BCVFD Signs Contract for New Firehouse

By Katie McFadden

“This is a big moment for the firehouse,” past chief of the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire Department (BCVFD) Dan McIntyre said. A big moment more than 20 years in the making. On Saturday, May 3, the BCVFD finally signed a contract that makes way for the future of the brand new BCVFD firehouse and Emergency Operations Center.

Broad Channel residents, elected officials, and past and current BCVFD members gathered at the current firehouse on Noel Road for the moment they’ve all been waiting for. After 20 years of gathering funding, garnering support from elected officials and dozens of meetings and phone calls, the BCVFD finally signed a contract with the company to get the job done. After a bid process, the BCVFD selected JAT Construction Group and on Saturday, JAT president and CEO John Longardo put pen to the paper with the expectation of beginning construction on the new firehouse this summer at 305 Cross Bay Blvd.

Chief George Conklin opened by thanking everyone in attendance and those who initiated the project. “Nearly 30 years ago, Chief Trudden, Chief Keenan, with then President O’Sullivan got this project started with a loan from Albany. As time went on, a determined individual who made it his main objective to build this building got involved. His determination is the reason we’re standing here today. Words can’t describe how much we appreciate what you’ve done, past Chief McIntyre,” Conklin said.

“A new building isn’t just a structure to house our trucks and ambulances. It signifies a new beginning with a promised future. It is evident we’ve grown out of 15 Noel Road. I look forward to seeing our junior members grow up in the new firehouse like I did in this one. Having a new place to call home will take this department to a new level,” Conklin continued before introducing McIntyre.

McIntyre began with the history of the mission to build a new BCVFD firehouse. “We go back in time to 1985. I was a probie here and I didn’t even know it. Chief Russel and Chief Neuer brought me in and said, ‘Hey Mac, we’ve got these new engines we want to bring in here to replace the ones from the ‘50s.’ I realized they’re not gonna fit. They’re about twice the size of the old engines, so we modified the building a bit and modified the rigs, but it became very apparent that we were gonna outgrow this firehouse,” McIntyre said.

When the BCVFD would go to the American Legion Hall during nor’easters to utilize the established radio communications there, they noticed a property next door. “We thought that would be a great place for a firehouse,” McIntyre said. A few years after setting their eyes on the property, it went up for auction and with fundraising money from Mardi Gras events, the BCVFD was able to pool enough together to purchase it. They bought the property in 1997 and signed a contract shortly after. Then, they realized just how much it would cost to build.

But over time, support came through. At their 100th anniversary dance, then Congressman Anthony Weiner presented the BCVFD with a million-dollar check, that was matched by then Senator Hillary Clinton. They were then able to start making connections with state and city agencies to get the ball rolling. Right before Hurricane Sandy, they were about to go to bid, but Sandy paused everything as Broad Channel needed to rebuild. But through that process, they started working with City Planning and Howard Beach architect John Calcagnile to start designing a resilient building. However, as time went on, the costs got higher.

But support kept coming with Councilman Eric Ulrich helping them to get city support while Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder helped on the state side. Then Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato was able to acquire $250K for the solar aspect of the building and then another million. Senator Joseph Addabbo was also able to help with a million-dollar grant. When Councilwoman Joann Ariola came into office, a former dispatcher for the BCVFD, she got the DOT to help move things along, and then added $600K. Congressman Gregory Meeks also gave a $500K HUD grant and Senator James Sanders has the BCVFD in the budget for another million. Dan Mundy of the Broad Channel Civic Association also dedicated a lot of time rallying elected officials around the project. “We’re pretty much covered,” McIntyre said.

The new firehouse will be at a 13 Base Flood Elevation, so it should survive any future flooding. With that, it will serve as an Emergency Operations Center, serving as a hub where the community can pre-plan for storms, and discuss how to move forward in the wake of any damage. “After Sandy, there was nowhere to go. FEMA put up tents at the BCAC fields, so we were standing in mud trying to fill out paperwork. Now we’ll have a place where, God forbid another storm befalls Broad Channel, we can go to,” McIntyre said before introducing Senator Addabbo and Councilwoman Ariola.

Addabbo spoke about a firehouse dinner 20 years ago in which Congressman Weiner held up the federal budget and said, “We’re getting the firehouse.” Addabbo says Weiner then turned to Lew Simon, and said, “I just don’t believe it.” “That was over 20 years ago,” Addabbo said. “I’m still here and I’m telling you now, I’m gonna be at the ribbon cutting because I’m gonna see this through. When Dan was talking about all of those pieces of the puzzle, it’s actually bricks. That’s the foundation. All those pieces are the bricks and we’re all gonna put this together and make one great damn firehouse.”

“This is a labor of love. Everyone that’s here from the start is still here today because everyone believes that the BCVFD deserves a new building,” Ariola said. She thanked her chief of staff Phyllis Inserillo for working behind the scenes to help with moving the process along on. “This is a project that even my dad was involved with, which is a testimony to those who worked hard and are no longer with us. We honor them by continuing in this steadfast work to get it done.”

McIntyre then introduced Longardo of JAT Construction. “About two years ago, I got a call to go to a meeting about a job and I spent two hours with Dan, and he explained how he’s been trying to build this for 20 years. I got my team together and told them it isn’t about a job anymore, this is about a cause,” Longardo said. “JAT Construction looks forward to giving you the project in a very short period of time.”

And with that, Longardo signed the contract. McIntyre held up the document, to a round of applause. “Twenty years is a long time to work on anything. Thank you, everyone. We look forward to getting this project started this summer and thank you to all of our elected officials who always stood behind us.”

Photo by Christopher Kalisak.