Keller Hotel

Stayed there once — ONCE. There was broken tiles in the bathroom, and I left with a bad rash. NEVER AGAIN.

Located on Barrow Street at the West Side Highway, the Keller Hotel was originally a sailors’ hotel, and in the 20^th century became a flophouse. It has stood empty for literally decades now.
A very neat feature which is probably long-​gone was the original «birdcage» elevator which had a cable running from top to bottom of the car. In order to start the car, you had to grab the cable and pull it in the direction you wanted to go; in order to stop the car, you had to grab the cable as well. There was an elevator operator on duty during certain hours, but residents got used to operating it for themselves.
The building is being converted for residential use (i.e. – luxury condos.)
[as of 05/​01/​12] I’ve seen no activity at all for several months, and now I’m told the hotel is a Gottlieb property, meaning it was one of several bought up by William Gottlieb; on his death it passed to his reclusive sister, Mollie Bender, who has since died. It’s anybody’s guess when the renovation will be completed; at least the hotel is landmarked, but that may be holding up things as well.