Sheraton Gets Town's Approval for New Hotel, But Holds Off

Sheraton Long Island will hold off on building a new hotel near the Hauppauge Industrial Park, despite waiting more than a year for the town's approval. 

Smithtown Town Board approved the Sheraton's proposed plans to build a four-story hotel, the Springhill Suites Marriott, off Motor Parkway in Hauppauge on April 25. The hotel chain has no plans to move forward with construction at this time. 

"When the economy turns around and things like funding are much more readily available, then we would look to go ahead with this process," said Jeff Durham, general manager of the Smithtown Sheraton. 

Durham said he believes the hotel owners filed the building plans and tackled the town's lengthy permit process now to be able to act quickly in the future. 

Smithtown Long Island Hotel Properties representatives submitted plans to the town in September 2011 to build a 77,248-square-foot hotel on eastern, overflow parking lot of the Smithtown Sheraton on Motor Parkway. If built, it would offer 144 rooms for businessmen looking for an affordable place to stay overnight while attending corporate meetings and events in the industrial park, according to Durham.

The new hotel would only offer limited services, lacking the banquet and catering space available at the Sheraton. It would have its own outdoor swimming pool for guests.