By:  Hadassa Kalatizadeh

Local activists have been petitioning the creation of a homeless shelter near the Gertrude Ederle playground in Lincoln Square.   Despite their efforts, however, the plans are moving forward.

As reported by Crain’s NY, Project Renewal, a nonprofit based in Lower Manhattan, has filed a permit application with the city Department of Buildings for the nine-story homeless shelter.  The permit was filed on Aug 31st for the 7,560-square-foot lot at 537 W. 59th St, between West End and Amsterdam Avenue.  Two months ago, Project Renewal had announced the demolition of the existing site.  In March, the nonprofit said the new shelter building will have 200 beds for single women, a 1,500-square-foot medical facility and an 800-square-foot commercial kitchen.  Dattner Architect is named as the architect of record on the paperwork recently filed.

Neighborhood residents joined together to oppose the construction of the shelter for drug addiction and mental illness in their midst.  In May, a group named Friends of Ederle Playground launched a petition to stop the shelter from opening, claiming it would create unsafe conditions for the several schools which are in the immediate vicinity.  That petition got more than 2,210 signatures, as of Sept. 1.   The group also demanded that the city Department of Investigation probe the $500 million, 40-year contract that was approved by former Mayor Bill De Blasio in August 2021, in the last months of his term, per the Post.

“The community rightfully believes that where there is smoke, there is fire and entrusts that the DOI will investigate this exorbitant contract approval at the 11th hour of the previous administration with the seriousness it deserves,” wrote Brad Gerstman, a lawyer who represents the group Friends of Ederle Playground, in a letter sent to the DOI in July. The community is “extremely uneasy about the timing as well as the players involved and the circumstances surrounding the approval of this $500 million taxpayer funded contract,’’ Gerstman added in the letter.  Per the Post, the shelter is under construction by developer Hudson Companies, with the group claiming that Hudson’s CEO was a friend and fundraiser of the former mayor.

The shelter is not suitable for the residential “family friendly and child-centric” neighborhood, resident Heather Groeger, 42, previously told the Post. “It’s going to be bringing a large number of people seeking opioid addiction treatment into a residential neighborhood. And they’re not planning to have a waiting room,’’ she added. West Side Councilwoman Gale Brewer, the former Manhattan borough president, also said she opposes the project.  “My goodness sake. Can’t we make it permanent housing? Why are we doing another shelter!” Brewer previously said.

Sophie Crumpacker, a spokeswoman for Project Renewal, confirmed the nonprofit is working with Hudson Cos. on the shelter. In response to Crain’s questions about how the project will address the communities’ concerns, Crumpacker said in a statement that “Project Renewal greatly values relationships with our neighbors and community members at all sites we operate, and we have reached out to and met with many local stakeholders about the shelter.”