Inside NYC's famed Chelsea Hotel

I lived there from 1965 until 1970. I lived on the second floor until I found out the eighth floor was cheaper. It was hotter in the summer (no air conditioning) and it took longer for the heat and hot water to get to the eighth floor. Virgil Thompson lived across the hall from me. We remained best friends until his death. Long live the Chelsea Hotel!

The only reason for its legendary creative space, was due to it being dirt cheap near the cultural scenes. Now its gentrified luxury rooms, the creativity there, will only be the ghosts of the past

Being made into a boutique hotel… sigh gone are the days when humble art students could pool their cash to go and stay for a few days as we did in the 80’s…

In the '80s the hotel had a faded feel, a touch of a dump. I hope the hotel doesn't stray in the other direction, too far in "boutique" territory, which could well happen. Over the past few decades it seems everything in NYC has been scrubbed up, made glossy and kid-friendly and affordable for only the rich. It's heartening to see that longtime tenants will still be living there, and dolling up their apartments to suit their very eclectic tastes.

I'm so glad they are restoring it. Decades ago, I used to be treated at a small dental office there. The dentist did not charge much and had an enormous collection of plants, it was like a green house. The building was grungy then, but you could still see regal Victorian bones!

Turning it into a “boutique hotel”, translation: rooms were $300.00, now they’ll be $1,000.00.

Enjoyed working there BEFORE it became a hotel now. I was a Front Desk Agent and it was operating as a ‘Private Residential building’. Many ups and downs BUT it build character for me. Was there during the end of the construction phase. I’m glad it’s up and running. Met some cool staff members while I was working there. Had to leave unfortunately because I’ve got word that ownership was bringing in their own people (Staff Members from other Hotels) to work the concierge/front desk and those that were there previously would be cut OR become demoted to much smaller roles. I had to make a decision on August 2021 and glad that I did. Those that were there when I was there, 97% of them are gone. Miss the residents. Man Lai, Gerald D, Weinsteins, Mr Bill and his family and everyone I forgot to mention.

As Americans living in Argentina my family stayed at the Chelsea on 3-4 occasions for a month at a time while my father worked in New York. It has obviously changed a lot but it was a great place as it was easy to access the subways, walk to Macys. The staircase has not changed and that was memorable. I remember the Deli that was next door as we got many snacks and meals there during our stay. My aunt who lived across the street found the Chelsea for us and it was a great adventure for 6 kids .

" I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel You were famous, your heart was a legend You told me again you preferred handsome men But for me you would make an exception…" - Leonard Cohen

One day back around 2008 I was walking around NYC and decided to check out the hotel. And it was very interesting inside. I took a lot of pictures that I still have. 😊😊😊 so much history.

This makes me so sad. That's not the Chelsea. The Chelsea was starving artists, junkies, prostitutes, and insane drag queens that would make people run in absolute terror. THAT what made the Chelsea so storied and iconic. That was its charm. Few people lived there at the height of their success and more of them didn't even find success until they were gone entirely. You can't scrub this place up, charge $400 a night, and expect it to retain any of its identity. Not even a shred.

If your trying to "let it be what it always was", you wouldn't be turning it into a pricey boutique hotel that the average person would have to sell a kidney to be able to stay at.

That one gentleman's apartment is just incredible!

I’ve always experienced negative energy when I’m there or waking by 🤷‍♂️

They are “sanitizing” the space by making it into a luxury boutique hotel (aka an expensive, inauthentic experience for the rich). I’m so tired of this. We’re losing sacred spaces by the day, especially in NYC. Once you scrub out the “soul” of a place, no amount of money gets it back. These developers could use their money, power, and privilege to make the world better; but they’d rather squeeze out every last dollar instead. The only thing keeping spaces “pure” is dedicated citizens who fight the good fight💪🏾

A portion of " An American Family" was filmed there. The episode when Lance Loud was residing there and his mother Pat visited him.

Do you think now that it's an expensive boutique hotel it will attract young artists from around the world like in the past? Of course not. That chapter of the famed Chelsea Hotel is gone

It wasn't super cheap. I had a friend who lived there in the early '80s who paid close to $1000/month for a studio apartment. My tenament apartment, by contrast, was $400. But she had a fireplace, an elevator and Stanley.

Stayed there for a few days 40 years ago...Glad I had the opportunity.

Beautiful hotel! I love these old vintage hotels there's still a few around. They just don't build them like this anymore😁✌