Construction watch: 340 Bowery

Workers recently encased the front of 340 Bowery in plywood.

As we reported in late October, the four-story building — a former flophouse — is becoming a "boutique micro hotel" for solo travelers... with retail space on the ground floor, as seen on the plywood rendering...

The new venture will be an 182-key modern boutique micro-hotel inspired by European Luxury train sleeper cabins, per the marketing literature.

The four-story building has served as a single-room occupancy hotel dating to 1899. Our previous post has more history of the space.

The rendering shows a spring 2024 completion date. 

A 'boutique micro hotel' is in the works for this former Bowery flophouse

The former Whitehouse Hotel, the last flophouses on the Bowery, will see a new life as a "boutique micro hotel" for solo travelers. 

This information comes via a new listing at Meridian Retail Leasing for the space at 340 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond. Here are hotel details per a PDF about the ground-floor space being pitched for retail or restaurant use: 

338-340 Bowery will undergo a full renovation repositioning itself into an 182-key modern boutique micro hotel inspired by European Luxury train sleeper cabins. The hotel will focus on creating a hub for solo travelers to connect while providing a beautiful, affordable and exceptional experience ... 

The Bowery Boutique Hotel will have a target demographic of adventurous, curious, global travelers ages 25-40 seeking a shared experience and appreciation for design and culture. The social profile will consist of design-focused and brand-aware young professionals who align their values with the NoHo culture.

The PDF includes renderings of the hotel...

And a rendering of the retail...

This 2,200-square-foot retail space has a monthly ask of $27,000.

Some recent history here: In August 2022, a "retail opportunity" banner arrived by the front door. (The Meridian signage arrived early last week.)

There is a lot of history with the Whitehouse, a four-story building that has served as a single-room occupancy hotel dating to 1899.

As we understand, a handful of residents remain here, and their presence has reportedly hindered any new building plans through the years. We hadn't heard anything about the building since late 2018, when Alex Vadukul profiled the artist Sir Shadow, who was one of the six remaining residents of the Whitehouse, in a feature at The New York Times.

As Vadukul noted: "A few residents have died, and buyouts have lured away others. The men who remain in the flophouse have refused these deals. The Whitehouse Hotel's future appears to now hinge on a grim but simple waiting game." (Sources tell us that Sir Shadow no longer lives at this address.)

Ahead of the renovations, the residents were moved to space at 338 Bowery. (We covered this here.)

The building was spruced up in 2011 to appeal to the thrill-seeking backpacking set. (For $45, guests could stay in a tiny room where the walls don't go up to the ceiling... while the long-term residents remained on another floor.)

However, the Whitehouse stopped accepting reservations in September 2014. Plans were previously filed via Sam Chang in 2014 to "convert a 4-story lodging house into a 9-story hotel," according to DOB records. The Renatus Group now owns the property located in the NoHo Historic District.

At its height in 1950, the Whitehouse had 234 "cubicles" for its occupants. Take a tour of the space here.  

Renovations underway at the former Whitehouse Hotel on the Bowery

Top photo by EVG; all others by Stacie Joy 

Renovations are underway at 338-340 Bowery between Great Jones and Bond. 

In August, a "retail opportunity" banner arrived by the front door of the former Whitehouse Hotel, the last of the flophouses on the Bowery. 

Management is offering 2,000 square feet on the ground floor, with an "optional 500 SF cafe + courtyard." 

The work to create the retail space is happening. Permits show the scope of the work includes replacing windows, cleaning the brick, and repainting fire escapes, all with the approval of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. (The building is located in the NoHo Historic District.)

There is a lot of history with the Whitehouse, a four-story building erected in 1916 that has served as a single-room occupancy hotel. A handful of residents remain here, and their presence has reportedly hindered any new building plans. 

We hadn't heard anything about the building since late 2018, when Alex Vadukul profiled the artist Sir Shadow, who was one of the six remaining residents of the Whitehouse, in a feature at The New York Times.

As Vadukul noted: "A few residents have died, and buyouts have lured away others. The men who remain in the flophouse have refused these deals. The Whitehouse Hotel's future appears to now hinge on a grim but simple waiting game." (Sources tell us that Sir Shadow no longer lives at this address.)

Ahead of the renovations, the residents were moved to space at 338 Bowery... where the tenants can access their small room via security... 

There is a shared bathroom on the floor as well.

Some recent history: The building was spruced up in 2011 to appeal to the thrill-seeking backpacking set. (For $45, guests could stay in a tiny room where the walls don't go up to the ceiling... while the long-term residents remained on another floor.)

However, the Whitehouse stopped accepting reservations in September 2014. Plans were previously filed via Sam Chang in 2014 to "convert a 4-story lodging house into a 9-story hotel," according to DOB records. Those plans never materialized. The Renatus Group now owns the property.

Retail space aside, it's not immediately known what the plans are for the upper floors of the former hotel.