Neighbors Clash Over Planned Ambulance Depot In Queens: Report

QUEENS, NY — Opponents of a planned ambulance depot in central Queens claim that they are being threatened and intimidated by the depot's supporters, according to a new report.

Queens Hatzolah, a volunteer EMS organization aimed at serving Hasidic communities (many of whom speak Yiddish or have specific modesty concerns), plans to open a two-story emergency dispatch center in place of a house on the corner of 68 Road and Main Street, according to permits filed with the Department of Buildings last month.

A group of neighbors, though, oppose the depot — which they refer to as "800-pound gorilla" — citing quality of life concerns (like noise and flashing lights) and worries that the structure could impact their home values, according to a New York Post article.

"It may be true that [Queens Hatzolah is] doing a lot of valuable things for the community, but there has to be some oversight," a neighbor named Mordecai Koenigsberg told the Post, noting that people are generally in favor of the group, but would like to see them open a location elsewhere.

"There are other places you could build that are zoned for commercial use," he said. (The building at 144-03 68 Road, where Queens Hatzolah wants to open a depot, can be used for residential and commercial buildings, according to the city.)

The concerned neighbors formed a block association, which then started receiving threats, according to the Post.

Backers of the plan reportedly threatened to get in the way of opponents' matchmaking plans for their children, and threatened to not as willingly help opponents if they needed medical care, neighbors (including some Koenigsberg and some anonymous sources) told the outlet.

The Post also reported that Koenigsberg's son, Avi — who used to volunteer with Hatzolah but is one of the project's main opponents, according to the Post — was hospitalized after a fire mysteriously started in his car. There isn't any indication that Hatzolah was involved in the blaze, though, the outlet noted.

Hatzolah did not respond to multiple requests for comments from The Post.

As of March 29, the building permits needed to convert the now-single family home into an ambulance depot haven't been approved by the city.

Read the full NY Post article, 'Fights and sirens: Battle over planned ambulance depot rocks sleepy NYC block,' here.