June 4, 2007
Bryant Park Gets City's First Five-Star Green Hotel
New York City (and Mayor Bloomberg’s 2030 strategists) now can breathe a sigh of relief: Gotham is getting its first luxury green hotel.
Starwood Capital Group today announced in a press release that a “1” hotel will be replacing a parking lot on West 40th St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues, across from Bryant Park. The building, which will comply with LEED standards, will be a 31-story mixed-use tower that, in addition to the 100,000 square feet of hotel space, will also feature about 86,000 square feet of, yes, condos and vaguely-described “dining concepts” by restaurateur Stephen Hanson of Blue Water Grill fame. It is being designed by Morris Adjmi, the architect for 450 West 14th, or Andre Balazs new High Line hotel. Starwood is partnering with 40th Street Development, a principal of Ascent Real Estate Advisors, a real estate investment management and advisory firm.
Features in the new hotel include the typical green building details: recycled and locally procured building materials, Energy Star appliances, occupancy sensors and lighting control systems that minimize energy use, low or minimal VOC emissions, renewables such as wind, hydro and biomass for half the power usage and reduced potable water use.
And, er, one percent of the hotel’s profits will be donated to local environmental organizations, a process that will be guided by a steering committee with Natural Resources Defense Council representation.
Like dozens of Manhattan hotels in development, “1” is scheduled to open in 2010.
Photo via Clearrants Flickr.
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That is a very small parking lot.
Recently released survey stats found that NY ranks 46th best of the US 50 states for carbon footprints. We beat out California, who ranks in the top 3, along with Texas (the worst at #1) and Pennsylvania. FYI - There have been two floors of all green suites at Doubletree Guest Suites-Times Square for more than 10 years (saw it on CNN), and the city's largest hotel, the Hilton New York, just installed an eco-friendly fuel cell power system. No combustion, less use of the city's grid power, like removing nearly 250 cars from the streets every year.
that picture is awesome!