Hotel Bossert
{{Short description|Hotel in Brooklyn, New York}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox hotel
| hotel_name = Bossert
| image = WSTM Zefferus 0126.jpg
| caption =
| location = Brooklyn, New York City
| address = 98 Montague Street
| coordinates = {{coord|40|41|41.5|N|73|59|45|W|region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
| opening_date =
| stars =
| diamonds =
| closing_date =
| developer = Louis Bossert
| architect = Helmle & Huberty
| operator =
| owner = SomeraRoad
| number_of_restaurants =
| number_of_rooms =
| number_of_suites = 224
| floor_area =
| floors = 14
| parking =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
The Hotel Bossert is a former hotel in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. Opened in 1909, it was bought by the Jehovah's Witnesses in 1983 and used by them until 2012, when it was sold for conversion back to a hotel. The conversion work has stalled multiple times since then and the hotel has remained vacant. It is owned by SomeraRoad, which plans to convert the building into residences, {{As of|2025|lc=y}}.
The Bossert was once known as "the Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn". It was the site of the celebration of the Brooklyn Dodgers' only World Series championship.{{Cite news |last=Ramirez |first=Anthony |date=2008-01-30 |title=Hotel Where Dodgers Celebrated a Title Is Up for Sale |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/nyregion/30hotel.html |access-date=2025-05-26 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web |last=Chaban |first=Matt |date=August 13, 2012 |title=Inside the New-Old Bossert Hotel, Former Home to Dodgers and Jehovahs Witnesses |url=https://observer.com/2012/08/inside-the-new-old-bossert-hotel-former-home-to-dodgers-and-jehovahs-witnesses/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Observer}}
Early years
File:Hotel Bossert Hicks Montague jeh.jpg
The hotel was built in 1909 by Louis Bossert, a Brooklyn lumber magnate, at 98 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. It had an Italian Renaissance Revival-style exterior. It was designed as an apartment hotel{{cite news |first=Linda |last=Collins |date=January 29, 2008 |url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/categories/category.php?category_id=5&id=18146 |title=Brooklyn's Fabled Hotel Bossert on Market; Watchtower Seeking Bids |work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle |access-date=February 5, 2008}} and originally had 375 hotel rooms.{{cite web |last=Hogarty |first=Dave |date=May 8, 2012 |title=Brooklyn Heights' Famed Hotel Bossert Returning to Origins? |url=https://ny.curbed.com/2012/5/8/10373224/brooklyn-heights-famed-hotel-bossert-returning-to-origins |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Curbed NY}} The architects were Helmle & Huberty.{{cite book |title=Building: An Architectural Monthly, Volume 42 |date=December 1, 1909 |page=106 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EWeKQeo25t8C&pg=PA106 |access-date=December 6, 2022}}
During the 1920s, the Hotel Bossert was known for its Marine Roof, a two-level restaurant on the roof of the 14-story building that provided diners with a commanding view of Manhattan. Popular bandleader Freddy Martin initially gained popularity through a lengthy stint performing at the Marine Roof in the early 1930s. Some of his earliest commercial recordings, which pioneered the 'tenor band' style of sweet dance music, were credited only as the 'Hotel Bossert Orchestra'.
The hotel drew some attention in November 1945, when Charles Armijo Woodruff, the 11th Governor of American Samoa, committed suicide by hanging himself in his room there.{{cite news|title=Ship Captain Ends Life: Despondent, He Hangs Himself in Room in a Brooklyn Hotel|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 24, 1945|agency=The New York Times Company|location=New York City|page=21}} Just one month later, former Congressman Thomas F. Magner also died in the hotel.{{cite news|title=Thomas F. Magner, 85, Ex-Congressman, Dies|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 23, 1945|agency=The New York Times Company|location=New York City|page=17}}
In the 1950s, the Bossert was the home of several Brooklyn Dodger players. Following the Brooklyn Dodgers' win over the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series, Dodgers fans gathered in the Bossert lobby and serenaded Dodgers' manager Walter Alston with "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow".
