See inside The Collective’s ‘short stay’ co-living concept, now open in Long Island City
Images courtesy of The Collective
London-based co-living company The Collective has opened its first U.S. location at the former Paper Factory Hotel in Long Island City. Designed in collaboration with Palette Architecture, the 125-room location will focus on a “short stay” model ranging from one-night to 29-day stays. Members will have access to communal living areas and wellness services, as well as a soon-to-launch restaurant and cultural programming. The company already has plans to expand on today’s opening by adding 100 additional rooms on top of the existing building by 2021.
The 100-year-old building initially housed the Pilot Radio Company which dissolved during WWII and was later repurposed for Romo Paper Products, a major supplier of paper to the city’s booming newspaper industry in the 1960s and 70s.
“As our entry into the U.S. market, taking over an existing structure made sense,” explains founder and CEO Reza Merchant. “We were inspired by the building’s history, architectural elements, and the potential we saw to build true community in Long Island City.”
After acquiring the building, they focused on building out an outdoor space, redesigning the lobby according to a flexible open plan, and refurbishing the lower level as an event space that will host a robust cultural programming calendar, beginning with “Be More Together” a conference to be held on November 15th exploring “the future of shared spaces, resources, and actions.”
In December, a global-inspired restaurant called Ama will open on the ground floor, and next spring will kick off a new local artist residency program that will host two NYC-based artists at a time.
“The Collective has been successful in pioneering the co-living sector because we create shared space that is led by culture, experience, and local engagement,” Merchant added. “We love to join vibrant neighborhoods who are embarking on their own phase of change, where we can forge meaningful partnerships and really make a contribution. Long Island City is the perfect place to debut a flavor of our signature co-living approach.”
Nightly rates at the Paper Factory location will start from $135, two week stays from $1,250, and 29-day stays from $2,300. Those rates include Wi-Fi, professional cleaning, linen change, and utilities. Brooklyn-based Blind Seed will offer classes in yoga, pilates, herbalism, and reiki among others.
As 6sqft previously reported, The Collective’s ambitious plans in New York will continue with a forthcoming Brooklyn flagship at 555 Broadway and a Sou Fujimoto-designed building to be erected at the site of the former Slave Theater in Bed-Stuy. Both locations are slated to open in 2022. The company already runs two successful locations in London with plans to bring 8,000 units to Chicago, Miami, and Dublin.
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