QUEENS — A controversial 20-story complex in Kew Gardens, which sat empty since it was completed months ago, opened Wednesday as Hotel Louie, employees said.
The 95,000-square-foot building, at 123-28 82nd Ave., just off of Queens Boulevard and across the street from Queens Borough Hall, includes hotel rooms above commercial space on floors four through nine as well as 38 apartments for rent on the remaining top floors, according to Mickey Kumar, the hotel manager.
The hotel lobby will include a bar, but Kumar said it may take several months to obtain the necessary permits to open it.
Hotel Louie at 123-28 82nd Ave., which sat empty for months, opened earlier this week. (DNAinfo/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska)
According to Mona Anjum, who works at the front desk, double bed rooms at the hotel cost $149 plus tax, while suites are $179 plus tax.
The hotel building, which also features commercial space — part of which will be taken over by a medical facility, hotel employees said — and 44 basement valet parking spots was supposed to open months ago as The Queens Savoy Hotel and Residences, Steve Papas of Forge Realty, which owns the building, told DNAinfo New York in September 2015.
It was unclear why that deal fell apart.
Kumar declined to reveal the identity of the current lessee who took on the vacant building, and said it's not clear whether they will also operate an adjacent building, at 124-18 Queens Blvd., which used to house popular restaurant Pasta Lovers until the owners decided to rebuild in 2008 and add the hotel complex to the parking lot. Construction at the restaurant building stalled for months, but has recently resumed.
The project initially angered local residents who feared it would bring more traffic and parking problems to the area.
While the hotel portion of 123-28 82nd Ave. is already open, construction crews are still working on the apartments which should be ready to rent in about 2 to 3 weeks, Kumar said.
One-bedroom apartments will cost from $2,500 to $3,000 a month, two-bedrooms will cost from $3,500 to $3,750.
There is also a penthouse, featuring four bedrooms and three baths for $7,500 a month, Kumar said.