Purchase by Watchtower and restoration
In 1983, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York began leasing space in the Bossert for use by Jehovah's Witnesses. The Society bought the hotel in 1988. It required extensive restoration according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission standards for the historic district. The famed Marine Roof had collapsed, and a new roof had to be built. Also, the lobby was in poor condition, and over {{convert|2500|sqft|m2}} of the marble had to be replaced. Watchtower went to the original quarry to replace it. That effort garnered praise and awards.Buiso, Gary (February 1, 2008), [http://www.brooklynheightscourier.com/site/tab8.cfm?newsid=19261436&BRD=2384&PAG=461&dept_id=552854&rfi=6 "Jehovah's Witnesses to sell Bossert Hotel"]{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Brooklyn Heights Courier. Retrieved on February 5, 2008 [https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/bethel/bossert-hotel/ Checkout Time at the Bossert Hotel] Jw.org
In late January 2008, the Society announced it would sell the building. The sale was conducted through a private-bidding process, which took nearly five years. One local realtor (Arlene Waye of Awaye Realty) estimated that the building would sell for about $100 million. Judi Stanton, the president of the Brooklyn Heights Association, remarked that “The Witnesses have done an exquisite job in maintaining the building." Timothy King, a senior partner at Massey Knakal Realty Services Brooklyn, agreed calling the hotel "one of the most unique and most well-maintained trophy assets in Brooklyn." He continued, "The Watchtower organization is well known for impeccable maintenance standards and the Bossert reflects this level of care. It will be a challenge for a new owner to run the building with the same level of care and attention to detail." At the time, there were 224 apartments.
Bistricer and Chetrit ownership
In August 2012, the Bossert was sold for $81 million to David Bistricer of Clipper Equity and Joseph Chetrit of the Chetrit Group.{{cite web |last=Kussin |first=Zachary |date=November 12, 2012 |title=Chetrit, Bistricer pay $81 million for Brooklyn’s Bossert Hotel |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2012/11/12/chetrit-bistricer-pay-81-million-for-brooklyns-bossert-hotel/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=The Real Deal}} After the sale was finalized that November,{{cite web |last=Corcoran |first=Cate |date=November 13, 2012 |title=Hotel Bossert Deal Closes, Summer Opening Set |url=https://www.brownstoner.com/history/hotel-bossert-deal-closes-summer-opening-set/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Brownstoner}} the new owners planned to turn it into a boutique hotel with 302 rooms.{{cite web |date=May 16, 2012 |title=Bossert sold, will reconvert to 302-room transient hotel |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2012/05/16/bossert-sold-will-reconvert-to-302-room-transient-hotel/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Brooklyn Eagle}}{{Cite news |last=Rosenblum |first=Constance |date=2012-10-19 |title=Luxury Brooklyn Condos, Some Cloaked in Tradition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/realestate/in-brooklyn-heights-brownstone-area-welcomes-luxury-projects.html |access-date=2025-05-26 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Although Bistricer and Chetrit did begin renovating the property,{{cite web |date=March 18, 2014 |title=FIRST LOOK: Inside the Bossert Hotel renovation • Brooklyn Paper |url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/first-look-inside-the-bossert-hotel-renovation/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Brooklyn Paper}} multiple announced opening dates have come and gone since then. By 2019, the hotel had five residents remaining, all of whom were occupying rent-stabilized apartments.{{cite web |last=Tsoulis-Reay |first=Alexa |date=June 16, 2019 |title=The Last Residents of the Hotel Bossert |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/06/the-last-residents-of-the-hotel-bossert-in-brooklyn.html |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Intelligencer}} That year, Chetrit became the exclusive owner after buying out Bistricer's stake.{{cite web |last=Rizzi |first=Nicholas |date=February 14, 2025 |title=Beach Point Acquires Hotel Bossert in Auction With $999K Credit Bid |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2025/02/beach-point-hotel-bossert-chetrit-group/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Commercial Observer}} Cantor Commercial Real Estate also lent Chetrit $112 million in 2019, and Wells Fargo took over the loan the next year.{{cite web |last=Cryan |first=Elizabeth |date=January 20, 2024 |title=Chetrit’s historic Brooklyn hotel heads to auction |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/01/19/foreclosure-auction-on-tap-for-chetri-groups-hotel-bossert/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=The Real Deal}}{{cite web |last=Cunningham |first=Cathy |date=February 10, 2023 |title=Schrager and Scheetz Stepping in at Chetrit’s Bossert Hotel |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2023/02/ian-schrager-ed-scheetz-chetrit-group-bossert-hotel-brooklyn/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Commercial Observer}}
