Queens pols look to landmark Maspeth firehouse
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Queens pols want to get the Maspeth firehouse which had the largest single loss of life on 9/11 designated as a city landmark. FDNY Squad 288/Facebook
By Ryan Schwach
Just over 22-years ago, nearly two dozen firefighters from Maspeth’s Squad 288 and HazMat 1 firehouse were killed after they responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, marking the largest loss of life from any single firehouse that day.
Now, local officials are trying to get the century-old building where they served designated as a city landmark in their honor.
Constructed in 1914, the Maspeth firehouse on 68th Street just off the Queens Midtown Expressway, which was home to the 19 firefighters who died on 9/11, carries with it a history of sacrifice the local elected officials want to see recognized.
“The Maspeth Firehouse holds a special place in our community's history and the hearts of
its residents,” read a joint letter signed by Councilmember Bob Holden, State Senator Michael Gianaris, Assemblymember Steven Raga and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “In light of this historical significance and the solemn memory of those who perished, we strongly urge the Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate the Maspeth Firehouse as a landmark without delay.”
In their Sept. 22 letter, the quartet of electeds say that preserving the firehouse as a landmark will honor the legacy of the 19 firefighters who were killed on 9/11.
“This designation will ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten and that future generations can learn about and appreciate the heroic actions of these individuals,” they wrote.
Attempts to get the firehouse minted as a landmark have been shot down by the city twice before due to a provision in the city called the 30-year-rule, which required a landmark's historical significance to be more than 30-years-old.
Holden, Richards, Raga and Gianaris are hoping the city can make an exception.
“The exceptional circumstances surrounding this firehouse's tragic loss of life on that day call for reconsidering the 30-year rule,” they wrote. “We respectfully request that you waive this rule in recognition of the exceptional historical importance of the firehouse and its undeniable significance to our community and the nation.”
Landmark status is something local Maspeth residents have wanted for years, and something Holden has been concerned about since before he got elected to office. Now, there is a concerted effort.
"The Maspeth Firehouse is not just a building; it stands as a solemn reminder of the incredible bravery and sacrifice of our city's firefighters," Holden said. "By designating it as a landmark, we ensure that future generations remember and honor the 19 heroes who gave their lives for their fellow New Yorkers."
The city lawmaker is now joined by the other three in boosting calls for the building’s recognition.
Gianaris called it “long overdue.”
“More than two decades later, it is time for the city to honor the wishes of Maspeth residents who have been asking for this recognition for years,” he said.
