REAL ESTATE Armenian: DiPaola says home plans to re-invest here

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M oreover, she said, the homeʼs owners tell her “they can fully fund with funds from their sister company and they are not selling their property, but they do intend to build a new, state-of-theart facility.”

DiPaola suggested residents interested in following the proposal keep an eye on Land Use Board agendas.

ANRC closed its doors on Easter Sunday 2021 after 83 years in operation. Services included long-term care, sub acute rehabilitation, hospice care, and shortterm or respite care.

Its mission statement:“To provide quality healthcare and rehabilitative services to the aged and indigent, to promote wellness, relieve suffering, and to extend charitable relief to persons regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnicity.”

From the outside, the 3.5-acre property, with its 86 beds, still appears well-maintained. Commons areas and grounds appear ready for use.

All residents “were safely and appropriately transitioned” to other nearby facilities, according to an April 23, 2021 announcement on the homeʼs website.

That statement noted, “It has been an arduous journey for our collective community, and although the COVID-19 pandemic created challenges and changes to our vision, the end is in sight and development planning is underway!”

It said, “As additional progress is made, further updates will be provided. In the interim, rest assured that our organizations are working diligently to bring about the development of a new facility, to fulfill our collective missions, and to support senior citizens and the needy in our communities. We thank you for your past, current and ongoing support!”

Nearly 18 months ago, we reported that the Armenian Home had said it was embarked on exciting expansion plans.

The Armenian Mirror-Spectator reported in 2018 that the board of directors for New Yorkʼs only residential facility for Armenian seniors, the New York Armenian Home, decided to sell their building in Flushing and

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relocate. They finally agreed with Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (ANRC) on a joint venture in Emerson, for which they were then finalizing the paperwork.

The paper quoted Khoren Bandazian, secretary of ANRCʼs board of directors: “Weʼre going to be establishing a new nonprofit company that each side will have participation in. And, we are currently talking with the Hack- ensack Meridian Health Network to be the developer, to build the new building, and also to manage the building going forward once itʼs completed.”

According to Bandazian, construction on the Emerson property was to begin within the next nine months and was expected to be completed 18 months later. That did not occur.

Hermansen said the homeʼs representatives said they were try- ing to arrange a meeting date with nearby residents to let neighbors know what plans are likely. He said the meeting should help end inaccurate gossip and speculation about the siteʼs plans.

L ocal officials said they were not sure where or when the meeting with residents would be held.

We reached out to named Armenian Nursing Home officials for comment but did not hear back by press time.

M eanwhile, the homeʼs website appears as it was when the property closed. There are several testimonials up, including this one, from Yeghishe G., which appears typical:

“Words are not adequate to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone for your kindness and thoughtfulness during my stay in the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to know everyone and enjoy your warm friendship. I shall always cherish and value your friendship. Many thanks again for everyone's kind consideration and may God bless you.”

For more, see “Armenian homeʼs plans? ʻNo comment,ʼ weʼre told,” Pascack Press, July 23, 2021.)