| Bossert | |
|---|---|
| Location | Brooklyn, New York City |
| Developer | Louis Bossert |
| Owner | Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York |
| Suites | 224 |
| Floors | 14 |
Hotel Bossert was once known as "the Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn". It was the site of the celebration of the Brooklyn Dodgers' only World Series championship.[1]
The hotel was built in 1909 by Louis Bossert, a Brooklyn lumber magnate, at 98 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. It had an Italian Renaissance Revival-style exterior.[1] It was designed as an apartment hotel. [2] The design work was by Palmer & Hornbostel.
During the 1920s, the Hotel Bossert was known for its Marine Roof, a two-level restaurant on the roof of the 14-story building that provided diners with a commanding view of Manhattan.[1] The hotel drew some attention in 1945, when Charles Armijo Woodruff, the 11th Governor of American Samoa, committed suicide by hanging himself in his room there.[3]
In the 1950s, the Bossert was the home of several Brooklyn Dodger players.[2] Following the Brooklyn Dodgers' win over the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series, Dodgers fans gathered in the Bossert lobby and serenaded Dodgers' manager Walter Alston with "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow".[1]
In 1983, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York began leasing space in the Bossert for use by Jehovah's Witnesses. The Society bought the hotel in 1988. It required extensive restoration according to the Landmarks Preservation Commission standards for the historic district. The famed Marine Roof had collapsed, and a new roof had to be built. Also, the lobby was in poor condition, and over 2,500 square feet (230 m2) of the marble had to be replaced. Watchtower went to the original quarry to replace it.[2] That effort garnered praise and awards.[4]
In late January 2008, the Society announced it would sell the building.[1] The sale will be conducted through a private-bidding process, which could take months.[4] One local realtor (Arlene Waye of Awaye Realty) estimated that the building would sell for about $100 million.[2] Judi Stanton, the president of the Brooklyn Heights Association, remarked that “The Witnesses have done an exquisite job in maintaining the building."[4] Timothy King, a senior partner at Massey Knakal Realty Services Brooklyn, agreed calling the hotel "one of the most unique and most well-maintained trophy assets in Brooklyn." He continued, "The Watchtower organization is well known for impeccable maintenance standards and the Bossert reflects this level of care. It will be a challenge for a new owner to run the building with the same level of care and attention to detail."[2]