The Amerada Hess station adjacent to New York Hospital Queens is expanding its operations at the same time as the hospital undertakes its own expansion to provide an additional 80 bed surgical unit.
According to City Councilmember John Liu who is spearheading opposition to the Hess expansion, community leaders have expressed deep reservations about the gas station expansion plans, citing health and environmental safety as a community-prioritized concern.
James Allen, vice president of corporate communications for the Hess Corporation dismissed safety concerns, saying that Hess doesn't consider this a safety issue because the gasoline is stored underground and the facility is compliant with all laws. “We've have had several communications with the hospital,” he said. “Hess is stuck in the 1950s. They have a nonchalant attitude to potential for risk from the juxtaposition of a gas station with hospital surgical patients. They're not acknowledging change in security risks. The gas station is right next door, it's not opposite to the new wing,” Liu said.
Initially Allan claimed that no additional pumps were being added to the site. He later said that the construction was primarily to increase the square footage of the onsite convenience store, and that he didn't know if Hess was adding extra pumps, although he thought they would probably replace existing pumps. “We're a large company; the people who know are in construction on the site so it's not easy to get an answer,” he said.
“One pump is one pump too many,” Liu said, scoffing at the idea that not adding pumps was somehow acceptable. “They may say no additional gas pumps, but with the expansion is the expectation of dispensing more gasoline.”
There has been a gas station on the current site for years; however, the hospital, which according to Liu is expanding because of critical need, has been trying to acquire the site.
John Byas, president of the University Park Tenants Council, said, “The Hess Corporation should sell the property to the hospital. It is too near to the hospital; it's a health problem and an environmental concern - even before Hess took it over from Mobil. Location-wise it is very bad for the hospital and the community. We've got fumes there, we've got gas there; it's very dangerous.”
According to Allen, the station is currently not operating, as the expansion is already underway.
Bessie Gasparre, a member of the NYHQ community advisory committee and board member of the Queensboro Hill Neighborhood Association, said, “It's terrible, because if there's ever an accident there, those patients have no chance at all. That's a very, very dangerous spot for a gas station.”
Hess considers the gas station a valuable service in the community, “Our customers are doctors, nurses and patients,” Allen said.
“The Hess station is too profitable for them to let go irrespective of community needs or best interest,” Liu countered.
Oppose Hess station expansion
By Jillian Abbott
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