New York won the title ‘Capital of the World’. More than 50 million people visit it every year. Many hotels were built here due to the great popularity of this city. The highlight among local hotels is the New Yorker Hotel, a 43-story Art Deco building. Many tourists usually stay here for a few days to live in luxury apartments and learn more about this hotel. Read about how it was created and what secrets its history hides on newyork1.one.
Brief information about the New Yorker Hotel
Among all the hotels, the New Yorker is named after the city and is the most prestigious. Its name is visible from afar on the roof of the skyscraper so that tourists can stop here. The hotel is located in the Garment District between Fifth and Ninth Avenues. It is very easy to find. Several popular locations are nearby, such as Pennsylvania Station, Madison Square Garden, Times Square and the Empire State Building.
The hotel with an area of 93,000 m² offers tourists 900 rooms at an average price, services of 2 restaurants and conference halls. It was built in 1929. The official opening for guests took place on January 2, 1930.
History
The 20th century marked the beginning of large-scale construction of skyscrapers in New York. Many hotels were built here, which are still visited by millions of tourists. In 1938, when the city government announced a development plan for the Garment district, architect Henry Sugarman designed a 38-story building. There were already many residential and office buildings around, so he decided to make a hotel project. Like many other skyscrapers of the time, the design of the new hotel was not distinguished by bright colors. It had clear geometric shapes combined with curved and long horizontal lines. As a result, the project was approved by the management of the architecture company Sugarman and Berger.
When construction was completed in 1939, the New Yorker was increased to 43 stories. The total cost of all expenses was $22.5 million. In addition to hundreds of guest rooms, several restaurants employed 35 chefs. The hair salon was one of the largest in the world with 42 places and twenty manicurists. In addition, 92 telephone operators, 150 laundresses and others worked there. This hotel was recognized as the best and largest hotel in New York for many years after its opening.
The large parameters of the building and the huge range of services quickly made the New Yorker Hotel famous. In the 1940s and 1950s, it became a popular residence for public and wealthy personalities, including actor Spencer Tracy, actress Joan Crawford, politician Fidel Castro, musicians Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey and many others.
However, in the late 1960s, the appearance of more modern hotels reduced the number of guests in this socio-cultural institution. Various proposals for the future use of the New Yorker building were considered. Later, its owners changed several times.
The hotel was reopened in 1994. The new owners were representatives of the religious community of the Unification Church. They decided to rent the part of the building to tourists once again.
Major repairs were completed in 1999. Later, the building was renovated again. According to the new reconstruction project, the number of guest rooms was increased from 178 to 912. The hotel also installed Wi-Fi, LCD TVs and modern air conditioning systems. They also changed the interior of the guest rooms, lobby, conference halls and other premises. Thanks to this, the New Yorker Hotel is popular among guests again. Since then, it has been regularly visited by tourists from all over the world, as well as by politicians, musicians, actors and other public figures who visit New York.
Secrets of the New Yorker Hotel
- Many celebrities visited this hotel. However, few people know that for 10 years, Nikola Tesla, the American inventor and author of more than 700 patents and innovations, including the electric motor, often stayed here. He called room numbers 3327 and 3328 his home. One of them is small with a great view of New York and the other is bigger. Nikola stayed in one of them during business trips. In 1943, the life of the legendary inventor ended here. Nikola died in this hotel when he was 87 years old.
- About 500 service personnel work here. However, in the first years of the hotel’s existence, there were more of them. They served several thousand guests from different countries of the world every day.
- After the construction of the hotel, it was equipped with the latest technology of the 20th century. Every room at the New Yorker Hotel had TVs and radios. At that time, they were a luxury for Americans. Thanks to this, the hotel quickly became popular. Later, other technological innovations appeared, for example, the Internet and air conditioning.
- In 1930, rooms at the city’s most popular New Yorker hotel cost $3.50. To attract more visitors, they were offered to book rooms using the promotion. Thus, once could stay in this hotel for 2 nights for $5.95. The number of guests constantly increased.
- There is a private power plant on the territory of the hotel. It was established in 1929. Later, direct current generators located near the hotel were used during the 1965 mass blackout. By the late 1960s, the power system in the New Yorker building had been improved.
- There are basements on 3 levels under the foundation of the hotel. The kitchen, laundry, bank vault, power station and elevator shafts are located there.
- There are tunnels in the basements. One of them leads to Penn Station. Since the 1960s, the passage has been blocked by a concrete wall. The hotel also has a closed access to the roof.