Construction Begins on $30M Community Health Center in Far Rockaway

On Tuesday, February 25, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announced that construction is now underway on a new 22,000-square-foot Gotham Health community health center that will provide comprehensive health care services to residents of Far Rockaway.

The state-of-the-art community health center will expand community members’ access to primary care, specialty care, women’s health, dental, vision, podiatry, radiology, and mental health services. The Adams administration has contributed $30 million to cover the cost of retrofitting the space and providing advanced medical equipment.

“As I said in my State of the City address last month, our goal is to make New York City the best place on the globe to raise a family, and keeping families healthy is essential to keeping families in the five boroughs,” Mayor Adams said. “For too long, lack of access to services has been a barrier to health care and opportunity for underserved communities here in Southeast Queens. With this facility, we are bridging the health care gap and investing $30 million to provide vital medical equipment for everyday New Yorkers.”

“New York City’s public hospital system provides care to New Yorkers without exception, including where they live,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Katz. “The opening of the Gotham Health Community Health Center in Far Rockaway will make critical primary and specialty care services readily available to residents of the peninsula, who for too long have needed to travel elsewhere to access the care they need. We are thankful to Mayor Adams and Queens Borough President Richards whose advocacy and investment made the construction of this clinic a reality.”

“The construction of the Gotham Health center in Far Rockaway will bring critical health care services to a historically underserved community,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Kimball. “NYCEDC is thrilled to have helped facilitate funding for this health center as a continued commitment to our Downtown Far Rockaway Roadmap for Action.”

“This new clinic expands access to high quality, affordable health care for the Far Rockaway community,” NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health CEO Michelle Lewis said. “With both primary and specialty care services, we are ensuring that patients are able to receive comprehensive, coordinated care. This clinic reflects our commitment to health equity and our mission to provide exceptional care for all New Yorkers.”

The new community health center — located at 1720 Village Lane in Far Rockaway — is expected to open in 2027 and is strategically designed to bridge health care gaps in Far Rockaway, where community members have historically had limited access to care. Borough President Richards played a crucial role advocating for the center and ensuring it will provide comprehensive health services and promote health equity for the Far Rockaway community.

“It’s been a decade since I convened the Downtown Far Rockaway Working Group to lead the groundbreaking $288 million rezoning of this incredible community, and the dividends this initiative continues to pay in this community are astounding. I couldn’t be prouder to have worked tirelessly alongside so many government and community partners to deliver this critical investment in the health of Far Rockaway families, as we bring the days of deliberate disinvestment in this neighborhood to an end,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said. “For far too long, families on the peninsula have experienced higher rates of numerous diseases, but the high-quality, comprehensive preventative care offered at this $30 million new NYC Health + Hospitals facility represents a massive step forward in making Far Rockaway a healthier and stronger community. The residents this clinic will serve deserve nothing less than the best.”

The facility will offer a full spectrum of primary care services, including:

• Preventive and general medical careto support the overall well-being of individuals and their families.
• Pediatric health careto promote the growth and development of children from infancy through adolescence.
• Women’s health and maternity servicesto provide comprehensive gynecological, reproductive, prenatal, and postpartum care.
• Mental and behavioral health supportto address community members’ emotional, psychological, and psychiatric needs.
• Chronic disease managementfor conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
• Comprehensive podiatry care, including treatment for diabetic foot conditions and other foot health concerns.
• Vision screenings and eye carefor diagnosing and managing common vision issues.
• Complete dental care, including routine exams, professional cleanings, and oral health treatments.
• Advanced diagnostic imaging, featuring CT Scans, DEXA|Bone Density Scan, ultrasounds, and 3D mammography to provide precise medical evaluations.

“The groundbreaking of the Gotham Community Health Center in Far Rockaway marks an important moment for our community,” New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers said. “With significant new development in Rockaway, we must ensure that essential services keep pace with the growing demand. This investment will bring preventative services—including primary care, women’s health, dental, vision, and mental health—directly to our neighborhood. While this center will provide much-needed preventative care, we remain steadfast in our push for a Level 1 or Level 2 trauma center on the Rockaway Peninsula. I thank the administration and Dr. Katz for their leadership in expanding healthcare access, and I look forward to continuing to work together to build a healthier future for Rockaway.”

“Every New Yorker deserves to have access to quality healthcare services, and this $30 million-dollar investment will significantly increase access to healthcare in the Rockaways and contribute to keeping our communities safe and healthy,” Congressman Gregory Meeks said. “I remain committed to advancing this effort through my work in Congress by supporting legislation that will protect and strengthen our healthcare services to deliver live-saving care to my constituents and visitors.”