A plan to build a hotel in Fresh Meadows was turned down by the city after the developer failed to comply with the building code and zoning regulations, officials said.
The Department of Buildings (DOB) on July 31 rejected Mayflower Business Group’s proposal to put up a 12-story lodging house at 61-27 186th Street for a number of reasons, an agency spokesperson said.
The proposed hotel exceeded the maximum allowed floor-area ratio for the lot and also provided fewer than the required number of parking spaces, said the spokesperson.
Now the developer has 12 months to revise the plan and resubmit an application for the empty lot, where three homes once stood.
In the meantime, the bid has stirred up some controversy with nearby residents unsure of what the future will bring.
“There is no need for a hotel at that location,” said Jim Gallagher, president of the Fresh Meadows Homeowners Civic Association. “We’re not close to the airport. Where is the need for a 12-story hotel with 135 units?”
The same is being asked by most people living in the area, who have also voiced their complaints with Gallagher.
“The hotel would block out the sunlight,” said Christopher Chee, who has lived across the lot for 17 years. “There is no reason for this.”
Chee, 57, believes a hotel would add chaos to a street already congested by vehicles. He remembers at least three instances where his property was ruined due to drivers making U-turns on his block.
David Fung, 25, also sees a potential disaster in the making.
“I have a hard time backing out my car,” said Fung. “It’s a very, very narrow street.”
Gallagher hopes to negotiate soon with the developers, who were unable to be contacted for a response. His goal, he said, is to keep the area a residential community for the future.
“This is a place where people raise families,” Gallagher said. “And we’re very proud of it.”
