An Albertson doctor wants to jump-start his medical career by opening a private practice in New Hyde Park.
But residents told village trustees Tuesday that the office proposed for 1818 Jericho Turnpike will make parking near their homes even more of a struggle.
“It doesn’t look like a residence,” said Alexandra Cuervo, who lives on the adjacent Hoffman Road. “It looks like a commercial place now. We’re going to get like Queens.”
Philip Mathew’s medical office would replace White Cross Shoes and a medical equipment repair shop on the first floor of the building at Jericho Turnpike and Hoffman Road, he said. Mathew, his medical assistant and his secretary would share the building with Thinkertots, a “mommy-and-me” pre-school on the floor below, he said.
The office would have six exam rooms, two consultation offices and a waiting room with 10 seats, said Sam Miller, Mathew’s attorney.
The number of people in the building at a given time would decrease to 24 from 27 with two of the existing businesses leaving, Miller said.
Mathew, a native of India who got his medical degree from Moscow Medical Academy in Russia, would likely see only five patients a week for the first two years since he does not already have any regular patients, he said. He may bring on a nurse practitioner if business picks up, he said.
“As you all know, it’s hard to start a practice from scratch,” said Mathew, who works three days a week at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton.
Hoffman Avenue residents questioned whether Mathew’s business would be sustainable with so few patients, and said more cars come to and from Tinkertots than Mathew and Miller were representing.
Cars from Thinkertots, where parents park their cars and attend sessions with their children, and other nearby businesses often crowd the residential street, blocking residents from parking close to their houses, residents said.
There are 10 metered parking spaces in front of the building on Jericho Turnpike, five free spaces on Hoffman and 18 other metered spaces across Jericho, Miller said. The building also has six “valet” parking spaces, he said, but village Building Superintendent Tom Gannon said the parking lot would only fit three cars parked next to each other.
“If these businesses are going to use my street as a parking lot they should pay us,” said Joe Cummo of Hoffman Road. “I think this is time we draw the line here and say, ‘OK, this is a residential community, and the residents come first, the businesses second.’”
Mathew said New Hyde Park showed more “life” than locations further east. Jericho Turnpike had lower real estate prices than Hillside Avenue, another local commercial thoroughfare, he said.
A doctor’s office and pharmacy both operate without parking problems within 200 feet of Mathew’s proposed office, said Miller, who said residents were making “self-serving statements with no factual support.”
“I just think that the board shouldn’t be bullied into making any sort of decision that can unfairly impact us,” Mathew said.
The village Board of Trustees tabled Mathew’s application Tuesday night.
Trustees will discuss how the office would affect “the intensity of the use” before issuing a decision in September, Mayor Robert Lofaro said.
The board could consider implementing parking restrictions on Hoffman Avenue, Lofaro said.
Also on Tuesday, the board approved Floral Park resident Stephen Wicks’ application to open a second location of his Body King Studio, a one-on-one personal training facility, at 1632 Jericho Turnpike.
Wicks still requires an exception to parking regulations from the village Board of Zoning Appeals.
The board rejected Mario Bellevue’s application for a similar facility at 149 Covert Ave. after residents at a hearing last month said his studio, 250 Fitness, was operating in the space without a permit, playing loud music and disrespecting neighbors.
