Claim: In 2007, Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. announced an agreement to raze the 53rd Street Library and replace it with an 11-story hotel and the library was vacated in 2008.
Evidence: In November 2007 Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. which owns the 21 Club directly south of the library on 52nd Street, announced an agreement to raze the library and replace it with an 11-story hotel. The library was vacated in the summer of 2008.