Community Corner

UWS Lucerne Hotel Plans To Welcome Back Guests In The Fall

The Lucerne on the corner of West 79th Street served as a homeless shelter for 11 months. It will reopen to guests in the fall.

An image of the Lucerne hotel on its final day serving as a temporary homeless shelter.
An image of the Lucerne hotel on its final day serving as a temporary homeless shelter. (Gus Saltonstall)

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The Lucerne is preparing to get back to its pre-pandemic business, recently updating its website to say that it will be ready to reopen as a commercial hotel and welcome guests this fall.

From July 2020 to June 2021, the Upper West Side hotel at 201 West 79th Street received major neighborhood and media attention for serving as a temporary homeless shelter to around 300 men originally.

"The Lucerne is currently undergoing renovations, and will be ready to greet you this Fall! For reservation availability updates, please complete the form below," reads a recently posted "Reopening Notice" on the Lucerne's website. "Our personal touch and true commitment to guest satisfaction is what sets the Lucerne apart. We look forward to welcoming you, and to continuing our role as a vital part of the Upper West Side community. Thank you for your continued support."

Find out what's happening in Upper West Sidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Crain's and ILoveTheUpperWestSide were the first publications to report on the Lucerne's plans to reopen as a hotel in the fall.

The last remaining residents of the Lucerne shelter moved out on June 28 after the mayor's decision to put an end to the temporary hotel shelter, which was created during the coronavirus pandemic to help with overcrowding at congregate shelters.

Find out what's happening in Upper West Sidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

However, there has been a pause on that relocation due to a motion filed by the Legal Aid Society. A judge subsequently ruled that any homeless person who is disabled must be properly assessed before being moved and that the city must provide one week's written notice before a move from a temporary shelter takes place.

All of the Lucerne residents had already left the hotel by the time the lawsuit was filed.

"The Lucerne Hotel offers luxury accommodations in the heart of Manhattan's posh Upper West Side. Our NYC luxury hotel is housed in a treasured landmark building erected in 1904, and underwent a multi-million dollar renovation," reads a description of the hotel experience on the Lucerne's website. "The result is a sophisticated Upper West Side hotel, imbued with European-inspired architectural charm and modern amenities."

There currently isn't an option to book a room this fall, but you can complete a form for reservation availability updates.


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