Time and neglect have taken a toll on the large building that once housed Parsons Hospital, but after much public outcry, the building is being sold and is destined for demolition, most likely within a few months, according to its owner.
At its most recent district service cabinet meeting on April 26, Community Board 7 members expressed concern over the status of the building, located at 35-06 Parsons Blvd. in Flushing.
Urologist Richard Yoon, a reverend at the First Korean Church of New York, the building’s owner, according to the city Department of Buildings web site, said he would “like to rehabilitate” the site, “but the building is too old.”
Yoon said he is currently “in the process of selling” the building, though he would not name any potential buyers. He also suggested that he may enter into a partnership with the new owner to rebuild at the site.
Yoon indicated that there are “many proposed plans” for the new structure.He said it would become some kind of community facility that would have a “mixed use,” including, possibly, a hospital, a church, a theater and condominiums.
The building has a second listed address, 139-96 35 Ave., where its main entrance is located. Its windows are either cracked or non-existent, its doorway is covered in graffiti, and vegetation has overtaken the entire property.
The DOB has issued 70 violations against the property over several decades, 63 of which remain open. The majority of the problems are related to the boiler system.
More recently, the property was smacked with two “work without a permit” violations, which could make it subject to DOB civil penalties upon application for a permit. The two violations were filed on Feb. 1, 2012.
CB 7 District Manager Marilyn Bitterman indicated that she had previously tried to contact Yoon, by mail and telephone, after receiving several complaints from community members about “the deplorable condition of the property,” but he was not responsive. For Bitterman, the bottom line is “trying to get him to do something with that building.”
According to Anthony Iuliano, the government community affairs officer with the DOB who spoke at the meeting, Yoon will receive a letter indicating that he will have 30 days to secure the property.
If Yoon does not do so, the matter “could rise to a different level,” Iuliano said after the meeting.
One scenario, according to Iuliano, could result in the City Department of Housing Preservation and Development sealing the property.
Iuliano described the building as being vacant and unguarded. Its structural stability must be determined as a preventative measure, he said, adding, “We don't anticipate having to take the building down.”
On April 12, the lone 311 complaint against the building was lodged, for “failure to maintain, windows open and broken and property is in disrepair.”
As a result, on April 23, the DOB issued another violation, indicating that the building is “vacant, open and unguarded.”
The lack of substantial complaints to 311 makes the problem “difficult to navigate,” said Iuliano, adding, “if the community were more active, we'’d have put it on the radar screen much sooner.”
Yoon said that as of last Friday, he had not received any letters from the DOB or from CB7.
He admitted to receiving several tickets over a period of several months for "unclean sidewalks" near the site.
SMARK posted at 11:09 am on Fri, May 18, 2012.
I have lived on this block for 10 years and walked around wondering what it was, whether a clinic for the mentally ill, an emergency medical center etc... Apart of me was scared and the other part was so interested I was debating whether or not i should just go visit the place until i thought it out and said, maybe that's a bit dangerous and i may be trespassing. However, after many years I am ready to make a change and i came across this article and was very surprised that finally some information is being provided on who owns this abandon building without taking care of the building that has so much potential because it is historic. Although this change may take forever and I am being impatient, I am sending out flyer to the community and posting a date to all meet in front at an early morning with a mask to protect us from Asbestos, high boots perhaps rain boots, a thick stick for break anything our way and to dress in very heavy clothing and mainly making sure who ever is not protected enough will not join. Everyone has been wondering, and i am not sure if it would be considered trespassing because we have all been patient enough and want to make a change ! I would like to take pictures of the building to have it as a memory for Flushing, NY being built in 1933 i believe. If it does get demolished at least we all had visited this lonely building that we have grew up with. Everyone passes by it and barely notices this place looks haunted. FLUSHING, YOU WILL GET MY NOTICE SOON, COME JOIN US SO WE CAN DISCOVER WHATS HIDDEN BEHIND THESE CRACKED BRICK WALLS.