The historic Jane Hotel in Manhattan's West Village continues operating single-room occupancy units at $262 per week, even as portions of the building have been transformed into the San Vicente members club. These remaining SRO tenants represent the final chapter of the hotel's century-long role as affordable housing in one of New York's most expensive neighborhoods.
The Jane Hotel, located in the West Village, has served as both a tourist destination and low-income housing option for decades. The building's dual identity now places weekly tenants paying approximately $1,048 per month in close proximity to an upscale private club catering to wealthy members.
At current rates, SRO tenants are paying roughly $12,576 annually for small rooms with shared facilities, a cost structure that reflects both the scarcity of affordable housing in Manhattan and the premium attached to West Village locations. The weekly payment model provides housing stability for residents who might struggle to secure traditional lease arrangements.
The situation illustrates the tension between historic preservation of affordable housing and market pressures in high-value real estate markets. SRO hotels have historically served as housing of last resort in expensive cities, but their numbers have declined significantly as properties convert to more profitable uses.
The Jane Hotel's mixed-use model may represent a compromise between displacement and development, though the long-term viability of maintaining both affordable housing and luxury amenities in the same building remains uncertain as real estate values continue rising in the West Village.