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A Bonafide Flophouse?

Two issues have come to our attention recently.  One is the alarming number of missing rosettes on the 26762219_e5643222f7_m staircase railing. Somebody needs to look into preventing this mindless vandalism in the future. The second issue is that BD Hotels has now embarked on a rate cutting policy. Below are some of the rates we’ve heard about.

Shared Bath Studio: $99.00

Full Bath Studio: $129.00
Junior SUITE: $149.
One Bedroom Suite: $169.
TWO Bedroom Suite: Just $179.

They have also added a book online button to www.hotelchelsea.com so you can check the rates yourself.
Bookbutton Though we’ve long argued that rates should be lower in order for writers and artists and other creatively minded individuals who genuinely want to stay here.  This policy flies in the face of what’s being going on with the Board pressuring Stanley to raise rates to make more money. So what gives? Are they trying to turn this place into a bonafide flophouse? Also disturbing is the fact that another resident spotted an apparently homeless woman camping with her bags in the hallway.  On the other hand, perhaps they are trying to compete with other hotels that are offering lower rates to attract people during the sweltering month of July.  But since when has the Chelsea had to compete?  Maybe since they lost customers who don’t want a corporate experience.
     Back in late December/early January the Bards ran a special where they lowered the rates but it was not nearly so drastic as this one — more like a normal hotel discount — and what’s more it was specifically targeted to people on their mailing list, that is fans of the hotel.  Who are we targeting now?   

     Or, is this just a ploy to get the occupancy rates up so they’ll look good on paper? 
     The reason we mention these two things together is that there could be some relations. While the rosettes started to disappear earlier this year the vandalism seems to have increased in the past month. People coming here who have no knowledge of the history of the hotel probably figure why not? after all it’s a cool souvenir.  They don’t have any respect for the history of the hotel.  But does BD Hotels have any respect either? What are they doing to prevent this? 
    As for the rates, while we do think that the rates should be lower it’s not a fire sale and we don’t need to compete for every clueless tourist on the face of the earth.  We want people to come here because they love the Chelsea not solely because it is cheap.  — Ed Hamilton
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12 responses to “A Bonafide Flophouse?”

  1. 421to323 Avatar
    421to323

    They have to lower rates — there are too many hotel rooms in New York and not enough rich people to pay the inflated rates. Add to that the people who are staying away because of Stanley’s ouster — three of my friends, for example.
    They’ve created this situation themselves. It really shows how stupid they are, that they seemingly thought they could overthrow Stanley and take over the hotel and nobody would care.
    They should turn it back over to Stanley and just leave, before things get any worse.

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  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    here! here!
    they ought to get out while the gettins still good

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  3. Daily Intelligencer - New York Magazine Avatar
    Daily Intelligencer – New York Magazine

    Let’s Go to Red Hook and Burn Cars!

    Brooklyn Heights: The Henry Street bike lane has been painted solid green and it looks kinda cool! Will other bike lanes citywide get the look? [McBrookly…

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  4. Avatar
    Anonymous

    BD hotels is a classy operation and always works in a calm and efficient manner – they don’t stir the pot to make people angry. Of all the groups in nyc BD hotels is the best steward for the property.

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  5. BM Avatar
    BM

    Uh, no, BD Hotels sppokeserson, the Bards are the best stewards for the property. Buy a clue.

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  6. blank78 Avatar
    blank78

