Larchmont VAC to get new Ambulance Building

[WAS967 97]

Larchmont VAC to get new Ambulance Building

http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/041...4ambulance.html

By HEMA EASLEY 

THE JOURNAL NEWS 

(Original publication: April 14, 2004)

Construction crews began tearing down the headquarters of the Larchmont Volunteer Ambulance Corps on Weaver Street yesterday, readying the site for a new $895,000 building that is expected to be ready by the end of the year. 

Workers drilled through the walls to tear out Sheetrock and wood. The 2,600-square-foot facility at 155 Weaver St. is expected to be demolished during the next few days, said LVAC President Joseph Russo, who was overseeing the work yesterday. 

"Our new facility will provide desperately needed space for equipment and training, and will be a tremendous boost to morale of existing members," said Brendan Collins, an ambulance corps captain. "Also, it will help us in successfully recruiting new members, a key factor in our ability to provide this vital volunteer service to our community." 

A new building was necessary, Russo said, because the old facility lacked adequate space for parking ambulances, training and overnight stays for volunteers. The building was constructed as a five-year temporary shelter in 1978, and some additions were made to the original structure in 1988. Over the years, it had fallen into a state of disrepair. 

The ambulance corps was founded in 1972 to provide emergency medical services to residents of Larchmont and the town of Mamaroneck. Since then, its strength has grown to 60 volunteers. 

Last year, the corps responded to 1,100 emergencies. It also offers CPR, first-aid training, and other education programs to the community, and provides educational tours to all local elementary schools and day camps. 

Corps officials say that while the organization's strength and services increased in the last 40 years, its facility hadn't kept pace with the growth. Office and living space was inadequate, Russo said, with shower space and lockers located within the main communal area. There also was inadequate privacy for woman volunteers and training sessions were often held in the bay area where vehicles were parked. 

"It was a hodgepodge of additions,'' Russo said. "It was inefficient the way it was set up." 

Though the corps had been asking for a new building since the early 1980s, it made a formal request to the town of Mamaroneck only five years ago. After considering several designs and the accompanying change in costs, the town finally approved the construction on March 31. It agreed to pay the entire cost of the two-story, 3,600-square-foot building. 

While the new premises are being constructed, the ambulance corps will operate from the town of Mamaroneck's Fire Department at 205 Weaver St. The corps moved all of its equipment to that site earlier this month.