Hotel Bossert
| Bossert | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Brooklyn, New York City |
| Address | 98 Montague Street |
| Coordinates | 40°41′41.5″N 73°59′45″W / 40.694861°N 73.99583°W |
| Owner | SomeraRoad |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 14 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Helmle & Huberty |
| Developer | Louis Bossert |
| Other information | |
| Number of suites | 224 |
The Hotel Bossert is a former hotel in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. Opened in 1909, it was bought by the Jehovah's Witnesses in 1983 and used by them until 2012, when it was sold for conversion back to a hotel. The conversion work has stalled multiple times since then and the hotel has remained vacant. It is owned by SomeraRoad, which plans to convert the building into residences, as of 2025[update].
The Bossert was once known as "the Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn". It was the site of the celebration of the Brooklyn Dodgers' only World Series championship.[1][2]
Early years
[edit]
The hotel was built in 1909 by Louis Bossert, a Brooklyn lumber magnate, at 98 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. It had an Italian Renaissance Revival-style exterior.[1] It was designed as an apartment hotel[3] and originally had 375 hotel rooms.[4] The architects were Helmle & Huberty.[5]
During the 1920s, the Hotel Bossert was known for its Marine Roof, a two-level restaurant on the roof of the 14-story building that provided diners with a commanding view of Manhattan.[1] Popular bandleader Freddy Martin initially gained popularity through a lengthy stint performing at the Marine Roof in the early 1930s. Some of his earliest commercial recordings, which pioneered the 'tenor band' style of sweet dance music, were credited only as the 'Hotel Bossert Orchestra'.
The hotel drew some attention in November 1945, when Charles Armijo Woodruff, the 11th Governor of American Samoa, committed suicide by hanging himself in his room there.[6] Just one month later, former Congressman Thomas F. Magner also died in the hotel.[7]
In the 1950s, the Bossert was the home of several Brooklyn Dodger players.[3] Following the Brooklyn Dodgers' win over the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series, Dodgers fans gathered in the Bossert lobby and serenaded Dodgers' manager Walter Alston with "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow".[1]
Purchase by Watchtower and restoration
[edit]In 1983, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York began leasing space in the Bossert for use by Jehovah's Witnesses. The Society bought the hotel in 1988. It required extensive restoration according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission standards for the historic district. The famed Marine Roof had collapsed, and a new roof had to be built. Also, the lobby was in poor condition, and over 2,500 square feet (230 m2) of the marble had to be replaced. Watchtower went to the original quarry to replace it.[3] That effort garnered praise and awards.[8] [9]
In late January 2008, the Society announced it would sell the building.[1] The sale was conducted through a private-bidding process, which took nearly five years.[8] One local realtor (Arlene Waye of Awaye Realty) estimated that the building would sell for about $100 million.[3] Judi Stanton, the president of the Brooklyn Heights Association, remarked that “The Witnesses have done an exquisite job in maintaining the building."[8] Timothy King, a senior partner at Massey Knakal Realty Services Brooklyn, agreed calling the hotel "one of the most unique and most well-maintained trophy assets in Brooklyn." He continued, "The Watchtower organization is well known for impeccable maintenance standards and the Bossert reflects this level of care. It will be a challenge for a new owner to run the building with the same level of care and attention to detail."[3] At the time, there were 224 apartments.[4]
Bistricer and Chetrit ownership
[edit]In August 2012, the Bossert was sold for $81 million to David Bistricer of Clipper Equity and Joseph Chetrit of the Chetrit Group.[10] After the sale was finalized that November,[10][11] the new owners planned to turn it into a boutique hotel with 302 rooms.[12][13] Although Bistricer and Chetrit did begin renovating the property,[2][14] multiple announced opening dates have come and gone since then. By 2019, the hotel had five residents remaining, all of whom were occupying rent-stabilized apartments.[15] That year, Chetrit became the exclusive owner after buying out Bistricer's stake.[16] Cantor Commercial Real Estate also lent Chetrit $112 million in 2019, and Wells Fargo took over the loan the next year.[17][18]
In May 2022, it was reported that the structure faced foreclosure,[19][20] after the Chetrit Group defaulted on a $112 million mortgage. In September 2022, it was reported that the vacant hotel had been foreclosed and would be auctioned.[21] In March 2023, it was reported that the scaffolding that had covered the hotel's lower facade for two and a half years, had been removed.[22] It was also reported that hoteliers Ian Schrager and Ed Scheetz were seeking to partner with the Chetrit Group to reopen the hotel as part of their Public Hotels chain.[22][18] This plan would have involved adding 78 rooms, in addition to a bar and restaurant.[16] At the time, the hotel had 282 rooms.[18] Schrager and Scheetz's plan ultimately fell through.[23]
As of February 2024, the vacant building had $177 million of debt and was scheduled to be sold at auction.[24] Beach Point Capital Management acquired the $112 million mortgage that May.[25][26] An auction for the Hotel Bossert was scheduled for February 2025,[23][27] and the only bidder, Beach Point, acquired it the same month after submitting a $999,000 bid.[16][28] In May 2025, SomeraRoad acquired the Bossert with the intention of turning it into apartments.[29]
Notable people
[edit]Barbara Cooney was born in the hotel, which was built by her maternal grandfather.[30]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Ramirez, Anthony (January 30, 2008). "Hotel Where Dodgers Celebrated a Title Is Up for Sale". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b Chaban, Matt (August 13, 2012). "Inside the New-Old Bossert Hotel, Former Home to Dodgers and Jehovahs Witnesses". Observer. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Collins, Linda (January 29, 2008). "Brooklyn's Fabled Hotel Bossert on Market; Watchtower Seeking Bids". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Retrieved February 5, 2008.
