For years the neighborhood has been watching the slow progress of The Bossert Hotel renovation. At times it has seemed the work was being carried by Ooompa Loompas. Finally, The Eagle’s Lore Croghan got the scoop on the status of the re-do and confirmed a “soft opening” for August.
This week, New York Magazine begged the question, “What’s it like to live in a nearly abandoned building?” Only five rent-stabilized tenants (and one parrot) reside at The Bossert. There’s a 88-year old Daisy and her daughter Elana, 91-year old Monica-English ex-pat, an un-named elderly gentleman and lastly, Julian who arrived arrived as a student from Hong Kong in 1981.
The piece is a heart-warming read with an element of “only in New York.” When the property was owned by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Daisy felt they were good neighbors and gave the hotel “a sense of community.” Monica described living at The Bossert as “an adventure.” General Manager, Aliya Huey believes the holdouts are a part of the hotel’s history, “We embrace them…We will live around them. They will live around us.”
