutique hotel and will lower prices. Economy hotels are the way to go in this area, as the only people using them will be people visiting relatives who live in surrounding neighborhoods.

This whole notion of "hipster Brooklyn" being marketed to Europeans appears to be a farce, as every European I have spoken to about it has replied, "Huh?"

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 1:23 PM

That's interesting, every European...including the few that I ran into this weekend on 5th Avenue looking for directions say that all they hear about is Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn.

Ever read Lonely Planet before? European Tourists do and it lists Brooklyn as a top destination.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 1:27 PM

I was talking to a Londoner last week at a Fifth Avenue bar. He was curious about Brooklyn and popped out from Manhattan - where he was staying in a hotel - for a quick look around. Unless hotels are substantially cheaper, I suspect visitors will continue to stay in Manhattan and make day trips to Brooklyn.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 1:38 PM

"Ten years ago, would anyone have predicted that neglected, industrial Gowanus would someday be a haven for out-of-towners?"

Well, since most of the ground is too toxic to allow residential building without significant and expensive cleanup, perhaps the booming hotel biz is no surprise.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 1:59 PM

not an issue on 4th avenye, 1:59.

try to stay on topic, if you can.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 4:36 PM

New hotel is going up on Third, 4:36.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 5:28 PM

Actually I think most people using these economy hotels are simply horny husband and wives looking for a place to bring their craiglist hookups

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 5:29 PM

sounds like another blow against le bleu's pricing structure. unless they decide to go hourly.

Posted by: guest at October 4, 2007 5:36 PM

four additional hotel's are currently under way along 3 ave. two of which will have rate under 150.00.

Posted by: guest at October 22, 2007 2:46 PM