By Adam Kramer
The institute, on the grounds of the Long Island Jewish Hospital at 271-11 76th St. in New Hyde Park received a zoning variance from Community Board 13 to add 20,000 square feet of space in the patio of the existing building.
“People in the community who have contacted us have been very supportive,” said Barry Zeman, president of the Parker Jewish Institute. “The community knows that Parker has not renovated the facility in 30 years, and by updating the facility we will be able to provide better care to our patients and residents.”
He said the renovations will move the facility onto the cutting edge and take Parker into the future when it comes to providing care for senior citizens and people who have had surgery on their hips and backs.
Parker Jewish Institute is a 527-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility that provides both long- and short-term care for adults from 29 to old age.
The construction will add another 82 beds, space for post-cardiac treatment unit, new dining rooms and push out the front of the building making room for the facility to add patient services, said Julie Robinson-Tingue, a spokeswoman for Parker.
After the renovation is completed, Zeman said Parker will be able to accommodate many more partners from New York City and Long Island that want their patients to receive the newest therapies.
“We will be able to handle the Baby Boomers,” Zeman said. “There is no question that a major demographic is the aging of the population. Baby Boomers might need Parker's services and we are in position to be the best facility in Queens and Long Island.”
Richard Hellenbrecht, second vice chairman on Community Board 13 and chairman of the land use community, said the board and community were very supportive of senior citizen housing and care. He said the only concerns were parking and making sure trucks enter and leave at the Lakeville road entrance.
The community met with the Parker's administration and “they felt the expansion would not cause adverse affects on the community,” Hellenbrecht said. “Parker said they would build garages, have stackers or shuttle in employees for another parking facility in order to deal with parking.”
Zeman said there will be less need for parking at Parker with the expansion because the facility plans to move some of its outpatient services into neighboring communities.
“The Bellerose business district would be very happy to look at having some of these outpatient facilities on Jamaica Avenue/Jericho Turnpike,” said Hellenbrecht, who is the Bellerose business district's treasurer. “The only concern is the clinics have parking and access.”
