Holiday Inn Slips Into The Slope
NewYorkology’s got the goods on the new Holiday Inn Express that’s expected to be open by April of this year (we’ll see about that). The location of the 90-room, 8-story building makes a lot of sense to old-school local blogger Amy Langfield: Located on a semi-residential street pocked with auto repair shops, it’s situated where…
NewYorkology’s got the goods on the new Holiday Inn Express that’s expected to be open by April of this year (we’ll see about that). The location of the 90-room, 8-story building makes a lot of sense to old-school local blogger Amy Langfield:
Located on a semi-residential street pocked with auto repair shops, it’s situated where the “slope” of Park Slope flattens out to meet the “Gowanus” of Gowanus Canal. A mere half block from the R subway line, it’s a block and a half uphill to Park Slope’s 5th Avenue, where the new shops and restaurants is turning this stretch into Brooklyn’s new Smith Street. (CitySearch even has a “hot blocks” page dedicated to the area around 5th and Union.)
What do you think? Is this a win-win for the hotel and the hood?
Holiday Express to Open [NewYorkology] GMAP
The commenters that wonder about whether there’s a need for a hotel in this area have clearly never called all 8 or so Brooklyn B&B’s trying to find room on weekends for parents/inlaws- those places are often completely booked, and it’s a pain. Also I live 1 block from this Holiday Inn, and all the B&B’s are much farther so I think it’s great for visitors with family in this area. While the block has its drawbacks (yes the guard dogs are still there, some buildings are scarily tilted backwards, and the car guys are not thrilled when you take one of the parking spots they like to use for their business)… there’s also a great drum shop with the nicest guys inside, and the corner has the subway, pizza, spoken word cafe/ live music, and maria’s mexican restaurant. it’s convenient for visitors, and better than tearing down nice architecture to put a high rise in a more “central slope” locale. even if there is an economic downturn, there are so many people living in nearby neighborhoods that have guests, and even gowanus is changing…and it’s a heavily trafficked area. i don’t see this turning into a sketchy hourly hotel.
also, “the smith” is supposed to have four floors of hotel at the corner of Atlantic & Smith. Now THAT’s a good location for tourists. Hell, I think the Greyline bus goes right by it.
Soon we will give them a run for their money. We are opening B&B on 5th ave. and 4th street,in a nice brickstone. Hopefully by the summer.
Stay tune.
The developers exceeded the height limit imposed on them by the BSA, but they were successful in obtaining approval for the final construction, nonetheless.
The variance granted by the BSA appears to precede subsequent denials of variance requests in the Gowanus area.
I used to park my car here; this used to be the cheapest lot in “Park Slope” – $125/month! But it was scary at night; once I found a ladies half-emptied purse on the sidewalk there and there are often drug dealers. I think this block needs to be cleaned up a lot more before it becomes a viable locale for tourists, unless one enjoys passing used car lots and warehouses (oh, and let’s not forget the bodegas on the corner for a late night snack!)
I do like the kicked-out spouse idea. That way, Daddy can still be close to his darlings who’ve stayed with Mommy in Park Slope, and he’ll also be closer to the other action that goes on around there (or further south as recently discussed).
But even for $50 a night will tourists put up with a subway ride to Times Square — or will they spend their savings on cabs? Or maybe the tour bus will pick them up every day. Yech.
If it underprices the outrageous rates of midtown and downtown hotels, budget tourists will be there.
Saving $50 a night on hotel will appeal to plenty of folks (as saving $2m on brownstone lured househunters from Village or UWS).
I think this is going to be more of an inlaw and “kicked out spouse” hotel than something for Manhattan tourists.
The Marriott has rooms available tonight, I just checked. That said, I think their rates have something to do with the lack of competition in the area — but I wouldn’t consider this in the area — if you’re staying at the Marriott for the courts or downtown, or even Wall St., this isn’t the same thing.
And tourists don’t know where one neighborhood ends and another begins — look at the Soho Suites Hotel on Rivington between the Bowery and Chrystie. But I just don’t see the attraction, from a tourist’s point of view, of Park Slope (this is a good thing!).
And, yes, I know how much of NYC’s economy depends on tourism, etc., etc., but I wouldn’t want to live around that part of the economy and luckily I don’t have to.