SOUTH FALLSBURG — The Refuah Health Building on Laurel Ave., South Fallsburg, which has seen better days, is now covered with a large vinyl banner that conceals its deteriorating facade.

At a recent Fallsburg Town Board meeting, Bart Rasnick from South Fallsburg, who is also the President of the Fallsburg Fire Department, expressed his concerns about the former schoolhouse building, now in a state of decay. 

Rasnick said that the building has been an eyesore for many years with its broken windows and, more recently, its caving roof.

According to the Fallsburg Building Department, no permits have been issued or requested in 2023 or 2024 by Refuah Health in South Fallsburg. Town code says that a banner of that size requires a permit from the building department for the duration it is displayed.

Amanda Salzman, Director of Communications and Grants Administration for Refuah Health Center, told the Democrat, “We are actively pursuing federal and state funding to demolish the schoolhouse and build a new service site at the same location. This is a large-scale project and a priority for the Center, and we’ve been working with local and federal officials to help access assistance to get the ball rolling. Regarding the signage, we are working closely with town officials to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements and codes.”

The Fallsburg Fire Department’s primary concern, Rasnick said, is safety. He drew parallels to The Pines Hotel incident, where buildings left unattended due to asbestos concerns eventually burned down. There is a fear that the abandoned school could meet a similar fate, posing significant risks to the community.

The building, originally a school in the Fallsburg School District where Rasnick’s parents graduated and where he himself attended, has seen multiple ownerships and purposes over the years. In the late 2000s, Refuah Health acquired the building with plans to renovate it into a medical facility. However, the only development since then has been the installation of two double-wide trailers used as medical offices and parking for their mobile units.

Former Town Supervisor Steven Vegliante, who was present at the meeting where Rasnick spoke, commented during public comment that while he did not dispute the wrapping of the building, he urged the public and town board to consider the services Refuah provides to the community, particularly to those on Medicare or without insurance.

Salzman told the Democrat that the South Fallsburg location is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and says it is providing comprehensive healthcare services to the “working poor and uninsured in Sullivan County.”

“The South Fallsburg location, operating in the mobile home units, is open year-round, has 10 exam rooms, an in-house, full-service pharmacy, lab, and radiology services. Our services encompass primary care, family medicine, women’s health (including midwifery), podiatry, and more,” added Salzman.

Fallsburg Town Supervisor Michael Bensimon stated that Refuah Health has submitted an application to the zoning board for the banner. If the application is denied, the town will have the authority to fine the location.

“It’s tricky. The board is annoyed by that banner because it’s out of our zoning regulations. It doesn’t make sense,” Bensimon commented.

In 2009, the planning board approved temporary buildings for the clinic to allow time for asbestos removal from the original structure. However, due to possible financial constraints, this removal has been delayed for over a decade.

Bensimon also noted the difficulty of the situation, acknowledging the valuable services Refuah provides to the community. He expressed that while he does not want the healthcare center to leave the area, compliance with the town code is necessary.