"The building is over 50 years old," Landin said. "Some of the materials that were used back there did have asbestos type of stuff. There was a lot of walls that were removed, and a lot of tile. Even cabinetry that had some mold in asbestos in it. We're moving forward, and we're remediating it, and we hope to have it open soon."

The pedestrian, an 89-year-old man, was walking on the southbound side of the parkway near 109th Ave in Queens Village at about 8:20 p.m., when the ambulance struck him, sources said.

Medics took him to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, but he couldn't be saved, officials said.

The driver of the ambulance went to Long Island Jewish Medical Center with minor injuries.