Migrants Living It Up At Luxurious 4-Star Hotel In Long Island
An upscale four-star hotel located in Long Island City has undergone a transformation into a migrant shelter due to the surge of asylum seekers arriving in New York City. This transition occurred despite Governor Kathy Hochul’s commitment to meet with federal officials on Sunday in an attempt to alleviate the strain on the city’s resources.
However, this gesture did little to alleviate the concerns of residents in Long Island City, who expressed dissatisfaction with the presence of the new “guests” as they believed it was negatively affecting their community.
The formerly trendy Collective Paper Factory hotel, once housing a historic paper factory, has been repurposed as an emergency shelter site for families by the Department of Homeless Services. City Hall officials confirmed this conversion to The Post on Saturday.
As of Friday, the hotel-turned-shelter at 37-06 36th Street had already accommodated 16 families, and plans were underway to occupy all 125 loft-style rooms with asylum seekers.
The five-story building also boasts amenities such as a gym, communal spaces, meeting rooms, a bar, and a restaurant.
“It is no longer operating as a hotel but rather as a shelter for families seeking asylum,” stated one employee.
While Mayor Eric Adams’ office did not disclose the expected number of migrants to be housed at the former hotel, concerned local residents have voiced their grievances about the new arrangement.
A nearby resident expressed frustration, detailing instances of migrants littering and discarding their trash on the streets. He shared an incident where a family was seen drinking and socializing by their cars, disturbingly even imitating barking at a dog being walked.
The resident, wishing to remain anonymous, questioned the regulations governing the newcomers and whether background checks were being conducted.
The resident added, “We are feeling apprehensive. We are worried that the entire block might turn into a gathering spot.”
Mayor Eric Adams has repeatedly cautioned that the migrant influx could severely impact New York City if additional federal funding does not materialize promptly.
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