4 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 27, 2022 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Steinway Library reopens following $4.9M rehabilitation project
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e Steinway Library in Astoria has
reopened to the public aft er undergoing a
$4.9 million makeover.
Queens Public Library and the city
Department of Design and Construction
(DDC) announced that the branch, located
at 21-45 31st St., now has a new ADA elevator
Bayside Walgreens set to close its doors on Bell Boulevard in February
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@schnepsmedia.com
@jenna_bagcal
A Walgreens pharmacy on Bell
Boulevard in Bayside is closing up shop
next month.
News of the store’s closure cropped
up on a neighborhood Facebook group
and a company spokesperson confi rmed
that following a “diffi cult decision,” Feb.
15 would be the last day for the Bayside
pharmacy.
“As we move forward on our strategy to
expand Walgreens’ role as a leader in the
delivery of healthcare, we are focused on
creating the right network of stores in the
right locations to best meet the needs of
the communities we serve. We have made
the diffi cult decision to close this location.
Th ere are a number of factors that we
take into consideration including dynamics
of the local market and changing buying
habits of our customers,” a company
spokesperson told QNS in an email.
Th e store’s current location at 39-20
Bell Blvd. previously housed a Rite Aid
Pharmacy but switched to a Walgreens
aft er the company bought half of its rival’s
U.S. stores for $5.18 billion in 2017.
According to the Walgreens spokesperson,
customers with existing prescriptions
at the Bell Boulevard store will have their
fi les “automatically transferred” to neighboring
pharmacies.
“Prescription fi les will automatically transfer
to other nearby stores. Customers do not
need to take any action; the transfer is automatic
and our teams at those stores look forward
to serving them. Pharmacy patients
will receive a letter in the mail providing
more information about their prescription
records,” the spokesperson told QNS.
Walgreens has multiple locations in
northeast Queens, including stores in
Auburndale, College Point, Oakland
Gardens and Whitestone.
providing accessibility to all three levels
of the building from the cellar to the second
fl oor. Th e children’s area, teen area and multipurpose
room, as well as part of the cellar,
were renovated with new ceilings, fl ooring,
furniture and lighting.
“Th ese crucial upgrades to the building
off er the community a library that is
more inviting, technologically effi cient and
accessible to all,” Queens Public Library
President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott
said. “We know the public has been eagerly
awaiting the reopening of the branch, and
we are truly excited to welcome them and
serve them once again.”
Steinway Library is one of the three original
branches that 125 years ago had become
part of the Long Island City Public Library
system, which was later renamed to Queens
Borough Public Library. Th e current building
opened in 1956.
“Th e historic Steinway Library has
been a critical anchor of this community
for the generations of families who have
passed through its doors,” Queens Borough
President Donovan Richards said. “With
this multimillion-dollar renovation eff ort
complete, all Astoria families, regardless
of ability, fi nally have equitable access to
the educational and enrichment opportunities
this library provides. Th ank you to
the Queens Public Library and the NYC
Department of Design and Construction
for making the project a reality and providing
the readers and residents of Astoria with
a state-of-the-art facility to learn and grow.
Th ey deserve nothing less.”
Th e branch was closed for renovation in
October 2018, Th e construction included
a new ADA-accessible ramped entrance
and a 24/7 exterior book returns machine
at the main entrance on 31st Street. Th ree
new restrooms were installed in the cellar,
including an all-gender, single-occupant,
ADA-accessible restroom.
“Th e renovations at Steinway Library
improve and update a vital community
resource for Astoria; a new elevator also
opens the library to more New Yorkers,
including persons with disabilities,” DDC
Commissioner Th omas Foley said. “Th is
project is an example of the great work we
are able to perform on behalf of Queens
Public Library to create and enhance educational
spaces to communities throughout
Queens.”
Funding for the project was provided
by the de Blasio administration, former
Queens Borough President Melinda
Katz, former Assemblywoman Aravella
Simotas and former Councilman Costa
Constantinides, who is the current CEO
of Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens.
“I grew up reading with my parents,
doing my homework and research at
Steinway Library. It was a great privilege,
as a Council member, to support the renovations
of ADA upgrades including an elevator
and entrances, a renovated children’s
fl oor and upgrades to the overall building,”
Constantinides said. “Th is work ensures
that families in our community can rely on
this library into the future and continue to
make this our community space. Th ank you
to Dennis Walcott, QPL and all involved for
bringing these renovations to fruition.”
Prior to the pandemic, Steinway Library
served nearly 200,000 customers and circulated
more than 225,000 materials a year.
QPL is in the process of planning additional
upgrades to portions of the main fl oor
and cellar as well as a replacement of the
HVAC system.
Screenshot via Google Maps
Walgreens on Bell Boulevard is closing on Feb. 15.
Photo courtesy of QPL
Steinway Library’s main entrance on 31st Street features a new ADA accessible ramped entrance and
a 24/7 exterior book returns machine.
Photo courtesy of QPL
The renovated children’s and teen areas feature new ceilings, fl ooring, furniture and lighting.
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