Developer garners support for 149th Street hotel project

By Steven Gnagni
Managing Editor

A project that would bring a 350-room hotel with a conference center, parking, and market-rate apartments is gathering support from local organizations and politicians, but still faces at least one major roadblock.

The Downtown Bronx Resurgence Corporation (DBRC) proposed the hotel, to be built on top of Metro North’s Hudson and Harlem lines, on Park Avenue between 144th and 149th streets. Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects created preliminary designs for the hotel. The architecture firm designed the Trump International Hotel and Tower on Columbus Circle and has worked on a range of projects, commercial and residential.

The idea, said Jesse Hamilton, President of the DBRC, came out of a need for space for two neighboring institutions: Hostos Community College and Lincoln Hospital. The hospital needs more administrative office space, and the college wants more classroom space. The building would also include residences for doctors and a hotel school for Hostos Community College.

In addition, there would be a 1,300 space parking lot, a 2,000 person conference center, a three story atrium, a rooftop restaurant, and a shopping center.

Mr. Hamilton explained that the hotel would take three to four years to build after the group gains all approvals. The property needs to be rezoned—it is currently considered a manufacturing site—and Mr. Hamilton needs to secure financing.

The main roadblock: Approval from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which runs Metro North. The MTA, which has air rights for the site, has blocked the project for years—Mr. Hamilton first proposed the hotel 20 years ago—and many think it will be difficult to get the MTA’s approval.

“I hope it’s a successful project, but the MTA has continually stonewalled him,” said Jim Fairbanks, chief of staff for Helen Foster, the city councilwoman who represents the 16th district. “We support him, but how you move the MTA, I don’t know.”

Despite his doubters, Mr. Hamilton remains positive.

“I think the MTA went through a change of leadership, and a change of mission,” he said. “Our discussions have been frank and open about what their concerns are.”

One possible way to convince the MTA: incorporate the MTA’s plan to create a Metro North stop near Yankee Stadium.

But Mr. Fairbanks said the location may not be close enough to the stadium.

“I don’t know—I would suppose that the closer you get to Yankee Stadium, the better you are,” he said.

Even so, Mr. Fairbanks does see the economic potential. “That project would be a major uplift to the Bronx economy,” he said. “If he needs us to do anything, he can call us and ask us.”