Queens Residents Opposed Two Hotel Redevelopment Projects

Community Board 3 voiced concerns over private residential towers and a new health facility in East Elmhurst.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Hospitality

Isometric editorial illustration showing stylized urban apartment and clinic volumes, representing local urban redevelopment planning in Queens. — Community Board 3 in Queens has raised formal objections to proposed residential and medical redevelopment projects in the East Elmhurst neighborhood. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Community Board 3 members in Queens have raised strong objections to two separate redevelopment plans in East Elmhurst. The proposals include new residential towers at the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott and a medical housing facility at the Corona Hotel.

Why it matters

Residents are protesting a perceived lack of transparency and consultation regarding the development projects. Concerns center on the approval process and the impact these facilities will have on the neighborhood infrastructure.

The proposed development at the Marriott site includes 437 housing units in a western tower, with 30 percent designated as income-restricted, alongside 98 units of affordable senior housing. Meanwhile, the Corona Hotel conversion is slated to house up to 50 people.

The players

ASAP Holdings

This private real estate firm is the developer behind the proposed residential towers planned for the hotel parking lot.

NYC Health and Hospitals

This public health care system manages the Bridge to Home program that will operate the new temporary housing facility.

Community Board 3

This local government body represents the residents of East Elmhurst and serves as a consultative voice for land use decisions.

The details

ASAP Holdings plans to build residential towers on the parking lot of the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott, a project that bypasses the city's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure due to a 1979 restrictive declaration. Separately, NYC Health and Hospitals intends to lease the Corona Hotel for its Bridge to Home program to support patients transitioning from inpatient treatment.

1979: The restrictive declaration governing the hotel property was established.
2021: An LLC associated with ASAP Holdings purchased the New York LaGuardia Airport Marriott.
September 17, 2026: Community Board 3 members held a meeting to discuss the development plans.
Beginning of 2027: The Corona Hotel housing facility is scheduled to open.

Market Landscape

This development strategy highlights how private entities increasingly utilize existing restrictive covenants to navigate around the city's Uniform Land Use Review Procedure. By bypassing standard oversight, these projects create friction with local community boards seeking to influence neighborhood density and usage.

Residents in East Elmhurst may see significant changes to local parking availability and community resource allocation as these projects move forward. Those relying on the Corona Hotel or the Marriott area for services should prepare for localized construction disruptions starting in the coming years.

The takeaway

Large-scale urban redevelopment often bypasses public scrutiny when developers rely on older site-specific declarations rather than current zoning laws. Residents looking to influence their neighborhood's future should engage early with community boards to identify such loopholes before projects reach the final approval stage.