Bellevue Boutique Hotel?

The famous Bellevue Hospital in New York is the oldest public hospital in the United States, dating back to 1836. This is one of those locals you don't think you know, but you do. It's the insane asylum pop culture reference point from the Honeymooners to Miracle on 34th Street (Kris Kringle was committed when he believed his own hype). Bellevue Hospital is the famed destination for those who fall outside of society's idea of normalcy. Allen Ginsberg, Norman Maller, Courtney Love and Sid Vicious all made appearances. This building has been intrenched into public consciousness, whether our generation knows it or not.

Here's the good part.

The Economic Development Corporation of New York is accepting proposals to turn the infamous pavilion of the insane into a boutique hotel. Jian Ghomeshi asks: What does this say when the last resort for New York's destitute becomes the destination for the wealthy to get away from it all? New York swept the streets of its homeless in the 80s by defining them as criminally insane and committing them to Bellevue. The building hasn't been used as an insane asylum for nearly 25 years which puts it on the verge of being resused somehow (a popular topic on Q as of late). So a boutique hotel is the answer. The Courtney Love Suite maybe?

Is this post modern urban recycling at its best or an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents*?

Click HERE to read a great article by Mark Harris...

Q The Podcast from the December 3rd edition of Q the Program.

* My favorite episode is called Incident in a Small Jail.