Clarkstown OKs $4M for New Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance Headquarters

After six years of planning and talks with the Town of Clarkstown, the Congers-Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps won approval Tuesday night from the Town Board for $4 million to build a new headquarters in Congers.

The town has agreed to float a bond issue that would cover the cost of the project to replace the corps' old headquarters on Kings Highway. Clarkstown Town Attorney Amy Mele said the collaboration between the town government and the ambulance corps on the project will save town taxpayers an estimated $1 million.

Mele said the town government has the ability to finance the new building at a lower costs that if the ambulance corps were to seek the financing on its own.

"There has been a tremendous savings to the community on this project by us working together with the ambulance corps," said Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack.

As they have been waiting for the final approval for the financing, the ambulance corps has been working out of temporary quarters on Route 9W in Congers.

Ambulance corps president Brian Thomas Valley Cottage said he and the other members of the volunteer group are eager for work to begin on the new building.

Andrew Gioseffi, who is chairman of the ambulance corps' board of directors, said members of the corps are especially eager to dispel rumors in the community that Congers-Valley Cottage Volunteer Ambulance Corps has stopped functioning.

"We want to make it very clear to our community that we are here and ready and willing to serve," Gioseffi said as he thanked members of the Town Board for approving the financing for the headquarters project.

The Town Board on Tuesday night also award contracts related to construction of the new building. H2M Group has been hired to provide professional engineering services and construction management services for the project. Additionally, DCAK-MSA Architecture has been hired to provide professional architect and engineering services.

A $2.9 million construction contract for the project was also awarded Tuesday to Nikk0 Construction of 173 Rt. 303, Congers, operated by Maria D. Straniere and Richard Straniere.

Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance Corps was formed in May 1965 and began service on Nov. 1, 1966, according to the corps' official history.