BY DUSICA SUE MALESEVIC | The Temple Court at 5 Beekman St. is now expected to open early next year.
The hotel, originally slated to open this year on Oct. 31, is now planning to open Feb. 1, 2016, the hotel’s managing director Rob Andrews told Community Board 1’s Seaport Committee at their Tues., July 21 meeting.
There have been multiple reasons for the delay, including the complex nature of the landmark building, which was built in the early 1880s and has a tall interior atrium.
The main entrance for the 287-room hotel will be at 115 Nassau St. with a separate entry for the residences next door, he said. Two retail spaces, which have yet to be confirmed, will be located in each lobby, said Andrews.
While the hotel won’t open until early next year, people can start booking a room at the beginning of August, he said. The two restaurants — one by Tom Colicchio and another by Keith McNally — when open when the hotel does.
Andrews said people could start moving into the Beekman Residences in the second quarter of next year.
The 68 luxury residences, which start on the 17th floor of the 51-story tower, include 20 one-bedrooms, 38 two-bedrooms, eight three-bedrooms and two full-floor penthouses, according to a press release. One of the penthouses was listed for over $15 million, according to the release.
Another entrance will be on 5 Beekman St., which will be available for guests to use if they so chose. Everything else — such as trash, deliveries and moving furniture in and out for residents — will take place on Theatre Alley, said Andrews. Five Beekman almost covers the whole of Theatre Alley, he said.
“Talking about Theatre Alley, right now it’s in pretty bad shape,” said Catherine McVay Hughes, C.B. 1 chairperson. She wanted to know if the Beekman could improve its lighting and general condition.
Andrews said he would take that back to the owners and stressed that they wanted to make it safe and lit for their employees, who will also be using that entrance.
“That’s a top priority for this community to make sure that that particular alleyway is safe for everybody,” said Hughes.
In addition to alley concerns, nearby residents who have had to put up with construction since 2013 expressed some frustrations.
Committee member Fern Cunningham, who has lived at 140 Nassau St. for 15 years, said that in the past week, the street has improved a bit, “but it’s been pretty much awful.”
During the prime time in the morning when kids are off to school and people are rushing to the subway, foot traffic on Nassau would be stopped for the crane, she said. Retail across the street said that the construction was affecting their business.
“It just seemed like there wasn’t any thought into pedestrian traffic along that street,” she said.
Andrews said significant concrete work was currently going on, but when it finishes at the end of September there will be fewer road closures.
Marc Donnenfeld, a 140 Nassau St. resident, said that when construction began, the Beekman and its developers promised that they wanted to be part of the community. Once the project began, however, all doors and communication was shut, he said.
“You continually work after hours without a permit,” said Donnenfeld. “You ignore requests to stop making noises before work should start and after work should stop.”
He said there is a myriad of complaints to 311 from 140 and 145 Nassau St.
Andrews, who has been on the job for four and a half months, was amenable to meeting with the committee about concerns and problems.
“We’re part of the neighborhood,” said Andrews. “We want to talk to you.”
