Mount Sinai Hospital in Astoria is seeking approval from the state for a $113 million expansion to add 95,000 square feet to its existing facility, according to published reports.

The proposal, filed in December, is aimed at increasing the number of beds in the hospital, according to Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., who secured money for previous expansions at Mount Sinai.

“I support this expansion and my only concern is that it's taking so long,” Vallone said.

Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas also expressed support for the expansion in recent reports.

But community members expressed other concerns on the local blog site WhyleaveAstoria.com in response to a posting about the expansion, stating that the hospital is mismanaged.

Vallone, however, said a lack of needed beds in the hospital is the source of its problems.

“The longer we wait to provide needed beds, the longer people will wait in the Emergency Room for a bed,” he said, adding that patients now wait up to 48 hours to be seen by a doctor.

“That's part of the problem, is a lack of space,” Vallone said.

The expansion is pending approval from the state Health Department.

A representative from Mount Sinai Hospital declined to comment.

(Heather Senison)