New York Construction Report staff writer
Officials broke ground Tuesday on a new firehouse for FDNY Engine Company 268/Ladder Company 137, signaling a major upgrade for the Rockaways’ firefighting infrastructure.
The general contractor is Ashnu International, Inc. of Woodside, New York and architectural design was done by BKSK Architects LLP under the management of the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC).
The 16,760-square-foot facility will be built at 116-11 Beach Channel Drive, across from the September 11th Tribute Park, replacing the existing firehouse on Beach 116th Street. The project, which includes drive-through apparatus bays, expanded storage, training spaces, and fitness facilities, is expected to be completed in the summer of 2027 at a cost of $40 million.
FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker called the project “a beacon of safety and service for generations to come” and highlighted the site’s potential to meet the community’s needs well into the future. “Of more than 1,000 potential locations, this site stood out,” Tucker said. “This new, state-of-the-art facility was designed with resilience and sustainability in mind.”
Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Design and Construction Eduardo del Valle, City Councilwoman Joann Ariola, and other city officials attended the ceremony. The project also includes a public art installation by a local artist along Beach 117th Street.
Engine 268/Ladder 137 has served the Rockaway Park neighborhood since 1913. The original firehouse, built between 1912 and 1913, sustained damage during Hurricane Sandy, underscoring the need for a modern, resilient replacement.
