Revealed: Harlem's W Condo-Hotel in All its Terrifying Glory

Monday, September 24, 2007, by Joey

Harlem, buckle up, this one may hurt a little. The above rendering popped up on a real estate developer's website and was passed on by a tipster. The site is Frederick Douglas Boulevard and 124th Street, long rumored to become a new hotel in Starwood's empire. Indeed, the description pegs it as an Aloft condo-hotel, part of the W brand, but here's where we went wrong. The carriage house at 264 West 124th Street that was converted to lofts sits in the middle of the lot, and we assumed the smaller chunk of land next to the carriage house would become a hotel parking lot of sorts. Wrong! They're building this sucker around the carriage house. Holy shit, look at that thing! Part of us thinks this is a parody—perhaps the work of Riviera Real Estate, but yeesh. To those who wanted their Harlem gentrified, woo boy, did you get it.
· 2300 Frederick Douglas Blvd. Hotel and Residences by W-"A Loft" [Shuster]
· Destructoporn Light: Harlem's Future W Hotel? [Curbed]

Filed under Architecture, Hotels, Manhattan: Harlem/Morningside Heights, Real Estate Development, Top,

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Comments (23 extant)

Beyond epic.

By Anonymous at September 24, 2007 5:22 PM

speaking of harlem

long live Ahmadinejad!!!

By dont believe da hypeness at September 24, 2007 5:33 PM

awful

By Anonymous at September 24, 2007 5:55 PM

Well think of it this way... you can get AND do your drugs in the cab ride TO meatpacking... convenience!

By HmmConvenient at September 24, 2007 9:35 PM

I like it. Maintains the street wall.

By Downtown Lad at September 24, 2007 10:44 PM

Speaking of 'don't believe da hypeness'

Short life- hopefully today you'll meet your end.

By Anonymous at September 25, 2007 6:05 AM

If you're sooooo unhappy #2 (and you sound reaaaaly unhappy), then just move to Iran.

I'll pay for your first class one way ticket personally!

By chicareena at September 25, 2007 8:44 AM

It's nice that they're keeping the carriage house. It adds an interesting element to the building.

By Oldmark at September 25, 2007 9:19 AM

#7: We don't want this shit in Iran either.

By Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at September 25, 2007 9:19 AM

10.

sounds great,

remember there are no gays in Saudi Arabia either!

dont remember any news of gay parades in Pakistan?

how about iraq?

By dont believe da hypeness at September 25, 2007 10:37 AM

11.

who's the architect?

By anon at September 25, 2007 11:11 AM

12.

no problem here - bring it on.

By anon at September 25, 2007 12:48 PM

13.

the sh!t looks horrible.

By Harlemite at September 25, 2007 1:00 PM

14.

This is beautiful. In fact anything that goes up now in Harlem and replaces trashed filled parking lots are completely welcomed. (except of course - more Projects...)

By GoColumbiaGo at September 25, 2007 1:22 PM

15.

I recommend leaving comments on the developer's 'contact' form, to let them know that this kind of mediocre development is not good for Harlem, New York, or them and their clients (Starwood).

By Anonymous at September 25, 2007 1:34 PM

16.

I say bring it on! That block needed some help and it arrived big time!

By Anonymous at September 25, 2007 3:18 PM

17.

#15 - I recommend that you shut up.

By Anonymous at September 25, 2007 3:28 PM

18.

ummm where is harlem again??? cause i'm confused... that building looks ridiculous.

By brownskin at September 28, 2007 8:18 PM

19.

This building is a freakin' Gigantor! I can see that contextual architecture is so last century.

By Scared by overmass at October 2, 2007 11:57 AM

20.

I don't understand the negative tone on this site. "Brace yourself for this one" as if its so terrible. It doesn't look great, but its not that bad either. Why the tendency to dichotomize everything? There's a middle ground that includes... most buildings.

By Jake F at October 4, 2007 10:04 AM

21.

Harlem needs something modern...old navy and blockbuster don't count...plus, a new hotel has not been built in harlem in over a hundred years...bring it on...we also need a Whole Foods, trader joe's and a good bookstore...

By harlem res at November 1, 2007 2:17 PM

22.

FYI - it's NOT a W hotel - I worked on the Aloft Project from conception and it is hip and cool but more along the lines of Four Points by SHeraton...so don't get your hopes up too high...everything is being manufactured in China!

By harlem res at November 1, 2007 2:21 PM

23.

When does construction start on this project? I am hopeful that it happens, but pessimistic since rumors like this seem all too familiar in harlem. I think the area is in desperate need for more upscale amenities/nightlife and this would be a welcome addition.

By construction at November 6, 2007 3:25 PM