
Schrager and 54 pal
The posh Chapin School is expanding at East End Avenue and 84th Street (their science labs weren’t nice enough, apparently). But Community Board 8 hasn’t been so pleased with the Chapinites: “I just wish the school, trying to teach citizenship to these young ladies,” said a board member, “would practice some citizenship itself by meeting with the neighbors.” Who cares about neighbors? A brief visit to the school’s website reveals, “Everyone at Chapin understands the importance of respect, consideration and good citizenship.”(The New York Times)
One would think a story titled “Jersey boy breaks into NYC club” would involve vodka-induced violence on West 24th Street. Instead, it’s a business profile of Steven Pozycki, who has become “the talk of real estate circles” thanks to his “trophy” purchase on 42nd Street. Congratulations, Jersey boy. (Crain’s)
How to classify Ian Schrager and Julian Schnabel’s $210 million makeover of the Gramercy Park Hotel? “Evocative, eccentric, eclectic, personal,” is the wrap-up from Travel+Leisure. (Later comparisons range from “bordello in Paris” to “Citizen Kane”). How about this all-telling fact instead: before its renovation, the hotel had 506 rooms–now it’s got 185. (Travel+Leisure)
First came FoxNews’ Greta in her $2.57 million penthouse. Now, a second penthouse at the glassy 1600 Broadway will be home to the $22,000-per-year Private Escapes Destination Club. But is Times Square either a private or pleasurable destination? Maybe so–because three other penthouses at 1600 belong to similar clubs. (New York Times)
Update: Tragically, the comment below is correct: Schnabel, not Philippe Starck, designed GPH… Thanks, Sean.
– Max Abelson