The Row Hotel, New York City’s final hotel being used as an emergency shelter for migrants, is set to close in the coming months. Located on 8th Avenue between West 44th and 45th Streets, the hotel’s closure marks what Mayor Eric Adams has described as “another major milestone” in the city’s ongoing response to the migrant crisis that has significantly impacted both New York City and the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood over the past three years.
“Three years ago, thousands of migrants and asylum seekers began arriving in our city each week — and the Adams administration stepped up,” said the mayor in a statement announcing the closure. “We are proud to share that we will be closing another site — the Row Hotel, the last hotel in the city’s emergency shelter system — marking yet another major milestone in our administration’s recovery from this international humanitarian crisis.”
The city began leasing the 1,331-room Row Hotel in October 2022 at a reported cost of $5.13 million per month. It was part of a broader initiative to provide temporary housing for the influx of asylum seekers. At the height of the crisis, seven hotels in Hell’s Kitchen were converted into emergency shelters, with The Row and The Watson Hotel (at 440 W 57th Street) being the largest.
Since then, several of those hotels have transitioned back to their original purposes. The Hotel Merit on West 46th Street has reopened to tourists, and The Watson ceased operating as a shelter earlier this year, with plans underway to potentially convert it into residential apartments. According to the Mayor’s Office, the remaining four hotels in the area that were used as emergency shelters — including the Skyline and Washington Jefferson — are now functioning as mixed-population shelters under the Department of Homeless Services.
Citywide, The Row was one of more than 100 hotels repurposed to house migrants. Its closure follows the shutdown of 64 other emergency shelter sites, as the number of migrants in the city’s care has begun to decline.
The Row Hotel has a long and storied history. It originally opened on February 1, 1928, as the Hotel Lincoln. Designed by the architectural firm Schwartz & Gross with consulting architect Herbert J. Krapp, the 27-story building was developed by brothers Henry and Irwin Chanin, who were also behind several nearby theaters. Over the decades, the hotel has operated under several names — including the Hotel Manhattan, Royal Manhattan, and Milford Plaza — each reflecting different eras and renovations in the city’s hospitality industry.
Ownership of the property has changed hands multiple times. In 1980, the Milstein family purchased and reopened the hotel. In 2011, it was acquired by Rockpoint Group and Highgate Holdings. Two years later, the ground lease was sold to David Werner and Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management for $325 million. Most recently, in 2024, Highgate purchased Werner’s stake for approximately $350 million, gaining full control of the property.
As of publication, Highgate Holdings has not commented on future plans for the hotel. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Source: w42st.com