January 2022 - Umbrella Hotel Update
In January 2022, The Kew Gardens Civic Association organized a meeting with elected officials to discuss the status of the Umbrella Hotel on 82nd Avenue and Queens Boulevard. In attendance were Senator Leroy Comrie, Councilwoman Lynn Schulman, staff of Assemblymen Rosenthal and Hevesi (who were in an Assembly session in Albany), NYPD Deputy Inspector Anthony Fidicaro of the 102nd Precinct, and representatives of the KGCA Board, Kew Gardens Improvement Association, Community Board 9, and members of the boards of four neighboring coop buildings (all of which are considering KGCA membership).
Prior to the meeting, the KGCA distributed a detailed briefing paper documenting the complicated history of the Umbrella Hotel property since 2008. The history of this property shows a pattern of disregard for public safety and city regulations by the property owner and hotel managers which has only been compounded by the lack of responsiveness to community concerns by the City and its elected officials. The only exception to this has been the NYPD 102nd Precinct. In the spirit of briefing a new City administration, we are also including a list of demands and proposed solutions to stabilize this property.