Parkway Hospital
Opened in 1963, this Queen’s borough hospital served the community for over 40 years, closing for good in 2008. Fighting to keep the hospital open, however, in the end, the state revoked their operating license as one of the only privately owned hospitals in the city.
Hospital spokesman Fred Stewart stated, “No one comes and padlocks the building, but we are not taking new admissions. We can still provide medical services out of this building. The only thing we can’t do is provide acute care inpatient services. Most of our patients will be transferred in the next several days.”
This hospital was one of the hospitals the New York State Commission on Healthcare Facilities in the 21st Century, known as the Berger Commission, mandated to close because the panel said the area had too many unused hospital beds. Additionally, the hospital scored lowest of hospitals in that area on financial stability, numbers of patients served, and how well their revenues covered their expenses.
The hospital’s former chief executive officer, Dr. Robert Aquino, had used various means to keep the facility open, including bribing the former New York state Sen. Carl Kruger, which led to Aquino being sentenced to four months in prison in 2012.
Several developers have submitted redevelopment plans in recent years, everything from fair market housing to senior housing. As of early 2021, the property still sits abandoned and decays more all the time. Until next time explorers, stay safe.
Further Reading