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An extended stay hotel proposed for 500 Broadhollow Road has moved closer to becoming a reality as the Town of Huntington recently approved a zoning change and a parking variance to move the project along.
The Residence Inn by Marriott planned for the three-acre site caters to longer stays, providing suites with full kitchens and larger living spaces.
Currently, a vacant 6,800-square-foot structure sits on the site. It’s an industrial building that has fallen into disrepair and once housed a jewelry manufacturing company. According to a listing on the real estate data website PropertyShark, the market value for the property is estimated just over $1 million.
“This property has been ripe for repurposing or redevelopment for a while,” Michael L. McCarthy, attorney for the project, told GreaterLongIsland.
Local businessman George Tsunis — who was recently named U.S. Ambassador to Greece — is one of the principals of 500 Broadhollow LLC, the developer of the project.
McCarthy confirmed that the Town of Huntington approved the zoning change from industrial to the town’s C10 Planned Motel District to allow the hotel to be built, although the classification is a bit of a misnomer because it applies to both motels and hotels.
“The C10 zone floats about town,” he said, meaning there is no specific corridor for approving the classification. “It’s applied where they think it’s appropriate.”
Variances were also approved by the town for parking and building height.
McCarthy said the property is narrow, so the parking exception was needed to fit more cars on the property to accommodate the hotel. As well, a height variance was applied for, in order to get a four-story building approved, which McCarthy said isn’t unusual for the area.
“Look at the four-story buildings all up and down Route 110,” he said, which are generally office buildings.
The property is located about 250 feet south of exit 49 off the Long Island Expressway. The project is now undergoing site plan review with the Huntington Town planning board.
McCarthy said an extended stay hotel was needed in the area and Marriott is putting their brand behind it.
“Long Island is a veritable desert for hotels,” he said. “It’s one of the most under-hoteled regions in the country.”
