News Summary
The Hotel Carter in New York City is facing a lawsuit filed by the city due to unsafe and unsanitary conditions, including reports of bedbugs and disrepair. The suit implicates the owners, Joseph and Meyer Chetrit, accusing them of neglect and failing to comply with safety regulations, which have made the hotel a public nuisance. With over 150 violations and a troubling history, the hotel poses significant risks to the community, prompting local residents to call for its demolition.
New York City – The Hotel Carter, a notorious establishment located at 250 West 43rd Street, is facing a lawsuit filed by the City of New York due to disturbing conditions that pose a significant public health threat. The legal action targets the owners, Joseph and Meyer Chetrit, who are accused of allowing the hotel’s facilities to fall into a grave state of disrepair, including reports of unsanitary conditions marked by the presence of bedbugs and blood-stained linens.
The lawsuit, which highlights over 150 building violations, asserts that the hotel is a public nuisance. It claims the Chetrits have failed to comply with prevailing laws and safety regulations, transforming the once-proud establishment into a site that has garnered a reputation for violence. The hotel has a dark history that includes several murders, dismemberments, and even instances of bodies falling from its windows, making it a focal point for crime in the Times Square area.
Not only has the hotel remained under renovation for nearly a decade, but it has also accumulated significant financial difficulties. Reports indicate that the Chetrits defaulted on a $223 million loan they used to acquire the property in 2015, leading to extensive financial strain that may have contributed to the hotel’s deteriorating state. The conditions reported include unaddressed maintenance issues such as broken windows, a cracked façade, flooding, exposed electrical wiring, and non-functional elevators.
Local residents and business owners expressed concerns about the hotel’s impact on the broader neighborhood, which has undergone a transformation from a seedy area to one populated by family-friendly businesses in recent years. However, the Hotel Carter continues to be an eyesore, with ongoing reports of drug use and prostitution contributing to the local atmosphere of neglect and danger. There have been suggestions from the community for the hotel to be demolished entirely as a solution to its longstanding problems.
Originally opened in 1930 under the name Dixie Hotel, the establishment has seen its share of trials, including numerous foreclosures, infestations, police investigations, and filings for bankruptcy. For a time, it served as a temporary shelter for homeless families, but it became unsuitable for such use in the 1980s due to the growing unsanitary conditions.
City attorneys in their lawsuit have emphasized the Chetrits’ noncompliance with multiple emergency work orders and their failure to respond to critical safety violations, which include issues related to fire safety. The City is seeking a court declaration that will label the Hotel Carter a public nuisance and compel the owners to rectify the outstanding health and safety violations along with any associated penalties.
The hotel’s notorious status has led to it being branded as one of the ugliest secrets in New York City, with former guests describing their experiences as akin to being trapped in a horror movie. The persistent degradation of the Hotel Carter underlines a broader issue of neglected properties in urban environments, prompting city officials and local stakeholders to take action in pursuit of community safety and revitalization.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Chetrit Family Faces Financial and Legal Struggles
Additional Resources
- The Times: The Carter, New York’s Most Squalid Hotel
- Curbed: Hotel Carter Lawsuit
- NY Post: Owners Default on Loan for America’s Filthiest Hotel
- Crain’s New York: City Sues Chetrit Brothers
- Bisnow: Chetrits Sued by City over Hotel Carter
- Wikipedia: Hotel Carter
Author: STAFF HERE NEW YORK WRITER
NEW YORK CITY STAFF WRITER The NEW YORK CITY STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewYorkCity.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New York City, the five boroughs, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as New York Fashion Week, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Tribeca Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and United Way of New York City, plus leading businesses in finance and media that power the local economy such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBuffalo.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into New York's dynamic landscape.
