NYguy
April 4th, 2003, 08:13 AM
Newsday...
Millenium Hilton Near Ground Zero Set to Reopen *
By Vera Haller
There's a sign of new commercial life near Ground Zero.
The Millenium Hilton Hotel -- which is so close to the World Trade Center site that you can see it reflected in the hotel's glass facade -- is getting ready to reopen on May 5th for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001.
Miraculously, the 55-story tower at the corner of Church and Dey streets, directly across the street from Ground Zero, was left standing after the Twin Towers fell. Though its more than 500 rooms were filled to 80 percent capacity on that day, all guests and employess were evacuated safely.
But it's proximity to the disaster site left many questions about its structural soundness and whether it had been environmentally contaminated by the thick dust that covered the hotel -- inside and out -- after the towers collapsed.
Getting answers to these questions was why the $32 million renovation has taken 18 months, said hotel general manager Jan Larsen.
He said that after the hotel was found to be structurally safe, a decision was made to gut the inside down to the concrete floors and take out everything that was removable. Walls were ripped out, a new kitchen was installed and even the employee uniforms were replaced.
Although views from many of the rooms are of Ground Zero, Larsen said he is optimistic that business will return -- just as about 90 percent of the more than 300 employees who were working on Sept. 11 have done.
Beverly Tomlinson, a housekeeper, is one of those employees. She started working at the Millenium when it first opened in June 1992 and was working in 1993 when six people were killed in the World Trade Center bombing.
"This (Sept. 11) was not our first tragedy together. We went through 1993. We took people in and we worked overtime and a lot of us got connected," Tomlinson said.
As for the reopening later this month, Tomlinson said she facing it with mixed emotions. "To really remember what was across the street is a little bit sad ... but this is going to be a lively occasion for us -- not forgetting but rebuilding and moving on."
The rooms have been refitted in contemporary design, each with a flat-screen high definition television. The dining room and bar has been remodeled, although the rosewood accents in the lobby are the same as before the attacks.
In the kitchen, executive chef Joe Verde was already at work, creating a new menu and assembling his staff. He said many of his workers also had returned, even though some had found different jobs during the renovation.
"It's like a rebirth ... lots of hugs and emotions," Verde said.
To spur business, the hotel will offer a special $199 a night rate for the month of May. Larsen said this is about $100 - $150 less than the going rate for a hotel room in Lower Manhattan.
Video...
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nyc-millvideo0403,0,7247832.realvideo?coll=nyc%2Dgroun dzero%2Dheadlines
http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2003-04/7248020.jpg
Medical and emergency workers stand in front of the Millenium Hilton in lower Manhattan in this Sept. 11, 2001, file photo. The last of the scaffolding was removed April 1, 2003, as the luxury hotel puts the finishing touches on its renovation, with plans to reopen in early May.
http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2003-04/7248388.jpg
http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2003-04/7248421.jpg
The Millenium Hilton is nearly ready for its May reopening.
http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2003-04/7232035.jpg
The World Trade Center site is reflected on the newly-renovated black glass facade of the Millenium Hilton Hotel, which expects to open in May for the first time since the World Trade Center attacks.
Millenium Hilton Near Ground Zero Set to Reopen *
By Vera Haller
There's a sign of new commercial life near Ground Zero.
The Millenium Hilton Hotel -- which is so close to the World Trade Center site that you can see it reflected in the hotel's glass facade -- is getting ready to reopen on May 5th for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001.
Miraculously, the 55-story tower at the corner of Church and Dey streets, directly across the street from Ground Zero, was left standing after the Twin Towers fell. Though its more than 500 rooms were filled to 80 percent capacity on that day, all guests and employess were evacuated safely.
But it's proximity to the disaster site left many questions about its structural soundness and whether it had been environmentally contaminated by the thick dust that covered the hotel -- inside and out -- after the towers collapsed.
Getting answers to these questions was why the $32 million renovation has taken 18 months, said hotel general manager Jan Larsen.
He said that after the hotel was found to be structurally safe, a decision was made to gut the inside down to the concrete floors and take out everything that was removable. Walls were ripped out, a new kitchen was installed and even the employee uniforms were replaced.
Although views from many of the rooms are of Ground Zero, Larsen said he is optimistic that business will return -- just as about 90 percent of the more than 300 employees who were working on Sept. 11 have done.
Beverly Tomlinson, a housekeeper, is one of those employees. She started working at the Millenium when it first opened in June 1992 and was working in 1993 when six people were killed in the World Trade Center bombing.
"This (Sept. 11) was not our first tragedy together. We went through 1993. We took people in and we worked overtime and a lot of us got connected," Tomlinson said.
As for the reopening later this month, Tomlinson said she facing it with mixed emotions. "To really remember what was across the street is a little bit sad ... but this is going to be a lively occasion for us -- not forgetting but rebuilding and moving on."
The rooms have been refitted in contemporary design, each with a flat-screen high definition television. The dining room and bar has been remodeled, although the rosewood accents in the lobby are the same as before the attacks.
In the kitchen, executive chef Joe Verde was already at work, creating a new menu and assembling his staff. He said many of his workers also had returned, even though some had found different jobs during the renovation.
"It's like a rebirth ... lots of hugs and emotions," Verde said.
To spur business, the hotel will offer a special $199 a night rate for the month of May. Larsen said this is about $100 - $150 less than the going rate for a hotel room in Lower Manhattan.
Video...
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/nyc-millvideo0403,0,7247832.realvideo?coll=nyc%2Dgroun dzero%2Dheadlines
http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2003-04/7248020.jpg
Medical and emergency workers stand in front of the Millenium Hilton in lower Manhattan in this Sept. 11, 2001, file photo. The last of the scaffolding was removed April 1, 2003, as the luxury hotel puts the finishing touches on its renovation, with plans to reopen in early May.
http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2003-04/7248388.jpg
http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2003-04/7248421.jpg
The Millenium Hilton is nearly ready for its May reopening.
http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2003-04/7232035.jpg
The World Trade Center site is reflected on the newly-renovated black glass facade of the Millenium Hilton Hotel, which expects to open in May for the first time since the World Trade Center attacks.