As we look forward to 2023, QNS is looking back at the top stories of the year in 2022.
Below are the top stories from the month of March, when a massive fire on Main Street destroyed many Flushing businesses, the only hospital in the Rockaways received much-needed federal funding, officials broke ground on a new school for Broad Channel and squatters in a Bayside home outraged neighbors.
Five-alarm fire leads to ‘severe damage’ to building on Flushing’s Main Street
A massive five-alarm fire nearly destroyed the East Commercial Plaza on Main Street on March 17, causing significant structural damage due to a collapsed roof. Councilwoman Sandra Ung was at the scene of the inferno and received a briefing from FDNY officials.
“As we prepare to help the small businesses impacted by the fire, I am already in direct contact with the small business services commissioner and will continue to monitor developments and changes in the situation,” Ung said.
The neighboring properties at 40-06 Main St. and 40-02 Main St. have also suffered “severe damage,” including sections of collapsed roofing at 40-2. More than 30 small businesses were affected during the blaze.
Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) and Renaissance Economic Development Corp. (REDC) have created the Flushing Downtown Fire Emergency Loan Program, a $1 million loan fund to assist small businesses impacted by the devastating fire
“The moment we heard about this disaster impacting so many small businesses in Flushing, we knew an Emergency Loan Program had to be created immediately,” said Jessie Lee, managing director of REDC. “We will be here every day until each and every small business in need of assistance receives it.”
St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway to receive $4M in federal funding for essential services
In mid-March, Congressman Gregory Meeks announced he had secured $4 million in federal funding to support crucial services at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway.
“The $4 million in funds for St. John’s Episcopal Hospital that will be used toward the renovation of the behavioral health, women and maternity/NICU, and labor and delivery units is extremely critical to support our only health center serving the Rockaways,” Meeks said.
Renee Hastick-Motes, the vice president of external affairs and president of the St. John’s ICARE Foundation, said she was extremely grateful for the funding that will support the behavioral health and women/newborn equity renovation projects.
“The renovations are essential to ensuring adequate care is provided to our patients in an esthetically conducive environment,” she said.
Now celebrating its 110th year of community care, the 257-bed medical facility provides comprehensive preventive, diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative services, regardless of the ability to pay.
Broad Channel celebrates the start of construction of the new P.S. 47 building to replace the school damaged by Superstorm Sandy
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held in Broad Channel on March 15 to celebrate a new, state-of-the-art replacement building for P.S. 47, which was demolished the year before. The new $49.9 million 260-seat, the four-story school will be a fully air-conditioned, accessible facility for 3K through eighth-grade students and will contain one 3K, one pre-K and one kindergarten classroom; eight standard classrooms; three special education classrooms; and middle school science demonstration and multi-use rooms.
“I am thrilled to break ground on this replacement building for P.S. 47, which will provide the children of Broad Channel with a modern, educational environment that will help them achieve their full potential,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “Every child in our borough deserves a quality education, which is why it is important to continue to strive for the construction of modern, high-quality school buildings in Queens and throughout our city.”
Broad Channel Civic Association President Dan Mundy Jr. said, “It is fitting that as we approach the 10-year anniversary of Sandy, we will see a new school rise on this site. One that is above the floodplain, resilient with many great features, and will serve the community for decades to come.”
Bayside lawmakers share residents’ frustration regarding local squatters
Queens Senator John Liu and Assemblyman Ed Braunstein were among the handful of people to speak during a rally on March 25, joining members of the Bayside community in venting their frustration regarding squatters who have been illegally occupying and renting out a home on Airbnb for two years. Community Board 11
District Manager Joe Marziliano spoke on the frustration felt by residents who live near the house at 208-16 38th Ave. after a group of transient residents allegedly fired at least 19 gunshots around the neighborhood.
“For five years, this problematic property has plagued our neighbors, first as a zombie home, then as an alleged squatter’s den, and now as an illegal Airbnb with a shooting spilling over into the streets,” Marziliano said.
