By Craig Giammona
The developer of the hotel, however, said the community's concerns about the project were totally unfounded. The hotel, he said, will cater to airport traffic and rely primarily on reservations made on the Internet.But at a town hall meeting last Thursday, Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) told residents that the plans for the site, located at 219-05 North Conduit Ave., call for the construction of a “hot sheets motel,” an example of which, Sanders said, was the recently raided Executive Motor Inn, also in Springfield Gardens.”It's motel where the guests stay for a very short time, as short as half an hour,” Sanders said. “You have new neighbors in the community, and short-term neighbors don't have same the interests in mind.”Last Thursday's discussion drew heavily on the prostitution raid at the Executive Motor Inn down the street at 151-67 North Conduit Ave. and centered on the fact that the new hotel would be located very close to Springfield Gardens High School, and not far from three other local schools.”I'm not worried about the prostitutes, I'm worried about our children,” said Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, who joined Sanders and several elected officials at the meeting. “What kind of message does this send to our children?”Sanders, who maintained the site would be ideal for a community center or library, said Tuesday he has had preliminary discussions with the contractor about “alternate uses” for the property. According to the city Department of Buildings a stop work order was still active Tuesday because of zoning and application issues with the project. But Presanna Venkatesh, the project's developer, indicated that he expected the stop work order to be lifted as early as this week.Venkatesh said he felt “ambushed” by the allegation that he and his business partner, Sailesh Gandhi, who owns the property, plan to build a “hot sheets motel.””It will be for overnight clientele, not a two-hour or three-hour stay,” Venkatesh said. “I don't know how to convince them until it's finished.”Venkatesh said that Gandhi currently operates two respectable hotels, a Clarion in Manhattan and Best Western in Long Island City. Venkatesh is also currently building a Best Western for Gandhi in Brooklyn. Gandhi was traveling and unavailable for comment.According to Venkatesh, the hotel on North Conduit Avenue will either be a Best Western or Comfort Inn. Venkatesh said he is currently working with both companies to get plans approved, and that he is hoping to begin construction this summer.”There are very stringent requirements when you work with a franchise,” he said.Reach Reporter Craig Giammona by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 ext. 146.