    I’ve been staying at the Chelsea on and off for 10 years.(when I could afford it.) I paint and play guitar in a punk band and run a carwash during the day. Stanley has ALWAYS tried to work with me and all my band member/artist/friends I could recommend. (though not to the extent of the rates the blog quoted, thats for damn sure!) I had booked a couple of nights at the end of July back in april when all was well.(seeing Sonic Youth on the 28th) As an avid reader of Ed’s blog I was shocked at the news…I mean Stanley…fired?!? I live in Baltimore and have seen alot of cities, but NYC has always been the best.If theres a room the chelsea is the only place I’ll stay. Even in the past 4 years I’ve seen some of the best clubs/bars/art spaces be crushed by the corporate fist…and not even the Chelsea is safe? Anyway, I call the hotel and ask the guy who picked up how long he had been working there(I had to make sure he wasn’t one of THEM) got the responce I wanted and pressed on…though he told me what I read had been true, Stanley would be in on Monday. So, once again I call, get Stanley on the phone and after an outpouring of praise for his love of artists and the hotel and wondering if I should cancel my room ( I wouldn’t want you to stay anywhere else! says Mr.Bard.) I feel a little better, At the very least Stanley is still there. I guess if I have a point, it would be that although the rate drop is good for artists, I can’t see why the new management would do this. Just to throw everyone off? I also don’t know if I should call and see if I’m getting those rates.

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  7. guest Avatar
    guest

    It’s good to know that Stanley still wants people to say in the hotel and I think it reflects on how he feels about the hotel itself rather than who is managing it. If this is what Stanley wishes for people, perhaps NOT staying at the hotel until he’s back as manager isn’t the best thing.
    I do know that lower rates are to be gotten online. I believe that the higher rates for walk-ins still apply, though probably not quite as high as Stanley had them.
    How can the changes be good for the artists and BAD for the artists, good for the residents and bad for the residents? Easily. There were things that NEEDED changing, but the extent of those things and the extent of the changes are the real issue. What things will be done that improve the place and are better for the people who live and stay there, and what things will be done that destroy the essence of the Chelsea and hurt the people who stay and especially LIVE there? It’s the latter that concerns me.
    Stanley IS still around and he doesn’t plan on that changing anytime soon.

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  8. guest Avatar
    guest

    p.s.- the reason I hear was behind the room rates was to fill the hotel rather than leaving rooms go empty because of the high price at certain, slower times of the year, such as now. If this is the true reason or not, I don’t know, I’m not new management and haven’t heard any reasons behind this FROM new management. It would be nice if they DID make a statement about this though.
    Maybe someone who has the guts to actually approach and ASK Mr. Bernstein about this will post the response. Maybe Mr. Bernstein himself would like to post a response? Mr. Bernstein?

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  9. Avatar
    Anonymous

    “guts” to approach Bernstein? ha

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  10. Kag Avatar
    Kag

    I too have noticed the removal of the rosettes on the staircase and am very upset by this type of vandalism. If we are going to try to preserve the landmark status of the hotel (and I believe we should fight for landmarking the staircase since it is not automatically landmarked by the city) we need to be vigilant about preserving all of its pertinent parts. I’ve lived here for many years and rarely see blatant acts of vandalism. Cameras are used in various parts of the hotel now. Can’t the new management company keep an eye on tourists trying to grab a piece or history so they can later sell it on ebay for a profit? I don’t want to see chunks of the Chelsea slowly being removed by people who just want to show they stayed there for one night. I live here and they are destroying my home.

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  11. guest Avatar
    guest

    Yeah, well, in all honesty, “I” don’t have the “guts” to approach him and ask him these type of questions. It’s not that I’m afraid to talk to him, but I’m not sure I want to ask him a bunch of management questions. At the moment, he doesn’t seem as approachable as Stanley is, but then, I don’t know Mr. Bernstein. I do know Stanley.

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  12. guest Avatar
    guest

    Also, Kag….to be fair, I’ve noticed the rosettes missing for YEARS. If there are MORE missing in recent days and other acts of vandalism, then something needs to be done.
    Also, regarding the cameras, those cameras have also been there for a long time…years. I haven’t noticed any new cameras since new management took over. I do not believe they have monitors at the front desk though, nor have they for a long time. Perhaps if there were, future acts of vandalism would be curbed.
    IF anyone DOES see those items (such as rosettes) on ebay, the best thing to do is to contact ebay and let them know that these are STOLEN items. Send them a link to the hotel’s site or send them a photo of the staircase. This too, will hopefully curb any future acts, or at least attempt to determine those who have stolen them. The ones who put them up for sale may not be the ones who are selling them, but it’s worth checking out.

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