Brooklyn’s First Boutique Hotel Goes Green in Boerum Hill
Stephen Del Percio
Hersha Hospitality’s Nu Hotel, which opened earlier this month, is Brooklyn’s first boutique hotel. Located at 95 Smith Street, the 93-unit property is Hersha’s third hotel after the Duane Street Hotel in Tribeca and Philly’s Independent. Although it’s unclear whether the hotel will seek any LEED or other third-party green building certification, it does offer various eco-friendly features, ranging from organic bedding to custom furnishings crafted from sustainably harvested and FSC-certified teak wood, as well as cork flooring in each guest room. The hotel offers rooms in three configurations- the Nu Standard, the Nu Friends, and the Nu Urban. Nu Friends suites come with modular furniture and bunkbeds that adapt for families while the Nu Urban suites feature spacious leather furniture and, yes, hammocks. Hersha is also offering bike rentals and storage for guests that are serious about their carbon footprint.
Next door, Boymelgreen Developers is looking for retail tenants for The Smith, as residents there begin to move in. The condo building is offering three different retail options ranging from 931 to 7800 square feet. A&I Broadway Realty, which is representing Boymelgreen, is consider all types of retail uses, but the Brooklyn Eagle reports that a restaurant might be the best fit for the space at 75 Smith Street because the Nu Hotel only offers a lounge. A&I’s Elliot Bogod told the Eagle that “[t]he synergy created by the appeal of a brand new hotel is a serious asset for any kind of retail.” While that’s true, perhaps we’ll see a retailer move into the space aiming to capture business from eco-minded tourists that may choose the Nu based upon its green features.
