Thursday, October 1, 2026
By mid-February, local developer Lee Browning says, he will present a plan to build a Marriott hotel at the site of the former Mangrove Feather Company on Broadway in Lynbrook, near the village’s Long Island Rail Road station.
“Everyone is cooperating, and we are trying very hard to make this happen …,” Browning said. “[I]t would be a nice thing to see.”
Browning said that in recent weeks he had signed a 90-day contract with the village to develop a plan for the site’s redevelopment. The agreement allows Browning to develop a plan for a Marriott that village officials will review and either approve or deny, he said. During the contract period, either party can choose to cancel it, he added.
The aging, vacant property, known locally as the “Feather Factory,” has been closed for several years, to the dismay of residents.
Mayor Bill Hendrick signed the contract several weeks ago, and now is waiting for Browning to present a plan. “ He has got to tell me if he is going ahead,” Hendrick said, “or if it seems he can make a project and put together a plan.”
Before Browning can present a plan, he explained, he must evaluate the property’s condition. As part of that process, he has asked a structural and electrical engineer to inspect the building. He has also found a construction company to do the work. “I consider the building to be a blighted area that needs to be restored,” he said.
The building, which has been closed for at least five years, would not be demolished, but rather restored, with more levels added to its structure, Browning said, adding that he would like to preserve the building’s history. “There will be a glass showcase of a lady in the 1920s,” he said. “We are keeping it nostalgic, and the name of the hotel’s courtyard will reflect that.”
The proposed hotel would have approximately 150 rooms, Browning said. There would be parking directly across the street, separate from the LIRR station parking.
At this point, Browning said, he hopes that the deal will work out, though he acknowledged that it depends on whether there is any contamination at the site, which, he added, is not in the best condition.
Hendrick said that he wants to see the property renovated, and will work with the village board to make that a reality. “We do not want it to be vacant anymore,” he said. “We want to get this going.”
If the deal does not work out, however, Hendrick added, the village will bring in another developer.
