The famed Hotel Chelsea will get new retail space, an expanded lobby and possibly another restaurant as part of a major upgrade being planned by its new owner, Joseph Chetrit, according to a July 2, 2011 article in The Wall Street Journal by Craig Karmin.

The famous hotel, where Andy Warhol filmed a B movie and Thomas Wolfe wrote novels while standing up, will retain its bohemian charm, says Gene Kaufman, the architect charged with overseeing the renovation, the article said, adding that "it will be more like a restoration....It will be subtle."

Mr. Kaufman, the article noted, is usually associated with major chain operations, from Holiday Inns to developer Sam Chang's compact budget hotels. Over the past two decades, he has designed more than 60 New York hotels and 10,000 hotel rooms, he said.

But he has also designed boutique projects that have won acclaim, the article continued, adding that "he points to TriBeCa's limestone-clad Duane Hotel, which he designed and was named to Cond¿ Nast Travelers' 2008 'hot list' of new hotels."

New York developer Joseph Chetrit signed a contract to purchase the 127-year-old property for more than $80 million earlier this year. The renovation of the Hotel Chelsea's exterior, renowned for its Queen Anne architecture, red-brick facade and black cast-iron balconies, is limited by its landmark status. But the interior of the building, which has been neglected for years, isn't constrained in that way.

Built in the 1880s, the West 23rd Street building has never had a comprehensive renovation and requires a number of upgrades, including improvements to its corridors, elevators, heating and air-conditioning system, and much of the public space, Mr. Kaufman said.

Mr. Kaufman, the article said, "also faces the challenge of overseeing these renovations while nearly 100 long-term tenants remain at the building. The hotel has long been known for a liberal rent-collection policy, especially with artists who offer up paintings in lieu of rent from time to time. While these policies aren't expected to continue under new ownership, most tenants have indicated they intend to continue renting at Hotel Chelsea."

In June, the article added, "Mr. Kaufman revealed that he had purchased a controlling interest in the architecture firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associates. Mr. Kaufman said the Hotel Chelsea project was being handled by his own firm but the newly renamed Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman & Associates may help out."