77,000 square-foot facility will bring healthcare to 25,000 underserved New Yorkers as part of the Mayor’s Caring Neighborhoods Initiative
Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced plans for Healthview, a 77,000 square-foot medical facility that will be part of the Mayor’s Caring Neighborhoods Initiative in Flushing, Queens. Operated by the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, the new center will provide care to over 25,000 underserved New Yorkers and create over 140 new jobs in the first three years of operation.
“All New Yorker deserves equal access to healthcare and this state-of-the art facility means the tens of thousands of people in booming Flushing will get the primary care they need. As we work to make this city more equitable we are focused on neighborhoods that have been overlooked – and righting wrongs,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
“The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center is fully committed to providing affordable and culturally competent healthcare services to the people of Flushing and neighboring Queens,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, who leads the City’s mental health and substance misuse efforts. “Healthview is a wonderful example of how we strengthen a community by closing treatment gaps and addressing mental and physical health needs.”
Healthview will be located at 40th Road and College Point Boulevard amid Flushing’s bustling retail, transportation, and residential hub. The project will be a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facility designed to ensure primary care is available to all, regardless of ability to pay or immigration status. Healthview will serve as a primary care access point with clinicians spanning the fields of internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, psychiatry, behavioral health and family dentistry.
As part of the Mayor’s Caring Neighborhoods initiative, the City is providing $1 million for the $65 million Healthview project through the New York City Economic Development Corporation’s Community Health Center Expansion Program. Other public funding comes from Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, whose office contributed $3 million, and the New York City Council, who helped secure $2 million for the project, and. A groundbreaking for the center expected this fall.
Caring Neighborhoods is a vital part of the administration’s commitment to reduce health disparities by building primary care capacity in neighborhoods where New Yorkers have faced limited options for convenient and affordable health care services. The City has committed $20 million to cover pre-development and start-up operating costs for new health centers. In total, over 100,000 new patients will be able to receive care in their own neighborhoods thanks to the community health centers expanded through Caring Neighborhoods.
“I am excited that we will be expanding our healthcare services for the Flushing community. There are many residents of Flushing who still lack access to affordable primary care services, particularly mental health and dental services,” said Jane T. Eng, President and CEO of Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. “The new site, located at College Point Boulevard and 40th Road, will meet some of this increasing demand. The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center provides services to patients regardless of their ability to pay. We are proud to be an anchor employer, providing job opportunities for community members. We appreciate all of the support from elected officials including Mayor DeBlasio, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim, New York State Assembly Member Nily Rozic, New York City Council Member Peter Koo, New York City Council Member Margaret Chin, New York City Council Member Corey Johnson, New York City Council Member Paul Vallone and all the other government officials at the city, state, and federal level who have supported us.”
“Access to quality healthcare is an essential piece of any strong neighborhood,” saidNYCEDC President James Patchett. “That’s why we’re committed to helping the city’s health centers grow their reach through our Community Health Center Expansion Program. And with the healthcare industry employing more New Yorkers than any other sector, Healthview will not only provide much-needed care to thousands more patients, it will also bring more than a hundred new jobs to the local economy.”
“Increasing access to affordable, quality health care in neighborhoods across the city will allow communities to become healthier and reduce health disparities,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “The Charles B. Wang Community Health Center is a well-established provider that not only engages its patients to improve their health, but it engages the community at large to create a healthier environment for all.”
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The comments from Queens elected officials on how wonderful this new building and the mayor are were left out.
