The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center (JPAFHC) celebrated a major milestone Friday with the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art annex at its Beach Channel Drive campus.
The facility’s ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the culmination of a transformative project aimed at expanding access to healthcare in one of Queens’ most medically underserved communities.
The over 20,000-square-foot, LEED-certified annex, located adjacent to the existing center at 6200 Beach Channel Dr. in Arverne, includes 21 new exam rooms, upgraded clinical and administrative areas, ADA-compliant infrastructure, off-street parking, green space, and enhanced lab and conference areas. Constructed to Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) standards, the expansion was completed without disrupting patient care.
“This annex is more than a building—it’s a beacon of progress, and access to care,” said Renee Hastick-Motes, CEO of JPAFHC. “It represents over a decade of unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes and removing barriers to care. This new space allows us to expand our services, reduce wait times, and create a more seamless patient experience.”
The center, which broke ground on the project in 2018, remained fully operational throughout construction. The expansion represents a major investment in community health infrastructure at a time when coastal areas like the Rockaways are still recovering from the long-term effects of Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic — both of which exposed significant health and resource disparities in Southeast Queens.
U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, who played a key role in securing federal funding for the project, praised the center for its mission and its expansion. “I have always been an advocate for providing the Addabbo Family Health Center with adequate federal funding to serve the growing and diverse population of the Rockaways,” he said. “Investing in the facility’s expansion allows for healthcare personnel to improve their medical services for patients and continue providing them with the quality care they deserve.”
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., whose father, the late Congressman Joseph P. Addabbo Sr., is the center’s namesake, called the annex a symbol of his father’s legacy. “This state-of-the-art facility not only enhances our healthcare infrastructure but also underscores our commitment to ensuring every individual in our community receives the care they deserve—close to home, with dignity and compassion,” he said. “The Addabbo family is immensely proud of the work done at the center.”
Founded in the 1980s, the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center is one of New York City’s leading Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), serving residents across the Rockaways, Southeast Queens, and parts of Red Hook, Brooklyn. The center offers comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, and social services, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
Board Chair Betty A. Leon also emphasized the mission of growth and equity: “The new extension will allow us to serve more people even more efficiently, and with the compassion that has defined the Addabbo mission for decades.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, and COO Arlene Rodriguez, along with dozens of staff, board members, and community stakeholders.
