Marriott hotel renovation yields charitable donation

Real Estate Weekly, Dec 8, 1999

Mahogany armoires, desks and night tables, cozy reading chairs, comfortable beds, drapes, artwork and lamps will soon grace the homes of Furnish a Future clients, thanks to a donation by Laurence Geller, CEO of Strategic Hotel Capital, Inc. (SHCI). Over 650 rooms of furniture became available during the $20 million renovation now taking place at SHCI's New York Marriott East Side hotel.

"We are in the business of making comfortable places for people to stay," said Laurence Geller. "The Marriott East Side furniture donation is a logical, community-focused extension of this mission. Furnish a Future provides a very important service, and we are delighted to support their efforts."

Furnish a Future has furnished more than 15,000 apartments since it was launched in 1991. Clients are referred by The Partnership and the New York City Department of Homeless Services' Lend-A-Hand program. Furnish a Future has been the recipient of numerous civic and industry awards for its innovative programming.

The New York Marriott East Side hotel has long stood as a Manhattan landmark. Designed by Empire State Building architect Arthur Loomis Harmon, the 35-story hotel was the largest in the world when it opened as the Shelton Towers in 1924. Some famous guests have included painter and photographer Georgia O'Keeffe, legendary escape artist Harry Houdini and "Flash Gordon" serial star Buster Crabbe.