Hotel Le Bleu Opening Still Stalled
Guests are going to have to wait a little longer to check into Hotel Le Bleu, the first boutique hotel to grace the banks of the Gowanus Canal. A booking agent told us they’re not accepting reservations until October 1st, but when we swung by yesterday, Le Bleu’s manager said there was a possibility it…
Guests are going to have to wait a little longer to check into Hotel Le Bleu, the first boutique hotel to grace the banks of the Gowanus Canal. A booking agent told us they’re not accepting reservations until October 1st, but when we swung by yesterday, Le Bleu’s manager said there was a possibility it would open within the next couple of weeks. (The city still has to do final inspections on the property.) The delay is the latest in a series for the hotel, which was originally scheduled to open on July 9th. According to Newyorkology, rates were starting at $280 back when it was scheduled to open in early summer; Le Bleu’s website now shows them beginning at $365. Le Bleu’s manager told us the original rates reflected the summer season, and that fall prices were always going to be in the $350-$400-a-night ballpark. While we’re really excited about a luxe hotel opening in Gowanus (check out the photo on the jump—the Andres Escobar-designed interiors are, dare we say, kinda sexy), the rates seem increasingly detached from reality. Think there’s a possibility Le Bleu’s going to end up in the red?
Hotel Le Bleu Website GMAP
Hotel le Bleu Delays Opening Again [Newyorkology]
has anyone actually tried to get a hotel room in manhattan for $300 a night? Good luck and I hope you don’t care about quality.
RE: 11:42
They’ll seek a zoning variance on the grounds of an unreasonalbe economic hardship. If they can make the case that the current zoning has erased all economic value from the property… they’ll be granted the variance. We’ll also have to see what type of political environment emerges around the Gowanus Rezoning.
Where is the “this will be worthless/irrelevant/a blip on the radar once Atlantic Yards is built” post?
I miss that.
By the way, the developer, Dominick Tonachio is probably one of the shadiest and unscrupulous characters. He’s really not so much of a developer, but because of Katan, whose coattails he’s riding, he’s managed to build some crap! I don’t think he ever bothered to learn anything about construction and hires the cheapest labor, the piece of shit building we bought in on Bergen Street had so many violations and leaks and mold, such a horrible person to deal with. It’s people like this who have no taste and build crap, who I’m hoping lose their shirt in the downmarket so we can be rid of them for good!
We’ve discussed this hotel in depth before, and I still think they are NOT going to get those prices. Maybe they will make deals with groups or get rid of rooms on Priceline or some other discount outlet. I think once you get above 300, tourists are going to opt for Manhattan. Some visitors with family in the area will spring for a it, though. Business travelers are more likely to stay at the Marriot. I used to wonder about the Holiday Inn but that is seeming quite sane in comparison (and it is pretty busy!)
Hmmm, Excellent point 11:42 – Must be true otherwise there would probably be alot of other condo developement over there.
I am rooting for them not to “Tank”, but it does seem likely given the price point and surrounding area. Who would buy an unsucessful hotel in a residential restricted area?
You cannot sell condos here, it is zoned for manufacturing and commercial uses. So if this tanks, which seems very likely, the owners don’t have many options but to sell the building and will probably have to be at a loss.
I live between 4th and 5th Avenues and am a big fan of the recent changes to 4th Ave and hope they continue. But this just seems totally out of sync with the reality of the street, both in terms of cost and style. Anyone who books this place without any idea of what the surrounding area looks like is not going to be happy…
Does anyone have any news about the owner of Hotel Le Blue’s next project, a condo on 4th Ave and Warren Street? The foundation is in but there doesn’t seem to be any work going on. I’d love to see a pic or a drawing of the planned building.
Jen KG