The NY Department of Housing Preservation held a ribbon cutting ceremony in honor of the renovated Prince George Hotel on East 28th Street.

Built in the early 1800's the hotel was the landmark of elegance, but as years passed conditions deteriorated and by the 1980's the Prince George became the largest welfare hotel in the U.S.

After standing vacant for seven years, the Prince George has been rehabilitated into 416 units of supportive housing for low-income and formerly homeless adults, including those with mental illness and AIDS.

Thanks to Common Ground, the tenants have access to on-site social and medical services, community facilities, placement programs, and employment assistance.

Among the speakers were officials from New York City and State government, including Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, representatives from corporate sponsors Met Life, Lend Lease REI, JP Morgan, Fannie Mae, Ben and Jerry's, social service provider Center for Urban Community Services, and tenants of The Prince George.

Thomas Brooke: 212-695-4849.