has anyone stayed in this hotel?

No, but it is an area that has risen in quality vastly in the last three years. Walked by it Saturday, and it looks very newly renovated. (I think it was a very unsexy Howard Johnson's in the bad-ol' days.)

You could do much worse. Avoid the Brixton next door as a slice of things as they were.

Note: you're a bit of a walk from any subway stop but the buses, less used by tourists, are very handy there. Use 52 or 53, from 14th Street.