In the heart of New York City’s bustling Broadway district, a chic hotel has transformed into a migrant shelter, signaling a profound shift amid the city’s ongoing migrant crisis. The 141-room Square Hotel, located at 226 West 50th Street, now serves as a temporary haven for asylum seekers who have arrived in the Big Apple from the southern border.
The Square Hotel, known for its proximity to the Gershwin Theatre and its Art Nouveau styled rooms, ceased operations as a traditional hotel over a year ago. Its website poignantly states, “Please pardon our appearance as we slip into something new! We look forward to welcoming you in the future,” reflecting the significant changes underway.
This conversion is part of a larger citywide response to accommodate the influx of over 200,000 migrants since spring 2022. With the city’s shelter system overwhelmed, the Department of Homeless Services has turned to hotels and even massive tent cities to provide necessary housing. The ongoing situation has stressed city resources and infrastructure, with the city paying an average of $387 per day to house a single migrant household in these emergency shelters.
Local residents and business advocates have expressed mixed feelings about the transformation of hotel properties into migrant shelters, especially in the iconic Broadway area. While some see it as a necessary step to address an urgent humanitarian need, others lament the impact on local tourism and the area’s cultural atmosphere. Critics argue that this could permanently change the character of a district known worldwide for its entertainment and vibrancy.
The decision to use hotels like the Square Hotel as shelters has also been economically motivated. The city’s contracts with hotel associations, initially costing $275 million, have ballooned to $1.3 billion over three years to cover rental fees for the temporary shelters. This financial burden comes at a time when the city is seeking ways to alleviate the costs, including potential tax reductions for the hotels once they resume normal operations.
Mayor Eric Adams has implemented measures such as 30- and 60-day shelter stay limits for individuals and families, respectively, to manage the duration of stays and mitigate costs. Despite these efforts, the ongoing crisis poses significant challenges to New York City’s ability to maintain its identity while fulfilling its obligations to provide refuge and support to those in desperate need.