For His Next Trick, Gene Kaufman Designing Two Midtown Hotels

The Union Square Hyatt is well underway and the Hotel Chelsea's makeover has gotten started, so where will the one and only Gene Kaufman turn his attention next? To two new Midtown hotels, according to today's Post. They are a Courtyard by Marriott at 960 Sixth Avenue and a SpringHill Suites by Marriott at 25 West 37th Street. That first address has been mentioned around these parts before: the 960 Sixth Avenue site sold to Hidrock Realty in June 2010, at which point its hotel future was still somewhat in doubt. The plans have now firmed up and call for 167 rooms, ground-floor retail, and a "very significant" rooftop bar where Kaufman haters can go to drink away their sorrows. At 25 West 37th Street, the SpringHill Suites will have 173 rooms. Anyone got renders? Well, send 'em over!
· Hotels are back in Fashion Dist. [NYP]
· 960 Sixth Avenue coverage [Curbed]
· Gene Kaufman coverage [Curbed]