Middle Island nursing centers' expansion plan sparks standoff with Brookhaven Town over parking
A sign outside the Quantum rehabilitation facility in Middle Island on Tuesday. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Two adjacent Middle Island nursing homes seeking to expand are in a standoff with neighbors and Brookhaven Town that both sides blame on a chronic lack of parking.
Staff and visitors to the Surge and Quantum rehabilitation and nursing centers park their cars at the end of driveways of nearby homes, block package deliveries and take up parking spaces at a nearby park, according to Brookhaven officials and nearby residents who say they are fed up with the situation.
The nursing centers — which sit on adjoining Oakcrest Avenue properties and share the same ownership — are seeking town permission to build a small visitors center, town officials say. The centers' owners also are seeking to subdivide the property.
But Brookhaven officials say they will block both zoning requests until the parking problem is resolved.
Gail Lynch-Bailey, president of the Middle Island Civic Association, said informal efforts to solve the problem have been unsuccessful.
“The biggest problem is the parking. They don’t have ample parking for visitors and the staff," Lynch-Bailey said in a telephone interview. "The neighbors have just had it.”
The nursing homes, which were built more than 50 years ago, serve a combined 250 patients daily, according to a statement released Tuesday by the facilities through a public relations spokesman. Quantum specializes in treating people recovering from traumatic brain injury, and Surge provides treatment for chronic breathing and heart conditions, the statement said.
The statement acknowledged demand for parking has grown in recent years due to increases in visitors and staffing. The facilities did not provide figures for employment or visitation.
"The administrators and staff of Surge and Quantum are committed to being good and responsive neighbors," the statement said. "Facility managers understand the community’s concerns and are working diligently and have partnered with the Town of Brookhaven and civic association to find both short- and long-term solutions that will offer relief."
Neighbors say Surge and Quantum posed no problems for the neighborhood until the past two to four years, when, they say, staff and visitors began flooding the street with parked vehicles.
Drivers have blocked driveways, thrown litter on lawns and prevented deliveries of packages including pharmaceuticals, some residents said.
“My postal carrier, she can’t get in to deliver mail and she can’t get in and out of her car,” resident Karen Allen said. She added that parking issues also make it difficult for nursing home visitors who must park a long distance from the facilities.
“I had a woman crying in front of my house because she couldn’t get down the street to see her husband.”
Brookhaven Councilman Michael Loguercio said the town erected signs restricting parking in front of the houses about a year ago. There were no apparent parking violations Tuesday morning when a Newsday photographer visited the neighborhood.
Loguercio said some nursing home visitors and staff have parked down the road at Pine Lake town park, eliciting complaints from park patrons.
He said Surge and Quantum must create new parking before the town grants their owner's request to approve construction of a new building on the property and to subdivide the parcel.
“I will not support any expansion of that building until they arrange for ample parking for all of their employees and visitors,” he said in a phone interview.
Lynch-Bailey said some residents also complain about odors such as sewage and motor oils that they believe are coming from the nursing homes.
Despite the complaints, she said, most people aren't opposed to the homes — as long as the parking issues are solved.
“People say a lot of bad things about these places ... but they are healing people and they aren’t going away," Lynch-Bailey said. "We have to come up with a plan to deal with them.”
Two adjacent Middle Island nursing homes seeking to expand are in a standoff with neighbors and Brookhaven Town that both sides blame on a chronic lack of parking.
Staff and visitors to the Surge and Quantum rehabilitation and nursing centers park their cars at the end of driveways of nearby homes, block package deliveries and take up parking spaces at a nearby park, according to Brookhaven officials and nearby residents who say they are fed up with the situation.
The nursing centers — which sit on adjoining Oakcrest Avenue properties and share the same ownership — are seeking town permission to build a small visitors center, town officials say. The centers' owners also are seeking to subdivide the property.
But Brookhaven officials say they will block both zoning requests until the parking problem is resolved.
Parking at a premium
- Residents of a Middle Island neighborhood say staff and visitors of the Surge and Quantum nursing homes park their cars at the end of driveways and block mail and package deliveries.
- Brookhaven Town has erected no-parking signs along Oakcrest Avenue near the facilities.
- Surge and Quantum officials say they "understand the community’s concerns" and are working with town and civic leaders to resolve them.
Gail Lynch-Bailey, president of the Middle Island Civic Association, said informal efforts to solve the problem have been unsuccessful.
“The biggest problem is the parking. They don’t have ample parking for visitors and the staff," Lynch-Bailey said in a telephone interview. "The neighbors have just had it.”
The nursing homes, which were built more than 50 years ago, serve a combined 250 patients daily, according to a statement released Tuesday by the facilities through a public relations spokesman. Quantum specializes in treating people recovering from traumatic brain injury, and Surge provides treatment for chronic breathing and heart conditions, the statement said.
The statement acknowledged demand for parking has grown in recent years due to increases in visitors and staffing. The facilities did not provide figures for employment or visitation.
"The administrators and staff of Surge and Quantum are committed to being good and responsive neighbors," the statement said. "Facility managers understand the community’s concerns and are working diligently and have partnered with the Town of Brookhaven and civic association to find both short- and long-term solutions that will offer relief."
The Surge facility, with cars parked along the street. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Neighbors say Surge and Quantum posed no problems for the neighborhood until the past two to four years, when, they say, staff and visitors began flooding the street with parked vehicles.
Drivers have blocked driveways, thrown litter on lawns and prevented deliveries of packages including pharmaceuticals, some residents said.
“My postal carrier, she can’t get in to deliver mail and she can’t get in and out of her car,” resident Karen Allen said. She added that parking issues also make it difficult for nursing home visitors who must park a long distance from the facilities.
“I had a woman crying in front of my house because she couldn’t get down the street to see her husband.”
Brookhaven Councilman Michael Loguercio said the town erected signs restricting parking in front of the houses about a year ago. There were no apparent parking violations Tuesday morning when a Newsday photographer visited the neighborhood.
Loguercio said some nursing home visitors and staff have parked down the road at Pine Lake town park, eliciting complaints from park patrons.
He said Surge and Quantum must create new parking before the town grants their owner's request to approve construction of a new building on the property and to subdivide the parcel.
“I will not support any expansion of that building until they arrange for ample parking for all of their employees and visitors,” he said in a phone interview.
Lynch-Bailey said some residents also complain about odors such as sewage and motor oils that they believe are coming from the nursing homes.
Despite the complaints, she said, most people aren't opposed to the homes — as long as the parking issues are solved.
“People say a lot of bad things about these places ... but they are healing people and they aren’t going away," Lynch-Bailey said. "We have to come up with a plan to deal with them.”
Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.
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