Dark does not equal Hip
this is a strangely designed hotel. reminds me of a comfort inn where all the rooms face into a central internal courtyard. and, they keep the hallways incredibly dark. almost impossible to find the room numbers. once inside, the rooms can be small, but functional. lots of dark browns and greens. it's very 70s. 
the location is decent and you can easily walk to some of TriBeCa's best restaurants. as a business traveler, i stay here when the rate slips under $200, as at that price point it's a good deal based on the location -- and it's nice to mix it up and explore some downtown neighborhoods. 
the bar is awful, however. horrible servers, no energy. just tired and old. they should re-do it.