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Qns. Village medical center relocates to Cambria Hts

By Howard Koplowitz

“It'll be a benefit for the community,” said City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) of the plans to build a more modern facility, which would include wheelchair-accessible ramps – a feature not found at the Queens Village center.He confirmed that HIP has chosen 206-20 Linden Blvd., the site of a vacant lot and warehouse with a parking lot, for the new center.Cambria Heights Civic Association President Kevin Jemmott, who also confirmed that location, said the site measures 17,900 square feet.”I think this is a good site,” said Comrie, noting that Linden Boulevard is the commercial strip of Cambria Heights so the center would be in character with the surrounding community. “It'll be good for the area.” Jemmott agreed. “It's like a no-brainer,” he said of the plans. Neither the owner of the lot nor HIP could be reached for comment. But Ronald Maiorana, HIP's senior vice president for public affairs, earlier acknowledged to the TimesLedger that the company wants to replace its Queens Village facility with a more modern center in Cambria Heights. He could not identify an exact location at the time. Comrie said he is in the process of setting up a meeting with the health care company to learn more about its plans.”I look forward to working with HIP,” he said.HIP would not have to apply for a variance to build the center so it would not be required to go before Community Board 13 for approval, according to Comrie. Before settling on the Linden Boulevard site, HIP was in talks to construct a center by Francis Lewis and Springfield boulevards, noted Jemmott, who said he had spoken with the developer who had discussed the plans with HIP.But that location drew anger from local residents at a recent civic meeting amid concerns about being close to neighboring homes and because the community was not informed of the plans.