Residents question city’s plan to shift shelter intake to the East Village

Above: Project Renewal, 8 E. 3rd St.

City officials and local residents packed a meeting last Tuesday (April 7) evening to discuss the planned closure of the Bellevue men's shelter and the relocation of intake services to the East Village.

As previously reported, the city — via an "emergency executive order" from Mayor Mamdani on March 5— said it will close the longtime Bellevue facility on 30th Street by the end of April, citing deterioration of the building. 

Beginning May 1, adult men seeking shelter would be directed to Project Renewal's facility at 8 E. Third St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery, while intake for adult families (without minor children) would move to 333 Bowery between Second Street and Third Street.

The proposal drew criticism for what several elected officials and residents described as a rushed and non-transparent process. 

Local City Councilmember Harvey Epstein questioned why the decision was presented as a done deal with little advance notice or community input. 

Assemblymember Grace Lee also spoke, raising concerns about the neighborhood impact beyond the East Village into her 65th District, the Lower East Side and Chinatown; the lack of advance notice; and the absence of a clear operational plan for how the intake site would function day to day.

A central theme throughout the evening was the distinction between an existing shelter and an intake facility. While residents said they were generally supportive of Project Renewal and familiar with the current shelter operations, several speakers emphasized that intake sites function differently — with a higher volume of people coming and going, often in crisis. 

Representatives from the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), including Commissioner Erin Dalton, said the site would have a limited number of beds and that people would be processed indoors rather than lining up outside. 

Still, many attendees expressed skepticism that activity would remain contained or limited to a steady flow. One official described arrivals as a "trickle" throughout the day — a characterization several neighbors challenged as unrealistic.

Several residents raised quality-of-life concerns, including potential increases in drug activity, theft, public urination and emergency vehicle traffic.

Others focused less on the use itself and more on how the city handled the rollout. Some opponents also circulated materials ahead of the meeting, raising additional concerns about zoning and safety — including whether a citywide intake operation is appropriate for a residential block and whether the change would trigger a "fair share" or environmental review.

That question came up during the meeting as well. DHS officials said a fair-share analysis was not required because a shelter already exists at the site. However, some attendees argued that converting it to an intake facility constitutes a different use. 

DHS officials said they would continue working with the NYPD and local stakeholders on a safety and operations plan, though details remain limited with the May 1 start date approaching.

A Mamdani administration official told the Post the East Village intake sites would be temporary until a permanent location is developed elsewhere, a process expected to take years.

Meanwhile, some Third Street residents say they are planning to file a lawsuit to block the relocation.
For now, the plan remains in place, with intake services set to shift to Third Street next month.

An EVG reader on Second Street attended the meeting and shared notes; other residents also contributed insights.