- ^ a b Hogarty, Dave (May 8, 2012). "Brooklyn Heights' Famed Hotel Bossert Returning to Origins?". Curbed NY. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Building: An Architectural Monthly, Volume 42. December 1, 1909. p. 106. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ "Ship Captain Ends Life: Despondent, He Hangs Himself in Room in a Brooklyn Hotel". The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. November 24, 1945. p. 21.
- ^ "Thomas F. Magner, 85, Ex-Congressman, Dies". The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. December 23, 1945. p. 17.
- ^ a b c Buiso, Gary (February 1, 2008), "Jehovah's Witnesses to sell Bossert Hotel"[permanent dead link] Brooklyn Heights Courier. Retrieved on February 5, 2008
- ^ Checkout Time at the Bossert Hotel Jw.org
- ^ a b Kussin, Zachary (November 12, 2012). "Chetrit, Bistricer pay $81 million for Brooklyn's Bossert Hotel". The Real Deal. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Corcoran, Cate (November 13, 2012). "Hotel Bossert Deal Closes, Summer Opening Set". Brownstoner. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Bossert sold, will reconvert to 302-room transient hotel". Brooklyn Eagle. May 16, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Rosenblum, Constance (October 19, 2012). "Luxury Brooklyn Condos, Some Cloaked in Tradition". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "FIRST LOOK: Inside the Bossert Hotel renovation • Brooklyn Paper". Brooklyn Paper. March 18, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Tsoulis-Reay, Alexa (June 16, 2019). "The Last Residents of the Hotel Bossert". Intelligencer. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c Rizzi, Nicholas (February 14, 2025). "Beach Point Acquires Hotel Bossert in Auction With $999K Credit Bid". Commercial Observer. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Cryan, Elizabeth (January 20, 2024). "Chetrit's historic Brooklyn hotel heads to auction". The Real Deal. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b c Cunningham, Cathy (February 10, 2023). "Schrager and Scheetz Stepping in at Chetrit's Bossert Hotel". Commercial Observer. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Brooklyn's iconic Bossert Hotel facing foreclosure". The Real Deal. May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "$112M pre-foreclosure filed on Chetrit's Hotel Bossert". PincusCo. April 15, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Geberer, Raanan (September 13, 2022). "Bossert Hotel heads to auction". Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
- ^ a b Napack, Ella (March 13, 2023). "A new (and brighter) day may be dawning for Brooklyn's Hotel Bossert". Brooklyn Eagle. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ a b Jones, Sasha; City, New York (February 7, 2025). "Auction Scheduled For Brooklyn's Hotel Bossert". Bisnow. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Cryan, Elizabeth (February 6, 2025). "Chetrit's historic Brooklyn hotel may be headed to auction block". The Real Deal. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Hallum, Mark (May 9, 2024). "Beach Point Buys $112M Note on Chetrit Group's Hotel Bossert". Commercial Observer. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Cryan, Elizabeth (May 16, 2024). "New hope for Chetrit's Hotel Bossert". The Real Deal. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
- ^ Hughes, C. J. (February 12, 2025). "Chetrit Group's Hotel Bossert headed to auction Thursday". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "Bossert auction yields one taker, as Beach Point acquires historic hotel for $120M credit bid". Brooklyn Eagle. February 14, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ "New, hopeful development firm closes on the historic Hotel Bossert". Brooklyn Eagle. May 23, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
- ^ Lipson, Eden (March 15, 2000). "Barbara Cooney, 83, Children's Book Creator". The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2016.