12-Story Hotel Rises In Dutch Kills

There will be room at the inn later this year for travelers passing through the Dutch Kills community in Long Island City.

Crews started working earlier this month on a 12-story Fairfield Inn, a Marriott "Brand" hotel located on 39th Avenue between 29th and 30th Streets, said John Lam of the Lam Group, the developer/ owner of the hotel.

The hotel will boast 154 rooms with an assortment of amenities for travelers who prefer Queens to Manhattan, Lam said. Expected completion of the $30 million project is slated for late 2007, according to Marriott Hotel spokesperson Cathy Duffy.

Duffy said the Marriott chain has franchised a number of hotels under the Fairfield Inn brand, including one in Times Square across from the Port Authority building.

John Lam will manage and maintain the property, Duffy said. "It will not be Marriott-managed."

Lam said he chose to build the hotel in Dutch Kills because the area is geographically well positioned in proximity to Manhattan.

"With the growing commercial market in the area, this seems to be the right moment to be able to offer [hotel] services to these businesses," Lam said.

News of the project calmed fears expressed by officials at the Dutch Kills Civic Association, who were concerned that the proposed hotel would offer "short-stay" rooms and rates.

"Knowing this is a Marriott Hotel franchise operated by reputable owners will put those fears to rest," George Stamatiades of the Dutch Kills Civic Association said. - Liz Goff