By Howard Koplowitz
The developer of a proposed hotel on Northern Boulevard in Bayside who had his plans rejected by the city Department of Buildings is making a last-ditch effort to win approval for the project, but elected officials and Bayside activists say there are more appropriate uses for the property.
Seungho Kim, owner of the lot at 211-02 Northern Blvd., has filed an application with the city Board of Standards and Appeals in an attempt to overturn the rejection of his plans to build a three-story, 49-room hotel, according to city records.
Kim could not be reached for comment.
Activist Mandingo Tshaka, City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) and Community Board 11 Chairman Jerry Iannece all said the plans are unwarranted in part because there are already two hotels — the Adria and the Anchor Motor Inn — nearby on the boulevard.
“We don’t need a hotel there,” said Tshaka, who said the lot is fewer than 10,000 square feet and near a fire hydrant and city bus stop.
Kim has so far not met with CB 11 on his proposal, although he is not required to do so.
His plans for a three-story hotel include underground parking for 27 cars, 14 rooms in the basement, a lobby and 12 rooms on the first floor, 14 rooms on the second floor and nine rooms and a lounge on the third floor, according to papers filed with the DOB.
The project was turned down by the DOB Jan. 22 and would need a variance to be built because it is more than 1,000 feet from an entrance or exit of a “limited-access expressway, highway, parkway or freeway,” according to the DOB.
Halloran said he was against the plans even though zoning allows a hotel to be built on the property.
“I don’t think the hotel is appropriate contextually,” the councilman said. “We certainly don’t need any multi-story buildings on Northern Boulevard.”
Iannece said he wrote to the BSA asking the agency if a hearing date has been set to hear Kim’s application.
The community board chairman said he believes the BSA will rule against Kim.
“It’s a pretty open-shut matter to me,” he said. “At this point, the BSA should not approve of this. To me, I don’t see how [a hotel] adds to the community at all.”
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
