INCLUSION FOR ALL IS THE ONLY WAY TO DESIGN AND BUILD PUBLIC SPACE

IT CAN BE ACHIEVED BY SIMPLE TOPOGRAPHY 

AND GENTLY SLOPED RAMPS

Much of the Long Island City Queens waterfront was once industrial.

Factories depended on access to the East River.

Now most of the area is lined with exclusive apartments that feature amazing views of the Manhattan skyline.

Developers of the waterfront public space did two things perfectly:

1) They set the buildings back a big enough distance from the water to create miles of fresh public space.

2) The used simple grading of fill soil plus ramps to make the park space wheelchair-accessible for miles.

The boarding spots for the water taxi have ramps.

The various fishing/observation piers that jut out into the East River all are barrier-free.

Gantry Plaza State Park may well be the best free space in all of New York.

At sunset into the night, its views of Manhattan are unrivaled.

And its access is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities and their families.

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

The only other thing I would add to the super-comfortable room is a grab bar and shower wand in the outstanding shower.

Grab bars and wands are not just for people with disabilities.

We all like to have something to steady ourselves with late night in an unfamiliar shower.

And the shower wand -- it just plain reaches places that even the nicest overhead nozzle cannot.

Bottom line, if work is taking you to Midtown – or your vacation needs a very well-run lodging close to transit, book an Empire State Building-facing room at Executive Hotel le Soleil New York.

 

 

 

 

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

I specifically wanted a room with a mini fridge.

I have lost more than 100 pounds and the key to it is eating fruit and grains for breakfast and storing healthy snacks along with almond milk for cereal, etc. 

I even emailed to confirm the fridge at booking time.

On arrival, the fridge was room temp, but I figured they maybe just plugged it in.

The next day, my berries looked like they were not doing well.

By the night of the first full day, my nonfat milk had spoiled and I realized that the fridge was barely cooling.

On the plus side, I phoned the next early morning and they switched out the fridge for a great one.

Whoever came to the room put every last item in the fridge exactly as I had left it + they did not disturb one square inch of the other parts of the room. 

Bravo. 

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT\

For less than $3 one-way, the ferry takes you to Long Island City, Wall Street area, Upper East Side and several key stops in Queens.

I used the Hornblower NYC Ferry Service for a lot of work and leisure mobility.

It worked for Manhattan skyline photos at dusk, for running along the river for exercise and for transit that also gave tourist-class views of the city in late summer.

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

I never used a taxi or ride share. 

Koreatown food is blocks away.

A huge Whole Foods is a few blocks up by Bryant Park, so I could get milk, berries, cereal and more for breakfast in the room.

The 34 special bus stops very close by and it's a great east-west connector, especially the route that stops at FDR and the East River.

That's exactly where the NYC Ferry (water taxi) stops.

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

Daily housekeeping was not done due to COVID.

But I don't like daily intrusions and if I needed a spare towel, shampoo, anything -- it was in my room in lightning speed.

The front desk as warm and fast for check in. 

View of Empire State building through large window in room was a cool bonus.

The neighborhood was quiet at night -- as this is not exactly hipster ground zero location.

There is major train transit nearby at Herald Square, Penn Station and Times Square.

EXECUTIVE HOTEL LE SOLEIL NEW YORK

SUPER-EFFICIENT, CLEAN AND QUIET ROOM WITH MINI-FRIDGE AND LOCATION NEAR TONS OF TRAIN TRANSIT

The price point was amazing. 

A $250 to $300 room for $150 (plus taxes).

Very quiet room with a great bed and efficient layout.

I loved the walk-in shower with endless hot water.

The room is not big, but I don't come to New York to sit in the room.

The storage space, mainly a vertical tower with all kinds of drawers and open cubes, was the best I've seen in a compact room.

It had a great desk (also my breakfast bar) and closet. Lots of outlets and two charging stations on the clock radio.