Green Hospitality

It seems like it's been quite a long time since we presented a new green high-rise project in the works here in Manhattan, but Steve Cuozzo reported earlier this week in the Post that Extell is planning on developing a 1000-foot-tall, 80-story hotel and condo tower at 151-161 West 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Cuozzo quotes an Extell spokesman as saying that "[n]o details have been finalized or resolved," but the project is expected seek an unspecified level of LEED certification and include close to 900,000 square feet of space, 370,000 of which would be devoted to the hotel and a parking garage. The tower would rise almost diagonally across the street from Carnegie Hall - the site is currently a hole in the ground - and the hotel would be a Park Hyatt. Cuozzo also reports that Extell is currently working with the city to hammer out zoning ordinances and landmark approvals, as the site sits adjacent to CAMI Hall at 163-165 W. 57th St. and Alwyn Court on West 58th. We'll obviously be following the project as more news about it - and its green features- emerges.

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.