A New York State Department of Health committee declined the hospital system's merger proposal.
The DOH panel, known as the New York Public Health and Health Planning Council, voted 11-6 to approve the merger, but it was three votes short of the number needed under the panel's rules. Those who voted no said that, among other issues, Mount Sinai had kept the community in the dark about its plans and dodged questions from the DOH itself.The committee's vote is not the final word, as it must be affirmed by DOH Acting Commissioner James V. McDonald, who was named to the post on Jan. 1. A source said it was "rare" for a commissioner to overrule the planning council.
The Infirmary owns two buildings here — 14th Street and Second Avenue and 13th Street and Second Avenue — and the vacant lot on 13th Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue.
Sources told the Post that the parcel "could fetch up to $70 million if sold for apartment-building construction."
Dr. Howard Berliner, a DOH panel member who voted against the merger ... alluded at the hearing to concerns that Mount Sinai aimed to dismantle NYEEI so that it could cash in on a property sale."If I was a real estate developer, I would be drooling at the prospect of getting the [NYEEI] site in the East Village, probably one of the hottest markets in New York City," Berliner said.
Earlier this month, local elected officials wrote to Mount Sinai CEO Kenneth Davis and urged him to pause its proposal.
Last spring, Village Preservation made an appeal to have 218 Second Ave. at 13th Street landmarked.
I heard they could not sell this because it was donated or something like that. Land was to be used for special purpose, like hospital etc.
ReplyDeleteIf they relocate the facility to a modern building, I don't see the problem. The building in question is only a minor loss if demolished - it isn't considered architecturally significant. While I'd be appalled to see a mall or a commercial building go up here, we need housing so badly that it feels like the right kind of trade-off - but really the city should be taking over the site, cashing out Mount Sinai on the property for standard value, and building something here with majority affordable apartments that isn't deeply visually offensive to the streetscape. These are all fairly minor requests, and yet...
ReplyDeleteNYEE has a long history of providing world leading eye care. Affordable housing is always needed but the patient base is living with vision challenges. The physical scale and familiarity of the small facility makes healthcare, literally, accessible, to New Yorkers many of whom are lower income.
DeleteWhat's going there is a crime. The NY Eye and Ear Infirmary had been serving this community since at least the 1880s. I used to take Steve Cannon there for treatment as he was going blind, and I used to walk in to have wax removed from my ears for $15 or $20 (try it - it really helps your hearing). Now it's corporate hospital/real estate greed. As the saying went in the 1980s: Greed and Death!
ReplyDeleteA MINOR LOSS? This building was erected in the 1800's and is the oldest specialized hospital in the Western Hemisphere. Helen Keller was at the ribbon cutting. This hospital has served the community for decades and has a rich history. Unfortunately greed and lack of concern for the community isn't a priority for Mt Sinai. Shame on them.
ReplyDeleteIt's a reasonably handsome building, but I would trade it for majority affordable housing on the site. What we'll get, however, is more ugly multimillion-dollar condos.
ReplyDeleteThose who have the fantasy that the land which this building occupies would ever be used for affordable housing should have their heads examined. Need more proof, look at Hudson Yards which was stolen form the citizens of our city (public land) and given to the richest developer in the city. Nothing, NOTHING newly built is for us, it is for the worlds wealthiest and tourism,
ReplyDeleteit's not a relocation. It's a disbursement. they were sending different departments to different hospitals. same with the staff. Without the cities knowledge or consent. Get use to it. everybody's doing it. Cooper Station Post office sold their air rights to nyu for that ugly dorm with the church facade in front of it. no one knew until the deal was done.
ReplyDeleteI heard this situation 16 years ago and I didn't believe it at that time.
ReplyDeleteAny nurse would tell you some stories!