Brooklyn’s Historic Hotel Bossert Is Becoming The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Brooklyn Heights
One of Brooklyn Heights’ most recognizable historic buildings is entering a new chapter.
The former Hotel Bossert at 98 Montague Street is being transformed into The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Brooklyn Heights, a luxury condominium project that will combine the character of a landmarked 1909 building with the services and branding associated with one of Marriott International’s best-known luxury residential brands.
Developer SomeraRoad acquired the former hotel for $100 million in May 2025. Now, in partnership with Marriott International, the historic property is being repositioned as a residential address with more than 60 condominium residences, dedicated residential services, wellness and social amenities, and a new restaurant from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.
From Historic Hotel to Luxury Residences
The Hotel Bossert has occupied a prominent corner of Brooklyn Heights for more than a century. Designed by New York architecture firm Helmle & Huberty, the Renaissance Revival building opened in 1909 and became one of Brooklyn’s best-known hotels.
Over the years, the property welcomed celebrities, business leaders and athletes. It also became part of Brooklyn sports history when it hosted the celebration following the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 1955 World Series championship, the franchise’s only World Series title while based in Brooklyn.
The building was also once nicknamed the “Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn,” reflecting its prominence during an era when Brooklyn Heights was developing into one of the borough’s most established residential neighborhoods.
After a period of ownership by the Jehovah’s Witnesses and later unsuccessful redevelopment efforts, the property sat vacant for more than a decade. SomeraRoad acquired the building in 2025, setting the stage for its latest transformation.
What Is Planned for the Ritz-Carlton Residences?
The redevelopment will convert the former hotel into a collection of luxury condominium residences under The Ritz-Carlton Residences brand.
Recent reporting and the project's public offering information point to 62 condominium residences, along with 23 storage units. Earlier reports referenced 61 residences, so published figures have varied during the planning process. The more recent offering-plan reporting and September 2026 project coverage point to 62.
- • Location: 98 Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights
- • Developer: SomeraRoad
- • Brand: The Ritz-Carlton Residences
- • Partner: Marriott International
- • Architect: SLCE Architects
- • Residences: Approximately 62 condominiums based on current public plans
- • Historic building: Former Hotel Bossert, opened in 1909
- • Restaurant: Planned full-service restaurant from Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group
- • Construction: Expected to move forward in 2026
- • Projected completion: 2029
A Historic Façade, Updated for a New Era
One of the most notable aspects of the redevelopment is the effort to retain the architectural identity of the Hotel Bossert rather than replacing it with an entirely new structure.
The building's Renaissance Revival character includes a geometric brick façade, granite and limestone elements, an ornate terra-cotta cornice, arched windows and historic metalwork. Those features are expected to be restored as part of the conversion.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission also approved revised modifications to the building in September 2026. The updated plans include a new 15th floor above the existing roofline, modifications to upper levels and rear infill. The revised design was intended to distinguish the new construction from the historic building while preserving the property's architectural character.
New renderings from DBOX offer a look at the planned restoration and the relationship between the original building and the new rooftop addition.
What Will Residents Get?
The project is expected to bring the hotel-style service model associated with Ritz-Carlton into a condominium setting.
Publicly announced plans include a 24-hour-attended lobby, dedicated residential services and amenities focused on wellness, socializing and entertaining. Residents are also expected to have access to Marriott's Residence Owner Recognition Program, known as ONVIA, providing benefits across Marriott's portfolio.
The full list of residential amenities, interior design details, residence sizes and pricing has not yet been fully disclosed publicly.
That leaves room for additional details to emerge as the project moves closer to sales.
Danny Meyer Is Bringing a New Restaurant to the Building
The residential conversion is not the only major change planned for the property.
The ground floor is expected to include a roughly 3,200-square-foot full-service restaurant from Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. It will be the hospitality group's first full-service restaurant in Brooklyn.
The restaurant could give the project an additional connection to the surrounding neighborhood rather than functioning solely as a private residential building.
For residents, the restaurant is also expected to provide another dining and entertaining option within the building itself.
Why Brooklyn Heights Matters
The project arrives in one of Brooklyn's most established and architecturally distinctive neighborhoods.
Brooklyn Heights is known for its historic brownstones, tree-lined streets, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and relatively direct access to Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.
The Hotel Bossert occupies a particularly prominent position near Montague Street, with access to several subway lines in the surrounding Downtown Brooklyn and Borough Hall area. New York YIMBY reports that the nearby Court Street R station connects with the 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains at the Borough Hall stations.
The location also places the project within walking distance of Brooklyn Bridge Park and the waterfront, while Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO and Lower Manhattan are all relatively close by.
What This Could Mean for Brooklyn’s Luxury Residential Market
The conversion is notable beyond the building itself.
It represents the arrival of the Ritz-Carlton Residences brand in Brooklyn, introducing a branded-residence concept to one of the borough's most established residential neighborhoods.
Branded residences combine condominium ownership with services and amenities associated with a hospitality brand. In New York City, this model has already appeared in Manhattan, but the Hotel Bossert project brings that concept to Brooklyn in a particularly historic setting.
The project therefore sits at the intersection of several trends shaping New York real estate:
- • Historic adaptive reuse: An existing landmark building is being repositioned for residential use rather than replaced.
- • Branded residences: A global luxury hospitality name is entering Brooklyn's condominium market.
- • Luxury residential development: More high-end condominium inventory is being introduced into Brooklyn Heights.
- • Hospitality and residential crossover: Hotel-style services and a restaurant are being incorporated into a residential project.
- • Preservation and modernization: Historic architectural elements are being restored while new residential space is added above and behind the existing structure.
A Long-Awaited Second Act for the Hotel Bossert
The transformation is significant partly because of how long the building has remained in limbo.
Multiple redevelopment efforts followed the property's sale by the Jehovah's Witnesses, but the hotel remained vacant for years. SomeraRoad's acquisition in 2025 marked a new phase, with construction activity beginning and a residential strategy now firmly established.
For a building with more than a century of history, the redevelopment represents a very different future from the one it had as a traditional hotel.
Instead of returning simply as another hotel, the Bossert is being repositioned as a residential property where historic architecture, private ownership, hospitality services and neighborhood amenities come together.
When Will the Ritz-Carlton Residences Open?
Construction is expected to continue through the coming years, with current project reporting pointing toward 2029 completion. Residential sales and marketing are being led by SERHANT. New Development, with Ravi Kantha and the Kantha Team leading sales.
As development progresses, additional information about pricing, floor plans, interiors, amenities and launch timing is expected to become available.
The Bigger Brooklyn Heights Story
The Hotel Bossert's transformation is more than a change in use for a single historic building. It is another example of how established New York properties are being repositioned to meet today's luxury residential market while retaining recognizable pieces of the city's architectural history.
At 98 Montague Street, the result is expected to be a distinctly different property from the hotel that once welcomed generations of visitors to Brooklyn Heights.
The address is set to become a new residential landmark of its own, combining a restored piece of Brooklyn history with a globally recognized luxury residential brand.
For Brooklyn Heights, the next chapter of the Hotel Bossert is officially underway.
