Peninsula Pediatrics Breaks Ground on Beach 129th
By Katie McFadden
Dr. Danielle Flanigan and her husband Peter Hungerford have taken a big step toward the future of Peninsula Pediatrics. On Wednesday, November 8, they held a groundbreaking at 129-03 Newport Avenue for their brand-new office space.
Dr. Flanigan has been taking care of Rockaway’s kids for eight years. Pediatrics was a dream she held onto since she herself was a child. She completed her pediatric training at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY and spent a year at NYU Langone Medical Center working as a Pediatric Hospitalist before realizing a primary care practice would be better suited for her. “I absolutely adore every facet of it. It’s really where my niche is. I love knowing my patients and their families,” Dr. Flanigan said. She went on to find that niche working at what was Premier Pediatrics at 121-05 Rockaway Beach Blvd. since 2016. Last year, Dr. Flanigan and her husband bought the practice, transforming it into Peninsula Pediatrics last November, offering routine primary pediatric care, well care, preventative care, illness care, mental health services and more. And they immediately made plans of expanding and opening a new location where they could offer even more.
With Hungerford having a background in real estate, the couple got to work looking for the perfect spot. “We drove around the neighborhood block by block looking for the right location and opportunity and we think we found it at 129-03 Newport Avenue on Beach 129th Street,” he said. “It’s such an amazing intersection of the community. You have the retail on Beach 129th and it’s on the same block as St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy, and you have a hard traffic light there so anyone stopping at that light will see this location. This location is a homerun.” The couple reached out to the owner of the corner building where podiatrist Dr. Schilling’s office used to be and struck a deal. Beach 129th will soon have a pediatrician on the block once again. But it will take a little time.
On Wednesday, Flanigan and Hungerford took sledgehammers to the sheetrock of the old building that will be demolished down to the foundation, and their contractor will be constructing a beautiful new building that will match the aesthetic of the commercial and residential block. With a ramp leading to the door, the new building will be handicap accessible and perfect for parents pushing strollers. There will also be some off-street parking for about six to eight vehicles. The new office will even include a large saltwater fish tank at the check in area, to tie into their ocean theme.
Even more important is what Peninsula Pediatrics will be able to do in the new, bigger space. “I love our current location, but we just need more space. With the new space, we’re going to be able to incorporate a wellness and a separate illness waiting room. We’re also going to have more rooms available to help improve efficiency of the space, so patients aren’t waiting as long. We’re going to offer more services on site that we haven’t be able to do due to space constraints, including on-site blood testing. Our goal is to get into the new space and over time maybe this will open even more opportunities to get some specialist care,” Flanigan said. “It will allow for more hours, more providers and more space to put us in a better position to cater to patients’ needs,” Hungerford added.
Reaching the big step of groundbreaking on the project, Flanigan is ready for the future of Peninsula Pediatrics. “It’s so exciting. It’s really surreal. This isn’t for me. I’m just so excited to offer this to the patients to improve their experience in their child’s care because that’s a huge part of it,” Dr. Flanigan said. “We really love this community and we’re really looking forward to being able to offer this great space to the community.”
Flanigan and Hungerford are hoping to open the new Peninsula Pediatrics next summer. When they do open, there will be a seamless transition from their current office at 121-05 Rockaway Beach Blvd. to the new building on Beach 129th, so current patients won’t experience disruptions.
For more information about the practice, check out: www.peninsulapedsny.com