81-Room Howard Johnson Under Way in Long Island City

NEW YORK CITY-The owner of a Howard Johnson hotel in trendy Soho is putting his faith in the future of Long Island City. Amit Gandhi will open an 81-room HoJo there next spring.

Gandhi, who owns a majority stake in the venture, came in late to the project. The land, located at 42-24 Crescent St., was purchased roughly a year ago by minority partner Sam Chang in a $4.5-million deal. Total cost of the project is roughly $7 million. Chang’s company, Mike Sam Construction, will build the hotel. Gandhi and a third partner, Manish Patni, will run the facility.

Gandhi tells GlobeSt.com the area is ripe for hotel development. “We like the area and we think it’s going to be a rebuilding zone,” he says. “There are a lot of new establishments coming into the area, such as MOMA.” The Museum of Modern Art recently took up temporary quarters in Long Island City while its 53rd Street space undergoes renovations.