Woodhaven Wants Collapsed Structure Razed To Ground
Deemed a public health hazard, a partially-collapsed building neighboring the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps’ headquarters should face the wrecking ball, Woodhaven residents demanded at a rally on Sunday afternoon, Mar. 2.
Organized by the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA), participants called for the full demolition of 78-19 Jamaica Ave., which suffered a cave-in last April and compromised the structural integrity of the ambulance corps’ base, located next door at 78- 15 Jamaica Ave.
The collapse proved a triplewhammy for Woodhaven, as it not only impacted the corps’ operations but also forced the Woodhaven- Richmond Hill Senior Center-which served elderly residents every week at the headquarters-to move elsewhere. The WRBA, which regularly met at the corps, also had to find other locations to hold its monthly sessions.
As a result, the corps lost rental income essential to its life-saving operations, according to the WRBA.
Nearly a year after the collapse, activists stated, the remains of 78-19 Jamaica Ave. continue to stand and cause damage to the nearby ambulance corps.
On Feb. 22, Fire Department units were called to the location after water leaked into the ambulance corps from the damaged neighboring structure.
The Buildings Department has issued thousands of dollars in fines against the collapsed structure’s owner, identified in public records as 78-19 Jamaica Ave. LLC, represented by George Kochabe. An arrest warrant was reportedly issued against Kochabe for failing to respond to the violations.
At Sunday’s rally, Woodhaven residents and lawmakers-including State Sen. Joseph Addabbo, Assemblyman Mike Miller and City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley-called for the city to bring the building’s owner to justice and to have the crumbling building leveled.
“This building is the perfect trifecta of what we don’t want in this neighborhood,” WRBA President Martin Colberg said. “It’s a magnet for graffiti. It’s a building that’s ready to collapse and it’s something that’s [threatening] to take away an institution in this community. … The Department of Buildings needs to step up and do something about this.”
“Every day this building is standing, the more dangerous it becomes for everybody,” added Community Board 9 Chairperson James Coccovillo. “Something has to be done as soon as possible. The problem is the legality of things slows the process down and it becomes a greater danger for the community.”
“It’s a disaster waiting to happen and we have to tear it down,” said Maria Thomson, executive director of the Greater Woodhaven Development Corporation and the Woodhaven Business Improvement District.
“We definitely don’t want to be back here to hold some kind of candlelight vigil because something terrible happened” resulting from the collapsed structure, said former WRBA President Ed Wendell.
Addabbo and Miller announced they would consider state legislation requiring the city to take corrective action in the event a property owner fails to fix a serious building code violation within 90 days of being cited for hazardous conditions. The property owner would then be billed for the work performed.
“We’re tired of hearing of the delays and of what the owner might do,” Addabbo said. “We’ve given the owner enough chances to do something and he’s proven to us he really doesn’t care about this building. … We want some action now. We want this building secure.”
