LUXE VIEWS: These renderings suggest the Archer Hotel will lift the swank factor on the Midtown hostelry scene. (
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A somewhat mysterious, boutique luxury hotel is coming to a gritty West 38th Street block that has yet to shed its Garment Center feel.
The 21-story, 180-room Archer New York, from Wichita, Kan.-based Lodge Works, is rising at 45 W. 38th St., with plans to open in spring 2014.
Room rates will start at $350 a night — far above the $200 nightly norm at midpriced hotels common in the West 30s and 40s, typified by Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard by Marriott.
Privately held LodgeWorks has developed more than 120 hotels valued at over $2 billion nationwide, and is also developing a Hampton Inn in downtown Brooklyn. It bought the West 38th Street site in 2011 for $15.64 million.
LodgeWorks has close associations with a number of Hyatt Hotels Corp. brands, but Archer is described as an “independent boutique” property.
The company is coy as to what the name means. LodgeWorks Vice President Cheryl Gilliam said, “Archer is not just a hotel; it’s a personality, an eclectic way of being, a welcoming residence, if you will.”
Designed by Peter Poon Architects, the Archer is deeply set back from the street wall formed by the block’s weathered brick facades, some of which are still home to apparel wholesalers.
A stroll yesterday even found dresses being wheeled down sidewalks on old-time apparel racks.
The Archer’s exterior, shown on this page for the first time, clearly is meant to refer to the industrial motif of the former factories — especially in its brick-framed, mullioned windows.
The hotel will boast a “chef-driven” restaurant, rooftop bar and “residential- minded” rooms by Glen Coben of Glen & Co. Architecture. Glen & Co. has designed Manhattan restaurants including Del Posto and hotels including the Fashion 26.
The Archer will have four distinct room types, each with different sets of ottomans, draperies and other elements.
“There is an element of guestroom roulette as travelers will not know which of the four types they will get,” said Coben.
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At risk of sounding like a broken record, here’s another big move from Midtown to downtown:
The American Arbitration Association is leaving behind Paramount-owned 1633 Broadway for two other locations, the bulk of it at Larry Silverstein’s 120 Broadway.
The AAA just signed for a total of 104,688 square feet, of which 79, 688 are at 120 Broadway in three separate transactions — two direct leases totaling 53,514 square feet and the rest in a sublease from Banco Popular.
The organization also took 25,000 square feet in a direct deal at Hiro’s 150 E. 42nd St.
Jones Lang LaSalle’s Chris Kraus, who represented the AAA with Brian Higgins, wouldn’t say what the arbitration angels were paying downtown, but said, “The move was driven by price.” Online databases list asking rents in the low-high $30s per square foot at 120 Broadway for most floors.
Asking rents at 1633 Broadway run to twice that range.
The nonprofit AAA provides alternative dispute resolution for individuals and organizations wishing to settle conflicts out of court.
Kraus said the AAA’s 42nd Street location will serve as a setting for major arbitration hearings and a conference center.
The downtown space will be for executive offices and a newly formed AAA division dealing with no-fault insurance issues.
AAA will move to both new locations in late spring, Kraus said.
Silverstein was repped in-house. At 150 E. 42nd St., CBRE’s Scott Gottlieb, Rocco Laginestra and Brian Dooley repped Hiro.
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The transformation of the historic Times Square Theatre at 217 W. 42nd St. into a multi-media musical attraction, Broadway 4D, will take at least another 16 months.
But the rebirth of the historical theater seems to be still on track. “It is an adagio tempo, but they are progressing,” Cora Cahan, president of landlord New 42nd Street, told us yesterday. Nonprofit New 42nd Street oversees the block’s historic entertainment venues.
Ever since we reported on the planned $60 million project — the last remaining piece of the puzzle on the 42nd Street “Deuce” between Seventh and Eighth avenues — readers and real estate insiders have been asking us: When?
In March 2012, an investor team led by Beverly Hills show business lawyer Robert Kory signed a lease negotiated by Cushman & Wakefield’s Brad Mendelson and Alan Schmerzler with New 42nd Street, the nonprofit landlord in charge of overseeing the block’s historic entertainment venues.
That breakthrough came after sportswear designer Mark Ecko defaulted on an earlier lease that had tied up the property for several years.
Kory has teamed up with creative principal Gary Goddard and Hollywood power players Bryan Singer, best known for the X-Men films and “Superman Returns,” and Jeff Sagansky, a former executive with Paxson Communications, Sony Pictures and CBS Entertainment.
But so far, there’s been little sign of progress. The slow go is not entirely surprising given the property’s complexities.
Design changes must be approved by the city-state Historic Preservation Committee, which includes a representative of the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, before they’re submitted to the Buildings Dept.
In addition to interior changes, which must preserve the venue’s domed ceiling and proscenium arch, the HPC is also studying Kory’s proposal for a brightly lit marquee above the sidewalk.
Our story last year didn’t say when Broadway 4D would open, but it’s clearly running behind schedule.
Cahan said that under a “revised timeline,” construction is expected to start in June and the theater to open one year later. She added that the Broadway 4D team had recently bid out major parts of the job.
Kory didn’t respond to a message left at his office.
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Two new tenants have signed for a total 42,664 square feet at SL Green’s 521 Fifth Ave., raising the tower’s occupancy to 98 percent.
Chinatrust Commercial Bank Ltd. (NY) signed for 20,987 square feet for 15 years on the entire 11th floor.
Global legal recruitment firm Major Lindsey & Africa took 21,677 feet for 10 years on the entire fifth floor.
SL Green leasing director Steven Durels attributed recent “accelerated” leasing to the building’s location near Grand Central and recent capital improvements.
Asking rents of $55 and $65 a square foot are cited on Mrofficespace.com.
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Univision Communications, the Spanish-language media company with diverse television, radio and music holdings, has added nearly 40,000 square feet to its space at Fisher Brothers’ 605 Third Ave.
The deal — which encompasses the 25th and 26th floors — brings Univision’s space in the tower to more than 175,000 square feet.
The 1 million square-foot address is nearly full. CBRE’s Carl Eriksen repped Univision; Jack Whalen repped Fisher Brothers.