Gothamist: The Drake Is Dead!

Harry Matthews

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:19:20 -0500

Let me get this straight: demand for hotel rooms has never been higher, rates for even "budget" hotels can pass $250 a night in peak seasons (per today's Times) and HOTELS ARE BEING DEMOLISHED? This does not compute! As a professional tour guide, I wonder where my future clients will sleep. The City may need to pitch tents in Sheep Meadow to preserve the multi-billion dollar tourist industry.

Kramer

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 16:35:37 -0500

Andrew J. Lederer needs to relax.

Jen W

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 13:10:36 -0500

Andrew, sweetie, "Elaine" was making a "Seinfeld" reference. And damn her for beating me to it!

acaaron816

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 12:41:36 -0500

As long as I get back my big screen TV.

Andrew J. Lederer

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 12:39:09 -0500

I hate the Drake. Posted by: Elaine | January 17, 2006 11:51 AM ********************************* Which is your right. But we can't keep tearing down all the idiosyncratic places that made this city interesting and replacing them with the generic McStructures of today. This city is not only defined by its "vitality" and other New York Post-approved characteristics. It is a work of art; a visually and texturally pleasing place both from within and without. That is changing and "vitality" of its citizens or no, when one square foot too many has been sold off to a cheap-ass developer, this will no longer be anyplace special in any way meaningful to me nor, I suspect, to many others. Somehow, this seemingly oblivious willingness to throw our city away is like our apparent willingness to confirm Sam Alito, even though we now damn well what it will mean.

Elaine

Tue, 17 Jan 2006 11:51:45 -0500

I hate the Drake.