In May 2022, it was reported that the structure faced foreclosure,{{cite web |date=May 8, 2022 |title=Brooklyn's iconic Bossert Hotel facing foreclosure |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2022/05/08/brooklyns-iconic-bossert-hotel-on-verge-of-foreclosure/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=The Real Deal}}{{cite web |date=April 15, 2022 |title=$112M pre-foreclosure filed on Chetrit's Hotel Bossert |url=https://www.pincusco.com/112m-pre-foreclosure-filed-on-chetrits-hotel-bossert/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=PincusCo}} after the Chetrit Group defaulted on a $112 million mortgage. In September 2022, it was reported that the vacant hotel had been foreclosed and would be auctioned.{{cite web | url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2022/09/13/bossert-hotel-heads-to-auction/ | title=Bossert Hotel heads to auction | date=September 13, 2022 |last=Geberer |first=Raanan |work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle}} In March 2023, it was reported that the scaffolding that had covered the hotel's lower facade for two and a half years, had been removed.{{cite web |last=Napack |first=Ella |date=March 13, 2023 |title=A new (and brighter) day may be dawning for Brooklyn’s Hotel Bossert |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2023/03/12/a-new-and-brighter-day-may-be-dawning-for-brooklyns-hotel-bossert/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Brooklyn Eagle}} It was also reported that hoteliers Ian Schrager and Ed Scheetz were seeking to partner with the Chetrit Group to reopen the hotel as part of their Public Hotels chain. This plan would have involved adding 78 rooms, in addition to a bar and restaurant. At the time, the hotel had 282 rooms. Schrager and Scheetz's plan ultimately fell through.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Sasha |last2=City |first2=New York |date=February 7, 2025 |title=Auction Scheduled For Brooklyn's Hotel Bossert |url=https://www.bisnow.com/new-york/news/capital-markets/auction-scheduled-for-brooklyns-hotel-bossert-chetrit-group-127948 |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Bisnow}}
As of February 2024, the vacant building had $177 million of debt and was scheduled to be sold at auction.{{Cite web |last=Cryan |first=Elizabeth |date=2025-02-06 |title=Chetrit’s historic Brooklyn hotel may be headed to auction block |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2025/02/06/chetrit-groups-historic-brooklyn-hotel-headed-back-to-auction-block/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=The Real Deal |language=en}} Beach Point Capital Management acquired the $112 million mortgage that May.{{cite web |last=Hallum |first=Mark |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Beach Point Buys $112M Note on Chetrit Group’s Hotel Bossert |url=https://commercialobserver.com/2024/05/beach-point-buys-112m-note-on-chetrit-groups-hotel-bossert/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Commercial Observer}}{{Cite web |last=Cryan |first=Elizabeth |date=2024-05-16 |title=New hope for Chetrit's Hotel Bossert |url=https://therealdeal.com/new-york/2024/05/16/theres-new-hope-for-chetrits-hotel-bossert/ |access-date=2024-10-01 |website=The Real Deal |language=en}} An auction for the Hotel Bossert was scheduled for February 2025,{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=C. J. |date=February 12, 2025 |title=Chetrit Group’s Hotel Bossert headed to auction Thursday |url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/chetrit-groups-hotel-bossert-headed-auction-thursday-feb-13-2025 |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Crain's New York Business}} and the only bidder, Beach Point, acquired it the same month after submitting a $999,000 bid.{{cite web |date=February 14, 2025 |title=Bossert auction yields one taker, as Beach Point acquires historic hotel for $120M credit bid |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2025/02/14/bossert-auction-beach-point-120m-credit-bid/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Brooklyn Eagle}} In May 2025, SomeraRoad acquired the Bossert with the intention of turning it into apartments.{{cite web |date=May 23, 2025 |title=New, hopeful development firm closes on the historic Hotel Bossert |url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2025/05/23/new-hopeful-development-firm-closes-on-the-historic-hotel-bossert/ |access-date=May 26, 2025 |website=Brooklyn Eagle}}
Notable people
Barbara Cooney was born in the hotel, which was built by her maternal grandfather.{{cite news|last1=Lipson|first1=Eden|title=Barbara Cooney, 83, Children's Book Creator|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/15/books/barbara-cooney-83-children-s-book-creator.html|accessdate=October 6, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=March 15, 2000}}